Help Jessie Fight Stage IV Colon Cancer

Those who know Jessie Levoy, know well that she is a force of, and for, goodness; She is the purest beam of light that surfaces when it feels like it will never stop raining.

In September of this year Jessie was diagnosed with colon cancer.  As if the diagnosis wasn’t terrifying enough, it was swiftly followed by a harrowing sequence of events: immediate emergency surgery,  a frenzied cross country relocation to be closer to Sloan Kettering, only to learn that the cancer had spread to her lymphatic system and her lung,  serving her the daunting diagnosis of Stage IV Colon Cancer. 

After surgery, she embarked on a painful recovery which was interrupted by the discovery that the cancer had moved to her liver in several detectable masses.

Jessie has courageously returned to San Francisco, alone, to begin chemotherapy. In an ideal world, we could swoop in and hold her close, be inspired by her indomitable spirit, and have the honor of watching her conquer cancer. Unfortunately, this is not possible.  However, what we can do is come together, hold her in our constant thoughts, and try to help her shoulder some of the financial burden which is inevitably weighing on her already heavy heart. 

Jessie will be on her own and can use any financial support we can offer her.  She is in need of reliable and safe transportation, a food service that caters to her new, very strict, diet, and a financial cushion to cover all the other costs associated with what it means to be battling cancer.  Her current apartment is small and cramped, and in constant need of repair. She needs to move closer to her hospital and her work, in a peaceful neighborhood that gives her a sense of security, solace and warmth.  She needs an apartment big enough to accommodate friends or family when someone is able to come in town to help her during treatments.  When friends can’t be there to bring her food, or medication or take her to appointments or take Cali for a walk, clean, etc… We need to hire someone who can.  All this on top of her mounting medical bills!

For now, all of Jessie’s energy, focus, will and fight needs to be given to killing this cancer and making her healthy again. She needs to know that we have her back!

Jessie is one of the earths greatest sources of light.  She is cut from a cloth of old fashioned grace and sweetness that feel rare, juxtaposed against modern mean spirited cynicism. It's difficult to properly characterize a woman who can actually notice and point out the beauty in a cloud or the smell of fresh air- it's as though she was born to remind us about the glory of the natural world. Every time she nudges us to acknowledge the gift of a day without heartache is a sobering reminder of how much loss and pain this woman has experienced before cancer had ever darkened her door. She has been dealt so much and yet each time has risen from the ashes with incalculable grace. She sees this world as beautiful despite all she has suffered and those of us who have reaped the benefit of her fierce loyalty as a friend, daughter and sister, an artist, or a godmother, we owe her our fight. We need to fight for her Infectious laugh, her smile and her wisdom. She lives for her friends, for us.

She can’t fight this alone….and she shouldn’t have to.  We can all form a healing circle around her, together!  If you have ever received help when you were unable to ask for it then you understand why we are campaigning for her- entreating for the help she could never ask for herself. 

Please donate what you can. Even a dollar gets us closer.

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. Keep her in your thoughts, your prayers, and your hearts. If anyone can beat this, It’s Jessie Rose Levoy!

 

With love and hope,
Nikki V Gillingham, Adam Levoy, Mary Louise Parker & Katelyn Varhely