She's still fighting - Please donate to help Jen Towner

Like most of you, I consider Jen Towner (and her husband Kent) to be like family. She's been my would-be big sister since about 3 minutes after we met 20 years ago. Everyone who knows her has been graced by her overwhelming ability to care, the joy she radiates whether helping you with your new home or just seeing you at a restaurant, and of course her truly infectious laugh. How could you not ABSOLUTELY love her?!?

Now I need to ask that we all pull together in any way possible to help care for Jen. If you aren't aware, she is in one of the toughest battles of her life. Actually, it's been more than a battle, it's fair to call it catastrophic given the time in the hospital and that she is severely underinsured. There were indications going back a year or so that something was wrong. Occasions of confusion, clumsiness, forgetfulness, erratic driving; many of us saw it but laughed it off or attributed Jen’s behavior to the meds she was taking or some other simple explanation.

After more than a year of searching, Jen's doctor finally attributed her illness to a rare genetic condition called Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type-8 (SCA8) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1268/) and a commonly associated condition called dystonia (https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/dystonia). Related to this condition Jen has suffered through a prolonged coma, heart failure, several broken bones, a potential need for a liver transplant, hundreds of doctor visits, and dozens of weeks in and out of the hospital. Ultimately this genetic condition has reduced her brain mass to 80% of what would be expected in a woman of her age. There are additional complications requiring more tests and treatments before Jen is ready to receive a liver donation, and she will also need to gain some mass and weight. While she waits she has good days and bad.

Yes, this is very real and the list of issues is staggering and growing.

And as you would expect Jen has not been able to work, she is underinsured, her treatments to date appear to have cost almost $500K, and she and Kent are attempting to get on Medicare. Currently, they owe over $30K for out-of-pocket and co-pays and they do not cover the personal training Jen will need to build enough mass to be a viable liver donation candidate.

Throughout it all Jen has kept her welcoming smile even though you and I probably would not have. I know there are so many people in need around the world who also deserve help. But, if you're here and you've made it this far then I know that you love and care for Jen as much as I do and you know how special she is.

Your donation will go directly to her medical bills...and to my efforts to keep that smile on her face and her laughter in our hearts. Thank you...I hope you know how much you are appreciated.