Jill’s Stomach Cancer Battle

In April 2022, my best friend, Jill Ward, started experiencing debilitating symptoms in her abdomen . Symptoms included: Severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, exhaustion, abdominal fullness, unexplained weight loss, heartburn and indigestion. After an emergency gall bladder surgery which was thought to be the culprit, the symptoms worsened. She went through extensive blood work, CT scans, an MRI, ER visits, two endoscopies, and upper GI, several biopsies and exploratory surgery. She was then delivered the terrifying news on July 20, 2022…it’s Stage 4 stomach cancer that has spread to lymph nodes and her abdomen. This diagnosis was a massive shock to her and her family as well as all of us who love her dearly.

Jillie means the world to so many people. Those of us who have known her for a long time know her history of being a fighter and a survivor. In 1990, she beat stage 3B Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 16. Clear scans each year showed she was cancer free until shortly after her 41st birthday in 2015. She was diagnosed with stage 2 Colon Cancer. Once again she faced a battle! She beat that cancer too and remained cancer free until her recent diagnosis of stomach cancer. Due to the slow growing rate of this cancer, by the time symptoms appear it is already at a stage 3/4.

I’m sure you can imagine with the loss of income, the increasing medical bills and rising cost of healthcare, it can be a lot for a family who is battling cancer along with all of the physical, mental and emotional stress that comes with it. There comes a time when a person needs to step outside of their comfort zone and ask for help… that time is NOW! Jillie has always been very private when it comes to finances and she would never ask for the help (she even declined financial help during her last battle) but this time we need to step in as a village.. HER VILLAGE. As her friends and family, it is now time for us to give back the same way she’s given so much of herself over the years. She was working as a preschool teacher and the most wonderful Instacart Shopper and Door Dash driver. She has had to completely stop working due to the debilitating symptoms from this cancer. Cancer treatments take a tremendous toll financially as their family learned from her last battle with cancer. She will need time to rest and heal so going back to work will not be an option for her for a while. She must fully dedicate her time and energy to intense treatments to beat this cancer.

For this reason, I decided to start this GoFundMe for their family to help offset the costs related to medical bills, doctors appointments, surgeries, out of pocket costs, gas, food shopping and any other family needs that come with the loss of income. The bills don’t stop when you do! I know times are hard right now for many of you but we humbly ask if you can contribute to helping their family during this battle it is greatly appreciated. Your donations will allow her to fully focus on what is most important right now… fighting this cancer and working toward a full recovery. Please consider making a donation of any amount.

Anyone that knows Jillie will say she is such a positive force and cares deeply for those close to her. I consider her an inspiration as I’m sure many others do. She is being very vulnerable and will continue to share her ups and downs on social media as she battles through this next chapter of her life. Jillie has spent her entire life serving, loving the Lord and loving all people…even the unlovable. Please join me in prayer asking the Lord for a miracle. We serve a God of miracles and if you feel led, we want you to walk this journey with us. After all, they say it takes a village and it’s time for the village to come to battle!

How do you know Jill Ward?

Maybe she is your daughter, wife, mother, sister, sister in law, aunt, cousin, best friend, acquaintance or you might not even know her at all. Maybe you’ve been blessed with her friendship and had the opportunity to hang out with her going to lunch or shopping. Maybe you were fortunate enough to watch her grow up or grew up with her at Providence Baptist Church and received one of her amazing hugs. Maybe she was a substitute for your classroom of amazing kids. Maybe you went to high school with her and remember how sick she was and when she lost her hair. Maybe your children were blessed to have her teach their preschool class or as their public school substitute teacher for the day or even weeks. Maybe you cheered with her in the stands at softball, football or basketball games as she cheered on every single kid on the team. Maybe you played softball with her in high school or even on the adult team at church. Maybe her husband works with you and you’ve heard him talk about what an wonderful wife she is. Maybe she scrapbooked with you at an event. Maybe she blessed you with a meal when you were down and out, lost a loved one, had a baby or were just needing a friend. Maybe you had the opportunity to meet her when she delivered your groceries or your food with a smile. Regardless of how you know Jillie, one thing is always certain, she is one of the most beautiful, selfless, kindhearted, dedicated and hardworking women I will ever know…and she needs your help now.

Even through this tough time, Jillie remains positive and optimistic that God will perform a miracle and use her as a walking testimony. As she begins treatment, please pray for complete healing and comfort. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Thank you for your donations, prayers, meal train meals, visits, gifts and all of the positive vibes you’ve sent her way. We will continue to post updates about her journey as we know more from the doctor. Until then, we ask you to please share this GoFundMe on all of your social media platforms.

May God bless each and every one of you!

With love,

Jill West

#jilliestrong #jilliesvillage #cancersurvivor #cancersucks #battlebegins #wegotthis