Scariest Word Ever? CANCER!
Jane Clafton is the most amazing person I know, the only thing bigger than her heart is her smile. Jane is my best friend, one of the most important people in my life. Anyone that knows her has a special place in their hearts where she is a constant shining beacon of love and warmth.
So when Jane was diagnosed with a brain tumor last November, the world stood still for a moment. My BFF is terminally ill, she is going to die. Whew, that is hard to say out loud. I feel awful, for her, for her family, for you, for me. Mortality is the worst part of life and it makes me sad every day. But I know Jane doesn’t want us to be sad, so I am happy too, happy to have whatever time we have left to live, love and laugh together.
In true Jane fashion she has done her best to make everyone feel better, she has fought back those paralyzing, depressing thoughts and one of the first things she did after her brain surgery was to look at her new life and decide not to take it laying down. In her blog she posted her bucket list, you know the one we all have where we are going to climb Mount Everest and save the bees… someday far from now, knowing that far from now will never come. So Jane vetoed that bucket list, and created a new list. One so modest and beautiful that I cry every time I read it, even months later.
Jane’s Bucket List:
- Turn 41
- Go to O’Noir with Tyler
- Watch another United game, stay at hotel football and meet at least 2 of the class of 92.
- Take a family vacation in the summer of 2016
- Spend one night in the fanciest hotel in Toronto and live like a celebrity for the day and night. Pamper myself
- Go on vacation with Dorothy and Shaun somewhere awesome.
- Matching tattoo with Tyler
Jane’s diagnosis
Astrocytoma Grade IV (Primary)-
Astrocytomas are tumors that arise from astrocytes
Astrocytoma Grade IV — there are two types of astrocytoma grade IV—primary, or de novo, and secondary. Primary tumors are very aggressive and the most common form of astrocytoma grade IV.
Jane has been given a prognosis of 1 – 3 years.
My googling has taught me that a small percentage of people live well beyond that. Some indicators of long-term survival are:
1) Age <40 (Jane just turned 40)
2) Tumor that can be completely resected (They got a lot)
3) No other major health problems that interfere with treatment (Jane is healthy as a horse otherwise)
4) High Karnofsky performance (i.e., no major cognitive impairments)
I personally think that Jane has the best case scenario for the worst situation possible and I hope and pray every day that she will be the exception and blow that prognosis out of the water. Forget her 41st Birthday, I want her to come to MY 41st birthday 5 years from now! The longer she lives happily and comfortably, the longer places like the Brain Tumor Foundation have time to research a cure.
In the meantime Jane is at home fighting! She is with her amazing and loving family. Her friends lined up waiting and wanting to help in some way. Well here is your chance!!
Jane is fortunate to have a great job and the insurance that goes with it, but not working means less money and less money means maybe never getting to that bucket list.
After the shock of Jane’s fate faded a little, I was ready! If anyone deserves to do the things on her bucket list, it is Jane. She has given and sacrificed so much for others… It is Jane time now!!
That and I finally had something to do!! Sitting in the hospital worrying is not my favorite pastime. So fundraiser, let’s go!!! I’m ready!!!
But in true Jane fashion she said “NO WAY! I am a strong independent woman and I can do this.”
Yes Jane! You can! But sometimes it is ok to accept a helping hand and let people repay the life time of kindness you have shown.
No one goes through cancer alone!
It has taken me months of needling and nagging and soapboxing to wear her down and help her realize that we all know that she is a hard worker, that if she could be in the office she would. It isn’t a sign of weakness or her fault that she has a brain tumor. I think over time she has started to see and understand just how much we love her. Every single day I have people at my desk asking how she is, what can they do to help? The response has been amazing, we all love Jane.
So here is what you can do to help!!
1) Donate to this fundraiser and help Jane reach her bucket list goals
2) Order online Magnolia and Vine or attend our Magnolia and Vine Kick off PartyMarch 29th ; get some beautiful jewelry while 25% of the sales goes to Jane! COMPLETED!! THANK YOU
3) Participate or contribute to the Clafton Cruisaders in te Guelph Brain Tumor Walk
4) Hope, pray and keep sending those happy, healthy thoughts Jane’s way!!
5)Keep checking back and stay tuned for more fundraising events and share the news!
6) Buy a cancer awareness bracelet from Dorothy for $5
Check out Jane’s Blog to get the full story day by day since the beginning
Thank you in advance for doing any or all of the above. Just knowing that you are out there hoping and caring is means so much to Jane and her loved ones
Please know that any proceeds your gift will go directly to Jane.
Jane Clafton is the most amazing person I know, the only thing bigger than her heart is her smile. Jane is my best friend, one of the most important people in my life. Anyone that knows her has a special place in their hearts where she is a constant shining beacon of love and warmth.
So when Jane was diagnosed with a brain tumor last November, the world stood still for a moment. My BFF is terminally ill, she is going to die. Whew, that is hard to say out loud. I feel awful, for her, for her family, for you, for me. Mortality is the worst part of life and it makes me sad every day. But I know Jane doesn’t want us to be sad, so I am happy too, happy to have whatever time we have left to live, love and laugh together.
In true Jane fashion she has done her best to make everyone feel better, she has fought back those paralyzing, depressing thoughts and one of the first things she did after her brain surgery was to look at her new life and decide not to take it laying down. In her blog she posted her bucket list, you know the one we all have where we are going to climb Mount Everest and save the bees… someday far from now, knowing that far from now will never come. So Jane vetoed that bucket list, and created a new list. One so modest and beautiful that I cry every time I read it, even months later.
Jane’s Bucket List:
- Turn 41
- Go to O’Noir with Tyler
- Watch another United game, stay at hotel football and meet at least 2 of the class of 92.
- Take a family vacation in the summer of 2016
- Spend one night in the fanciest hotel in Toronto and live like a celebrity for the day and night. Pamper myself
- Go on vacation with Dorothy and Shaun somewhere awesome.
- Matching tattoo with Tyler
Jane’s diagnosis
Astrocytoma Grade IV (Primary)-
Astrocytomas are tumors that arise from astrocytes
Astrocytoma Grade IV — there are two types of astrocytoma grade IV—primary, or de novo, and secondary. Primary tumors are very aggressive and the most common form of astrocytoma grade IV. Jane has been given a prognosis of 1 – 3 years.
My googling has taught me that a small percentage of people live well beyond that. Some indicators of long-term survival are:
1) Age <40 (Jane just turned 40)
2) Tumor that can be completely resected (They got a lot)
3) No other major health problems that interfere with treatment (Jane is healthy as a horse otherwise)
4) High Karnofsky performance (i.e., no major cognitive impairments)
I personally think that Jane has the best case scenario for the worst situation possible and I hope and pray every day that she will be the exception and blow that prognosis out of the water. Forget her 41st Birthday, I want her to come to MY 41st birthday 5 years from now! The longer she lives happily and comfortably, the longer places like the Brain Tumor Foundation have time to research a cure.
In the meantime Jane is at home fighting! She is with her amazing and loving family. Her friends lined up waiting and wanting to help in some way. Well here is your chance!!
Jane is fortunate to have a great job and the insurance that goes with it, but not working means less money and less money means maybe never getting to that bucket list.
After the shock of Jane’s fate faded a little, I was ready! If anyone deserves to do the things on her bucket list, it is Jane. She has given and sacrificed so much for others… It is Jane time now!!
That and I finally had something to do!! Sitting in the hospital worrying is not my favorite pastime. So fundraiser, let’s go!!! I’m ready!!!
But in true Jane fashion she said “NO WAY! I am a strong independent woman and I can do this.”
Yes Jane! You can! But sometimes it is ok to accept a helping hand and let people repay the life time of kindness you have shown.
No one goes through cancer alone!
It has taken me months of needling and nagging and soapboxing to wear her down and help her realize that we all know that she is a hard worker, that if she could be in the office she would. It isn’t a sign of weakness or her fault that she has a brain tumor. I think over time she has started to see and understand just how much we love her. Every single day I have people at my desk asking how she is, what can they do to help? The response has been amazing, we all love Jane.
So here is what you can do to help!!
1) Donate to this fundraiser and help Jane reach her bucket list goals
2) Order online Magnolia and Vine or attend our Magnolia and Vine Kick off PartyMarch 29th ; get some beautiful jewelry while 25% of the sales goes to Jane! COMPLETED!! THANK YOU
3) Participate or contribute to the Clafton Cruisaders in te Guelph Brain Tumor Walk
4) Hope, pray and keep sending those happy, healthy thoughts Jane’s way!!
5)Keep checking back and stay tuned for more fundraising events and share the news!
6) Buy a cancer awareness bracelet from Dorothy for $5
Check out Jane’s Blog to get the full story day by day since the beginning
Thank you in advance for doing any or all of the above. Just knowing that you are out there hoping and caring is means so much to Jane and her loved ones
Please know that any proceeds your gift will go directly to Jane.