Jan's Journey!

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read through our Gofundme.

We want to introduce you to this extraordinary woman. Her name is Janet Green. Married to the love of her life, Steven Green for 35 wonderful years. Mother to 3 adult children, Jaci (33), Becky (28) and James (26) and Nanor to four perfect grandsons.

In June of 2020, our mom was diagnosed with stage 3, Merkel Cell carcinoma. A very rare form of skin cancer. Sun exposure is one of the biggest reasons that skin cancer can form, but in our mom's case, it was due to a weakened immune system from medication she was taking for her Psoriatic Arthritis, an autoimmune disorder she has been suffering with for almost 20 years. A condition that has left our mom with permanent chronic pain and fatigue.

She began chemo treatment immediately and after 3 awful rounds of treatment, she was moved onto Avelumab (an immunotherapy) which worked. Her lymph nodes (which were reactionary and swollen) shrunk and the tumor on her leg, began to die. In Summer of 2022, she was declared NED (no evidence of disease) after 2 long years of trauma and pain, she rang a number of bells, and we celebrated her. We were ecstatic! She felt like she finally had her life back. Cancer is a curse that no one deserves.

 The risk of recurrence in Merkel Cell Carcinoma patients is between 20-75% within 5 years. It has been almost 18 months since her treatment ended and after her most recent scans. The cancer has returned. Now though, it is in her lymph nodes. A devastating blow for her family, but nothing compared to how she is feeling. PTSD after a cancer diagnosis is not uncommon and the fear of recurrence is to be expected. This awful news has mom feeling defeated.

We want to make sure that we can take some pressure off our parents during this difficult time. As you know, medical treatment in America isn't cheap and despite having insurance, during her first round, they used up most of their savings. We are asking for your help!

Our Dad will need to continue to juggle working while getting our mom to all of her appointments. She doesn't currently have a driving license. She lost a lot of her vision during treatment the first time and her license lapsed, so she is unable to drive herself to appointments. Thankfully after cataract removal and laser surgery, they restored her eyesight. She is in the process of getting her license back, but the medication is very hard on her body, and she will need all the help she can get. We want to make sure that whatever they need during this trying time, they will have.

Unfortunately, our mom lives in constant pain. Her life over the past 20 years has been filled with appointments, a bout of pancreatitis from her medication that landed her in the hospital for almost 10 days. Intravenous meds, blood work, detoxing off painkillers, steroids and weight gain, med changes to find the best ones to fight off the psoriatic arthritis. Chemo and immunotherapy and now she will need to start all over again.

If you have had the privilege of meeting our mom, you will agree with us when we say she is extraordinary. In fact, it's difficult to put into words how incredible she truly is, but we will try. Our Mom exudes love. Despite the trials and tribulations, she has faced, she continues to put others above herself. Despite every reason to be angry with the world for the pain she has endured, she will tell you that someone else out there has it worse. Over the years she has adopted many of our friends as her own, friends who have come to her when they needed someone, often times when we weren't even home. She has always held space for anyone who needed it, offering love and support, the way only a mom knows how to do. As a mom, we are privileged to be hers, to have her love and care. We wouldn't be who we are today, if it wasn't for her commitment to us. We wouldn't be the parents we are today if it hadn't been for her guidance. She is an incredible mom and grandmother, a role she was made for. She is so loved by everyone she meets!

She LOVES to quilt, aside from her family, it is her biggest passion, and her talent is incredible. She started her own business helping others to finish their quilts. She loves to read and has a library worth of books in her basement. She loves to be surrounded by her friends and family and is a proud supporter of the Bills #gobills

Our Mom is the kind of person that donates to every Salvation Army bell ringer she sees during the holiday, will always hit “yes” when asked for a charitable donation at the store and always chooses to buy products where the proceeds directly help someone in need. she even donates hand made quilts to the family justice center and other non profits that she could instead sell for her own benefit, but she’s the kind of person to give back.

Our Mom has a hard time accepting help. She has always been fiercely independent, but we don't want her to fight alone. We want her to know that she has an army of people behind her. Supporting her, loving her and praying for her. She has beaten this once, and we know together, she can beat this again. After everything she has done for us over the years, this is the bare minimum we could do for her. Help us to help them.

Any money that is raised that is above and beyond what is needed to cover her medical bills will be donated to Roswell Park Cancer Institute where our mom is receiving treatment.

Mom,

You are our hero. You always have been. If we are ever faced with the challenges, you have been dealt in your lifetime, we can only hope that we can meet them with the same grace and strength you have.

We know that the words "You are so strong" are hard to accept when your strength feels like survival. We know the pain you feel everyday can be debilitating and we know that you are terrified for this next step, but we promise you, you will never walk this path alone. We walk with you. Every single step of the way.

Love you always,

Your kids <3

#jansjourney #teamgreen #fucancer #cancersucks #weloveyoumom #yougotthis