Our mom Joelle needs everyone's help!

A bit about us and what we’re hoping for:

We are Ian and Erika, son and daughter of our beautiful mom Joelle. We have decided to seek support from you, our friends, as we try to raise funds to pay for a cancer medication called Perjeta. This treatment has been recommended for Joelle's Stage 3 breast cancer by her oncologist, however, its cost is too expensive for us to finance. Mom’s insurance cannot cover the cost and it is not covered by AHS.

A bit about our mom – Joelle:

If you are reading this, then you must know our mom, Joelle!

Since our mom and our dad started our family back in 1974, Joelle has been working incessantly. Our mom has done so much for our family and her community. I remember when we were kids… she would wake up at 5:30 every day, make lunches for all of us, then walk to the bus stop and wait for the #3 bus. She would ride that bus all the way downtown where she had a rewarding career at Petro-Canada for 26 years. After work, she’d take care of all of us - cooking, cleaning, and a million other things including driving us to ballet, violin, skiing, or wherever we needed to go. On the weekend, she devoted every minute of her time to us, her kids. Mom never complained about all this hard work .... and she has kept on sacrificing to this day! These magnificent day-to-day efforts are not all that define our mom! In fact, you may have the honor of knowing more about Joelle… the sensitive artist, the nature lover, the fun-loving spirit, the creative soul, the joyful dancer, the resourceful problem solver, the clever student, the peaceful observer, the freedom seeker, the laughing sister/auntie/Nana, the loyal friend and wife, the devoted daughter, the moment-maker, the ocean child who loves to swim, the beautiful woman … and for us, the divine mother.

A bit about the medication - Perjeta:

Perjeta is a HER2 inhibitor targeted therapy that works against HER2-positive cancers by blocking the chemical signals that can stimulate uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. By blocking the signals, Perjeta can slow or stop the growth of mom’s cancer. Perjeta can also help fight her cancer by alerting the immune system to destroy cancer cells.

When could Joelle start Perjeta treatment:

Currently, Joelle has begun chemotherapy treatment for her Stage 3 Breast Cancer at the Tom Baker Center. Prior to starting chemotherapy, mom underwent a harrowing double mastectomy, followed by a difficult port insertion surgery. She is now on her 3rd infusion (out of 4) of the current chemotherapy drug. Following this first stage of treatment, Joelle will then have to decide whether she transitions to the Perjeta treatment (17 treatments), or to an alternative drug therapy treatment that has lower rates of success than Perjeta. If we can raise enough money to pay for Perjeta, the treatment will commence soon.

The prescription and cost of Perjeta:

Joelle has been prescribed one initial dose of Pejeta which costs 8000 dollars. Following the initial dose, she has been prescribed 16 maintenance doses which will cost 4000 dollars each. In numbers, this is what the costs looks like:

$8000.00 + (16 x $4000.00) = $72,000.00 TOTAL COST

Thank you in advance for any funds that you contribute. We are so grateful for your help and pray that the best possible outcome will reach our mom!!