JESSA’S CONTINUING CANCER JOURNEY
It is with a full and grateful heart that I want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you who has walked alongside me over the past 14 unbelievable months! Your kindness and your generosity have touched my life in so many wonderful ways. Please know that every prayer, every word of encouragement, every card or note, every care package, every meal, and each and every financial gift (no matter the size) has made a real difference and has been a tremendous help and blessing to me. There are far too many people to list here and I sincerely THANK each one of you!
A very special note of THANKS to the following: my Mom & Dad, Gram & Pop, Bradley & Evie, Sheldon, Brougan, Ernie Reeves, the Fisher family, the Lehman family, Aunt Lizzie & Nita, Brenda & Sam, Tyler, Tim & Ruth Ann, Rodney & Hilda, Joelle, the Swope family, Dave & Carmen, the Rohalls, Alan Harman, the Turners, Woody & Carol, Lois, Sherwin & Sandy, The Prissy Country Girl, the Redifers, Claire Fisher, Mark Robertson, Zach & Morgan and the Patterson family… and so many others! Most importantly, I THANK God who gives all life!
Cancer was never a topic I knew much about before; it seemed like something that only happened to “other” people. I am way too familiar with it today. Cancer basically walked in and took over a huge part of my life and my journey is still on-going. Although it is very difficult for me to ask for help, especially if there is any way possible to figure things out on my own, I find myself genuinely in need at this time. With a Stem Cell Transplant in my near future, I will be hospitalized for approximately a month (+) and unable to work for several weeks before the procedure & for several weeks/months after my discharge. My body is going to be completely wiped out and it will take me a little time to get back on my feet again….but I will get there! On my good days, and whenever I am able, you will find me attempting to work, but some days/weeks that will just NOT be possible. The good days are good (and I thank God for each one of them)…but the bad days are awful. I currently have, and will continue to have in the coming days: traveling & medical expenses, as well as living expenses (rent/utilities/groceries). It is still a bit mind blowing that this whole journey started with a farm accident… and a broken neck… which led to my current diagnosis: Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. God is faithful. He has never left my side and He has provided and met my needs thus far, so I will continue to trust Him. He is not finished with me yet.
UPDATE:
MARCH 2021 – Biopsy showed my mass had shrunk to 5cm but was still considered “active” & growing. Oncologist recommended 2nd line treatment of Chemotherapy…followed by a stem cell transplant… followed by an additional year of maintenance Chemotherapy. I truly needed a break (physically and mentally) and I felt I just could not handle any more Chemotherapy at the time. This led me to do extensive research and explore other Cancer treatment options.
APRIL 2021 – I flew to Minnesota for a 2nd opinion. I drastically changed my diet, added many natural supplements & other Cancer fighting treatments and I began feeling really, really good. My quality of life steadily improved and I was extremely optimistic and hopeful! I was able to do the farm work I loved once again and I began thinking about planting my summer garden. Life was good!
MAY 2021 – The BEST I had felt to date! … but sadly, this was soon about to change. Toward the end of May, a CT scan showed the mass had grown to 9 cm. I was devastated & concerned but still ever hopeful. I pressed on and added additional immune boosting supplements and whole foods, IV Vit C Therapy, Peptide shots, PEMF therapy and other treatments. A mixture of good and bad days…
JUNE 2021 – Despite the good news that the CT scan showed the mass has actually shrunk to 6.3 cm, fluid had begun building up in my lungs causing pain and discomfort. Classic Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms returned: fever, headache, flu-like aches, extreme fatigue, pain in my right side, trouble breathing, cough, etc… Over the course of the next week, I was back and forth to the ER until finally a Thoracentesis (to drain the fluid) was scheduled. This was a terribly painful procedure, but provided almost instant relief. I began thinking that most of my symptoms/issues stemmed from the fluid buildup. Pressing on, I had a stretch of 5 more good weeks where I was working long, full days and I felt pretty great. Until….
JULY 2021 – Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms were on and off, but fully escalated in late July.
AUGUST 2021 – My WORST month: Fluid returned to my lungs, which caused more pain and difficulty breathing. I had 3 more Thoracentesis procedures and then had an Echocardiogram that was very alarming - it showed Cardiac Tamponade, meaning fluid had built up around my heart putting me in real danger. I was beginning to feel scared. A sudden trip to the ER and I was promptly admitted to the ICU. I was shocked when the Cardiologist took my mom/dad into another room and told them the devastating news that I would likely go into cardiac arrest within a week without the prompt insertion of a small catheter/drain into my pericardial sack surrounding my heart. As soon as my dad walked back into the room and I saw his face, I immediately knew. I looked him straight in the eye and asked… “Am I dying?”. Hearing my dad say, “yes, babe… you ARE dying” was one of the hardest and most unforgettable days of my life, yet oddly enough, I had an inner peace that comforted me. The DR said that without the drain in my heart, as well as immediately starting back on aggressive Chemotherapy, I would probably not live more than a month. Many tears were cried and life altering decisions were made in the midst of our disbelief. I truly did not feel like I was dying. This all seemed so surreal. Soon thereafter, the surgery was performed to insert the catheter into my heart and I was then transferred to VCU in Richmond. For 6 days, I was monitored and an additional surgical procedure was performed to add a PleurX catheter to my lung. They also gave me Heparin shots to help dissolve the blood clots that had formed. It was a LONG week (for all of us). Finally, there came some GOOD news...I was stable enough to be discharged! What an answer to prayer! We were all completely overjoyed to be heading HOME!... I could not wait!
AUGUST 24, 2021 – Home again and back on Chemotherapy treatments (2nd line medications). The Stem Cell Transplant was discussed again (which scares me) and will most likely take place early this November. So much information to process, and despite my initial reluctance, I feel more prepared and ready to beat this thing for good. Dying is not an option.
SEPTEMBER 2021 – Chemotherapy treatments continued with all the dreaded side effects (again).
OCTOBER 2021 – Scheduled for 2 more rounds of Chemotherapy along with a PET scan in late October to re-assess my progress. NOTE: The best case scenario is that my Hodgkin’s lymphoma will be in remission at that time so I can then meet with the UVA Stem Cell Team again to work out all the details of my coming hospitalization. If things go smoothly, and as planned, I will be in the hospital for approximately one month. An additional year of maintenance Chemotherapy is advised.
One day at a time….
Jessa’s CANCER Journey: How a BROKEN NECK Saved My Life
August 2020:
Just another ordinary day on the farm… until an angry momma cow decided she did not want me to tag her new baby calf. After being head butted, and flipped several times, with adrenaline pumping, I crawled on my hands and knees under the electric fence and into the safety of the next field. I was in a lot of pain and I knew something was wrong, but I thought I had just broken a few ribs. With great effort, I forced myself to stand and to walk (about a ½ mile) to my truck. I then drove down the bumpy lane to the closest neighbors’ house for help. As my pain was increasing, the kind neighbor insisted I go to the hospital and she promptly drove me to the local ER, where I was quickly immobilized. A Spine Specialist was then called in, and after looking at my x-rays, I was told they needed to transfer me to a hospital that was better equipped to treat my injuries. After I was transferred, they performed many more tests and scans. Anxiously, I waited for the news…. First, the Dr. told me that I had broken my neck (Cervical spine fracture/Closed displaced fracture of seventh cervical vertebra) and would need surgery the next morning…. Second, he also informed me that one of the scans showed a large suspicious mass in my chest wall cavity. I was stunned. The team of medical Drs. all said they were completely amazed that I had walked through the field in my condition and told me that I should be paralyzed. They also said I was truly “lucky”... but I knew it wasn’t “luck” at all. God was looking out for me.
A broken neck did NOT really fit into my life plan, and neither did a suspicious mass. I had to wait several weeks for a biopsy to tell us more. As I recuperated from my neck injury and was unable to work for the next 6 weeks, I resisted the urge to complain, but it was a very difficult task.
October 2020:
As if a broken neck were not enough already to deal with, the next report I got was even more shocking. Stage 2 Hodgkins lymphoma. Not the words I ever expected to hear. I was only 23. I was in peak physical shape/condition. I ate well and got plenty of exercise. My dream of going west and working on a ranch was getting closer & closer…but that dream was now put on hold.
Thus began my CANCER journey...
November 2020:
While waiting for my neck to heal, I soon began experiencing severe chest pain, a lingering cough, shortness of breath and high fevers - the mass was large and was pressing on my heart and lungs. Chemotherapy began with lots of difficulties. My tiny veins made it almost impossible to receive the chemo treatment I needed, so my Dr. recommended putting in a port. Within a week, I had a terrible infection at the port site and ended up in the ER again and then admitted into the hospital for 4 days while they pumped my body with IV Antibiotics. Back on the Chemo
treatments, I experienced so many terrible side effects over the next weeks and months, including: nausea, bloating, migraines, hair loss, extreme fatigue, insomnia, numbness & tingling, weakness, mouth sores, etc… the daily list goes on and on.
March 2021:
It has now been 7 months of recovery since my broken neck injury, along with months of Chemotherapy treatments for my lymphoma ... but it sure feels like a lifetime ago that I can actually remember feeling good. Nevertheless, the end of Chemotherapy was almost in clear sight ...until my most recent PET scan and biopsy showed that my body is NOT responding to the current Chemo regime. I was devastated.
A SIDE note:
Yes, my life has dramatically changed through all of this. Pain and suffering has a ripple effect. It touches SO many lives. Not just mine.
To those that I love most, I want to say that I am sincerely grateful to ALL of you: my family, my friends and to each and every person in my community who has walked with me over the past months. Thank you for your love, your prayers, your encouragement and for your willingness to lighten my load in so many different ways. You have helped ease the stress, the strain and the financial load. Truly I want to say “thank you” from the bottom of my heart.
Mostly though, I am extremely thankful and grateful to God, (who allowed a crazy farm accident ...to cause a broken neck injury...to help find cancer… to SAVE my life!). I feel SO blessed to simply be alive and through the many ups and downs, one thing I have learned through all of this is that God has a plan and a purpose for my life. This journey of mine is far from over, but no matter how long or how bumpy the road before me may be... I know that I am not alone. A friend reminds me often, “it’s a GOOD day to have a GOOD day”. How true.
What’s next?
I find myself at a crossroad and the choices are difficult. Each direction has its own set of obstacles to overcome. To be honest, I would not choose any of them… but that is the one choice I do not have. After much consideration, research, and prayer, I have decided to take the Integrative Cancer Treatment path (which is NOT covered by my insurance). I remain HOPEFUL that this approach (along with the great medical care I have already received) will send my Hodgkins lymphoma into remission. It is difficult for me to ask for help (from anyone), but I know I cannot get through this on my own. So…… I am humbly asking you to walk
alongside me as I travel down this new road. I can and will get through this chapter of my life, and at the end of this long journey, I will look back and know, without a doubt, that the only way I made it through was God, my family, my friends, my community and total strangers, who gave just a moment out of their lives, to pour into mine.
