Hi, my name is Jill, and I’m organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Jenny Howard — a devoted mother, loving partner, and cherished friend — who is now in the fight of her life.

On what began as a normal summer day in Erie, PA, Jenny and her fiancé, my cousin Dustin, were preparing for a much-anticipated vacation to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. with her three sons: Britan (22), Bentley (15), and Landon (13). But in an instant, everything changed.

Jenny suddenly became disoriented and began having violent seizures. Dustin immediately called 911 and performed rescue breathing until paramedics arrived. She suffered multiple seizures on the way to the hospital and had to be intubated upon arrival. The following afternoon, Jenny was airlifted to the neurosurgical ICU at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Scans revealed a devastating discovery: a high-grade tumor located deep in the center of her brain, atop the brain stem and near the thalamus — a critical and sensitive area that controls essential functions like speech and motor coordination.  

Jenny has been on the neurosurgical floor since that day. Doctors plan to perform brain surgery later this week to attempt to biopsy the tumor. This is a necessary – and risky – step to determine the exact type of tumor and the best course of treatment. Even the biopsy may have short-term impacts on her ability to speak and move. But it’s the only way forward given that surgical removal of the tumor is unsafe and impossible given its location in the center of the brain – the biopsy is essential to identify alternative treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, or participation in experimental clinical trials.  Doctors are also monitoring whether a brain shunt will be needed to relieve fluid buildup due to the tumor’s location.

This crisis has created an enormous emotional and financial strain on Jenny’s loved ones. Several family members – including her mom, fiancee, and brother – have temporarily relocated to Pittsburgh from Erie, Western New York, and Philadelphia to be by her side and support her care. Others are making regular trips to help her sons and other loved ones visit while she’s hospitalized over two hours away.

The financial burden of travel, lodging, food, parking, and missed work is mounting for her family and caretakers, and they need help.  This GoFundMe will help cover those immediate needs as her family works to support Jenny’s urgently-needed care.

Jenny is a resilient, vibrant woman who has spent her life loving and caring for others. Now, she and her family need us to care for her. Whether you can give $5 or $500, every single donation helps. If you’re not in a position to give right now, please consider sharing this campaign with others.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support, your prayers, and your love for Jenny and her family.

With gratitude,

Jill