Hi, we’re Rylee & Krystal.

Never in our lives did we imagine something like this happening to someone we love so deeply. You hear about these stories and feel for the people involved—but nothing prepares you for when it hits close to home.

We’re reaching out on behalf of our beautiful friend, Jessi—She’s one of the most creative, funny, and talented people we know & her world has just been turned upside down.

About Jessi

Jessi is 34 next month ( June). She is a super creative ,funny & talented soul.

In 2019, she was voted Sunny Coast Childcare Educator of the Year.

She is a next level, amazing home cook of all things sweet & tasty,

Jessi loves a good dress up & is a self taught crochet queen.....

Travelling & exploring places near and far is one of her favourite things to do.

She’s a self-confessed book nerd and runs a beautiful little side hustle with her friend Nicole called Pages and Co.

What Happened

It started with what Jessi thought was a stubborn chest infection. When it wouldn't go away, her doctor ordered a CT scan in March 2025. The results revealed a 80mm growth in her chest - about the size of an orange!

Jessi was referred to a surgeon in April, who ordered two more scans. Unfortunately the earliest available appointments came with wait times of one month and two months. As time passed, Jessi’s symptoms continued to worsen.

On Friday, May 2nd, Jessi’s partner, Lucas, rushed her to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) after finding her vomiting and struggling to breathe.

She was admitted immediately. Over the next week, she underwent scans, countless tests, and a biopsy. Finally, Jessi received a devastating diagnosis:

B-Cell Lymphoma—with the mass pressing dangerously on her heart.

She was discharged to rest at home while they waited for additional results to determine the cancer’s stage and create a treatment plan. During this time, Jessi and Lucas—who had been trying for a baby—looked into egg retrieval before treatment could begin.

Friday the 16th of May Jessi received her biopsy results.

The biopsy confirmed Burkitt Lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer that requires immediate and intensive chemotherapy. Burkitt Lymphoma is extremely rare in Adults - effecting only 1% of Adults - worldwide. This meant making the heartbreaking decision to forgo fertility preservation in order to begin intensive chemotherapy, which requires Jessi to be hospitalized for at least 21 days, followed by four months (or more) of ongoing treatment. A bone marrow transplant may also be necessary.

How You Can Help

Jessi has spent 17 years working in childcare and is currently a second-year nursing student. She’s dedicated her life to caring for others, and now it’s our turn to care for her.

We’ve created this fundraiser to help relieve some of the financial pressure that comes with such a sudden, life-altering diagnosis. Any amount—big or small—means the world. Even just sharing this page helps more than you know.

Your donations will:

Help cover medical and recovery costs

Allow Lucas to take time off work to care for Jessi

Support Jessi through months of hospital stays and healing

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, support, and kindness. We’ll continue to keep you updated on Jessi’s journey.

With love,

Rylee & Krystal