#JENWINS: Stage 3 Breast Cancer
Donation protected
On August 26, 2017, as she got into position at the starting line, 18-year Army veteran, Captain Jennifer Raymo, was a ball of nerves and excitement, ready to compete in her 47th half marathon, at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island. The sun was shining, as she smiled at other runners, and the crowd was filled with a warm murmur of “good lucks.” She stretched a bit and then, all at once, they were off!
She focused on each inhale and exhale and quickly fell into pace. As her body relaxed, she allowed her mind to wander. It flickered between mundane things, like the grocery list and planning the next Girl Scout meeting, to heavier things, like her Social Work master’s program starting soon, her time in Kuwait, several years ago, her upcoming weekend of drill for the Army and the lump. The lump in her breast had been with her for a couple weeks. She was anxiously waiting for the day of her appointment at the women’s imaging center for a mammogram, and hopefully some answers.
By September 26, 2017, she had the answers she sought and the results of her mammogram: Stage 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.
The next days were a whirlwind of scans, MRIs, and meetings with surgeons, to put a treatment plan into place.
On October 27, 2017, at 9 AM, she was wheeled into the surgical suite for a double mastectomy. After many hours of anxiously waiting, the surgeon came out to tell Jeremiah that everything had gone well and 10 lymph nodes were removed for testing. Pathology later confirmed that six of the 10 lymph nodes were cancerous, so a chemo and radiation schedule was implemented.
Today, Jenni has just crossed the halfway mark in completing the chemo treatments. She has lost her hair and spent more days sick, than well, but maintains a positive outlook. She works as the nausea allows but has been forced to cut way back on her full-time hours. Although insurance covers a good portion of the costs, each of the many provider’s bills has started to roll in. Costly co-pays are due at the time of each treatment. With her remaining chemo and 35 radiation treatments ahead of her, we have set up this Go Fund Me to help defer the mounting treatment costs ahead for the Raymo family. So many have asked how to reach out to Jenni. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We appreciate the love and support. It is certainly being received loud and clear.
All the best,
Bernadine, Larry, Jason and families
and our parents Bernard and JoAnn
She focused on each inhale and exhale and quickly fell into pace. As her body relaxed, she allowed her mind to wander. It flickered between mundane things, like the grocery list and planning the next Girl Scout meeting, to heavier things, like her Social Work master’s program starting soon, her time in Kuwait, several years ago, her upcoming weekend of drill for the Army and the lump. The lump in her breast had been with her for a couple weeks. She was anxiously waiting for the day of her appointment at the women’s imaging center for a mammogram, and hopefully some answers.
By September 26, 2017, she had the answers she sought and the results of her mammogram: Stage 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.
The next days were a whirlwind of scans, MRIs, and meetings with surgeons, to put a treatment plan into place.
On October 27, 2017, at 9 AM, she was wheeled into the surgical suite for a double mastectomy. After many hours of anxiously waiting, the surgeon came out to tell Jeremiah that everything had gone well and 10 lymph nodes were removed for testing. Pathology later confirmed that six of the 10 lymph nodes were cancerous, so a chemo and radiation schedule was implemented.
Today, Jenni has just crossed the halfway mark in completing the chemo treatments. She has lost her hair and spent more days sick, than well, but maintains a positive outlook. She works as the nausea allows but has been forced to cut way back on her full-time hours. Although insurance covers a good portion of the costs, each of the many provider’s bills has started to roll in. Costly co-pays are due at the time of each treatment. With her remaining chemo and 35 radiation treatments ahead of her, we have set up this Go Fund Me to help defer the mounting treatment costs ahead for the Raymo family. So many have asked how to reach out to Jenni. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We appreciate the love and support. It is certainly being received loud and clear.
All the best,
Bernadine, Larry, Jason and families
and our parents Bernard and JoAnn
Organizer and beneficiary
Bernadine Danczak Cutsor
Organizer
Omaha, NE
Jennifer Raymo
Beneficiary
