Stand with Jana Kelly in Her Cancer Journey

Hi, my name is Jana (Burkett) Kelly and I am 57 years old. Let me tell you my story about how got to where I am today. During the covid scare in 2019, I was sent to the emergency room by my plumonologist thinking that I had covid. I was very scared.

After running a pet scan and an X-Ray the doctor proceeded to show me a mass surrounding my esophagus, trachea, blood supply and a 6" mass between my upper and lower in my left lung. I asked him if it was cancer and he said most likely since I was a smoker. Well my mom had died from lung cancer few years earlier. I watched her struggle to take her last breath. At this point in time I became very scared.

I was immediately referred to an oncologist who did an emergency biopsy and found I have small cell lung cancer, the worst possible kind. They quickly put in a port and started chemotherapy once a week and radiation daily. After this my tumor shrunk from 6 cm down to 1 cm but it was still there. At doctor's recommendation, we tried 2 regimens of immunotherapy but immediately pulled me off because it made me extremely sick. It was then, the doctors told me there is nothing left to do and diagnosed me with terminal lung cancer.

I have been blessed to have survived terminal lung cancer for the past five years. This has changed my life significantly. I was forced to quit my job unexpectedly and used all my savings to support myself.

Recently, the tumor has started to act up again and I am often in excruciating pain. The tightening in my chest and shortness of breath climbing stairs, vacuuming or any strenuous activity causes my breathing to become very labored. I was on very high doses of prednisone which caused something called Swiss cheese lung in my left lobe and my right lobe only has 38% oxygenation capacity. Again, the doctor told me there are no medical options available to cure the cancer. I am ineligible to survive anesthesia so I cannot have surgery to replace a lung.

Then a year then a year ago I was In a major car wreck, totalled my car and caused nerve damage to my right hand making it useless. Because of the problem i have become unable to take care Of myself. Now, I have a caregiver that I pay to take care of me as it is not covered by medical insurance. I do not have any living relatives in the area to assist me either.

It is challenging for me financially for my expenses and I am also planning for my cremation expenses as well as it is just a matter of time and my time on earth will be complete. I am blessed to have had the support that I have had. Any money donated will go to my medical expenses and would greatly be appreciated. Thank you for your time to read my story.