Janeen is a single mother of four and has spent much of her life working hard to provide for her four children.

Janeen was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in 2018 at age 49. That Christmas, instead of traveling to meet her first grandchild, Janeen headed to chemotherapy.

Stage 4 breast cancer is advanced breast cancer that has spread from the original location in the breast to other organs of the body. Janeen’s cancer was found in her breasts, liver and lymph nodes. It has now spread to her brain for the second time.

According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rate for Stage 4 breast cancer in women is 31%. This means 31% of women with Stage 4 breast cancer will still be living 5 years after diagnosis.

Janeen has already beaten the odds by surviving Stage 4 breast cancer for the past 6.5 years. She has gone through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, oral chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy administered every three weeks for the past six years. Six years of depleting her savings, her children’s savings, and keeping the financial burden within the family.

Janeen was scheduled to have laser brain surgery to remove her tumors in early November, but her insurance company denied coverage on the life-saving surgery. After a lengthy appeal process, the laser surgery was finally approved for January 7th at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Unfortunately, the pre-op scan showed that during the insurance appeal process, Janeen’s brain tumors grew too large for the laser surgery. This meant that Janeen needed to have a more invasive, higher risk surgery that required cutting the tumors out manually. This surgery means a much longer and more difficult recovery.

***Update***

On January 7th, the morning of her rescheduled surgery, the insurance company had still failed to approve the more invasive surgery that her doctors now determined to be the only option to save her life. As her health continued to deteriorate and her symptoms were worsening by the hour, Janeen was rushed to the emergency room.

Her medical team conducted an emergency surgery to remove the rapidly growing tumor.

We are so glad to share that the surgery went as expected and Janeen is doing well. The recovery process is going to be long and complicated, but we are incredibly grateful for a successful surgery. Thank you all so much for your prayers.

As Janeen begins the long road to recovery, she and her family need our help. They are mentally exhausted, physically exhausted, and financially exhausted.

Janeen needs financial help to cover lodging, food, and expenses while recovering from the invasive brain surgery that saved her life. Her ability to work prior to the surgery was greatly reduced as her tumors continued to grow and cause debilitating health issues. Now, she will spend several months recovering from the brain surgery.

In addition to the burden of terminal cancer, Janeen is also the sole caretaker of a disabled, dependent son.

Please continue to pray for Janeen and her family during this difficult season and consider donating to help Janeen recover from brain surgery, as we hope and pray for her to have many years yet to spend with her children and grandchildren.

Any financial contribution that you could make would be greatly appreciated by Janeen and all those who love her. Thank you so much!