Hello friends and family of Joanna. Most of you know Joanna as a very hardworking, dedicated mother and hospitality specialist. Joanna has always had a great work ethic and amazing sense of humor and friendship. She has had her battles, overcome obstacles, learned an entirely new way to live as an inspirational amputee, and battled many illnesses. She has 11 years of sobriety. Today Joanna is facing a big battle.

In September, Joanna happily accepted a new position at Union Station Hotel. She made the decision to move downtown into a charming apartment and live and work in the city. Her job is physical and has her moving all over the hotel, but she loves it! Until a few months ago when she started noticing she was struggling physically and began losing a great deal of weight without trying. As time went on she could no longer do all the physical aspects of her job, and her body started acting out. Joanna began experiencing sever swelling in her legs and belly that would not dissipate, and the complete inability to go up ramps, stairs, or even walk a few feet without getting out of breath. Her weight-loss was dangerous and obvious. She finally made it to the ER where she was basically a walking dead woman and was immediately admitted.

Joanna is still at Big Barnes. She has been given invasive testing, treatments, and blood, iron, vitamins, fluids. She has 2.more procedures this Tuesday, a petscan as there is an alarming concern for possibly colon or ovarian cancer, and a colonoscopy. There are still no definitive answers. Joanna is still at a high danger risk but feels very well cared for at Barnes.

Joanna most likely won't be able to return to work for awhile as she figures out the root of all this, and which recovery plan might work best and how to best proceed with treatment.

You have helped before, and we humbly ask for donations and sharing this fundraiser if possible. The timing, after the tornado, is terrible. There are other priorities. However giving her piece of mind that she can pay her rent and recover and not be at risk for losing her home, job, and the life she loves, and can try to focus on getting better, means everything. We will continue to update you all as new information or results are known.

If you are able to help, thank you. If not, we completely understand and appreciate if you would please share.

Joanna's Loved Ones