Help Jennifer Beat Glioblastoma Brain Cancer!

While this is extremely difficult to write, my Mom needs our help! She has been caring for her mother, traveling to Florida these last few months. On January 2nd she developed a migraine that caused temporary impaired vision and dizziness, including seeing an aura and some peripheral vision issues. Because she was committed to next day travel to Florida to care for her elderly mother (who has been recovering from her November back fusion surgery at 80 yrs old), she pushed it aside and flew to Florida. Over the next several days she experienced extreme fatigue, nausea, vertigo and generally just felt that things were not quite right. But she powered through, because that's just what she does.

In the early hours of Sunday morning January 7, she was awoken by a "Thunderclap" headache and hours of autonomic flushing. Although the headache settled to a mild, movement based sensation, with airline travel back home pending, she made the choice to go to the ER the next day expecting to get a migraine cocktail and be sent on her way.

3 hours later an EKG, CT Scan, blood work, and a 3 part MRI had been done. The initial CT determined there was a sub arachnoid hemorrhage (brain bleed/stroke) and the MRI determined my Mom has a life-threatening brain tumor. Mom was immediately admitted to the ICU. Further tests were done to see if this mass was Primary or Secondary to other areas of the body. Pelvic, abdominal, and chest CT were ordered. These scans came back clear. After further testing, the Neurologist confirmed the mass in her brain as a primary tumor in the Occipital Lobe, at this point suspected to be a grade 3 glioblastoma.

Official confirmation of stage & type can't be confirmed without surgery. We are getting her to one of the best hospitals in the world because we want her to have the best possible chance to live!

She will be transferring to Johns Hopkins Hospital but have learned the only option is via private med-flight at $30,000 & she will need temporary housing for treatment (chemo/radiation and a 34 week trial), scheduled visits with physicians and follow up testing that will be necessary in the weeks and months ahead following hospital discharge. She will also be unable to work for the foreseeable future.

My Mom is one of the strongest, most persistent, determined women I know. She never gives up, and stands strong when she feels passionate about something. As a single Mom to 5 kids, she has always put us first, even if it meant she had to sacrifice. I love that about my Mom and want to build a village of friends, new and old, that will be here for her in this fight for her life!

Our family had big plans for 2024, and before the first week was over the outlook of the entire rest of our future has changed. All her life, no matter what obstacles came her way, my Mom has been a fighter. Unfortunately we can't win this fight alone.

 

We are incredibly grateful to each and every person for anything they are able to donate. And if you can't donate, that's okay. Please share this GoFundMe. Each and every bit helps as we navigate this new chapter. Any donations that exceed our needs will be donated to help others struggling with this devastating disease! Glioblastoma is a rare, incurable cancer. Please help us give our Mom the best chance possible to beat the odds!