Hi! It’s me, Jo. To catch you up a bit, I live in Lake Wales, Florida now in a park where I have made great friends who are very supportive. I go back home to White Cloud each summer for a couple of months to see my parents, sons, and grandchildren—the joys of my life. Each summer, there are larger get-togethers where I get to see my brothers and their wives, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Life is so good now; I am so blessed.

And then... here we go again. The cancer has reared its ugly head again. I thought I had kicked its ass after four rounds, which started in 2018, when the Myoepithelial Carcinoma in my left jaw was identified. Dr. Spector from the University of Michigan did the surgery, which required my lip, chin, and jaw to be split and broken to remove the cancer. Then in 2021, it returned, still in my left jaw, and returned again in 2022. Both times, Dr. Spector operated to remove the cancer. I received 30 rounds of radiation following the 2022 surgery. I received a clean bill of health in both 2023 and 2024. And then the MRI on October 14, 2025, showed it had returned. Making that phone call to my mom was the worst. At 62, I am so appreciative to have my momma there to love and support me through all of this.

I have immense trust and rapport with Dr. Spector, and even though he is now at the University of Pittsburgh, he will be doing the next surgery and overseeing my medical care. I am so grateful for this.

Through the course of all of this, I feel like I am at a point of being almost fully healed and WHAM it’s back. The goal now is to get the cancer removed and be on the road to recovery. I will be at my house in Michigan with Toby and Liz, close to my parents and Deric, Heather, and my grandchildren while I recuperate. I hope I can see some of you during this time.

It is hard for me to ask for help, and yet I am having a difficult time keeping up with the past medical bills and will have additional medical and travel expenses.

The love, prayers, and support from all of my family and friends mean more to me than words can convey.

Thank you.

Love,

Jo