My niece Jamie is one of the kindest, most generous people I know. She is always willing to help anyone out, no matter what you need. She is a giver! Jamie always brings positive energy when she enters the room. She will make you laugh, sing you karaoke, make you something yummy to eat, or just offer to help you in any way she can. Jamie lives in West Warwick with her equally amazing 14-year-old daughter, Elsyee Jean.

On January 28, 2026, Jamie and Elsyee's world was turned upside down. Jamie was having some stomach pain and went to the hospital thinking she was having an IBS flare-up or gallstone issue. Jamie was sent for a CAT scan while in the Emergency Department. When the results came back, the doctors came in and told her that she was not having a gallstone issue or an IBS attack. They told her she had cancer! The CAT scan showed a large tumor and an excessive amount of malignant ascites fluid. She was then transported her by ambulance to Women and Infants Hospital to meet with an oncology surgeon. Upon meeting with the doctors, Jaime was told she might have ovarian cancer and they would potentially do a hysterectomy and other procedures the next day.

When the team went in, they discovered that this was not ovarian cancer. The doctors performed a laparoscopic surgery and removed an extensive amount of malignant ascites fluid. She was then referred to a different surgical oncologist. During the laparoscopic surgery, two small incisions were placed in her stomach, one in her belly button and one in her abdomen. Normally, these incisions close up quickly.

That did not happen. Jamie started leaking malignant ascites fluid from these locations. Within a few days, she needed to return to Women and Infants Hospital to have her abdomen drained again. They referred her to the original hospital to have them look at her belly button and stomach incisions. They were worried that there might be an infection starting and that was why the incisions were not closing. The hospital then made the decision to glue her two incisions shut.

Within two days of having her incisions glued, Jamie had an infection and was admitted back into the hospital. They removed the glue seals and Jamie was hospitalized for the next 6 days to fight the infections. The day she was released, she went to the oncologist and was told her she had a gastrointestinal stromal tumor which, even though it was in a later stage, was treatable with a chemo pill.

The next day, she met with her oncology surgical team. She had another fever, her blood pressure was unreadable (it was too low), and she was dehydrated from the continuing leaking fluid. They immediately called for an ambulance and transferred her back to Roger Williams Hospital.

Jamie stayed in a regular room for a week. On Monday, 3/2, she was transferred to ICU because she developed pneumonia and her kidneys were starting to shut down. On Tuesday, 3/3, I received a call from the Palliative Care Team saying that things were not going well. More biopsies had come back and she did not have a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. They stated that she had a very advanced, aggressive, uncommon form of angiosarcoma in her pelvic area that had spread.

By 8 pm on 3/3, they had intubated her. They soon stated that her kidneys were failing and that they needed to start dialysis but her blood pressure was too low.

If this was something positive, I would call this a perfect storm, but it is not. Ultimately, all of these issues has caused a delay in her cancer treatment. Without the cancer treatment, we cannot resolve any of these issues. The doctors have been putting out one fire after another in hopes of getting her back to a place where they can move forward to treat the cancer.

Over the last few days, we have had a few positives. Jamie is responding well to dialysis and they have been able to maintain her blood pressure to a low but acceptable level for dialysis treatment. Her pneumonia is clearing up although there may be another infection brewing, the doctors are monitoring it closely. They are hoping to get her to a place where they can remove the vent and start her chemo treatment.

Today was a good day. We realized that Jamie, who has worked for years with individuals with developmental disabilities, knows how to sign (finger spell)! We have been struggling to communicate with her this week. Today, when Elsyee visited, her mom was able to speak to her in finger spell. Elsie was able to look at the chart and communicate back. Elsyee's first thought was, "I am so glad my mom can now advocate for herself again." What an amazing day for both of them. We are praying for many more amazing days!

This has been the longest 5-week journey in Jamie and Elsie's life. We are all praying for a miracle. We are hoping to get Jamie off the ventilator and start her on her chemo meds this week.

The first 5 weeks of this journey have felt so long. The rest of the journey is going to be much longer. If you are able to help support Jamie and Elsyee in their time of need, we ask that you please donate below.