Hello,

if you have been following my story on Caring Bridge of living with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer diagnosis since 2022, you know that recently things have moved in a new direction for me with a lot more challenges in the form of medical interventions, long and short hospital stays, and difficulty meeting the needs of daily life on my own, as well as dealing with the isolation and lack of care and support resources in the semi-rural area of San Diego County where I have been living for four years.

Up to now, I have been able to keep things together and manage my basic needs and drive myself around and even work a little bit at the city library in a nearby town. However, around the holidays, things took a turn and  managing my medical and personal care needs has become difficult to do on my own. I am reaching a point where I am not able to work and will need to have more support.

Some friends have been helping identify available resources and, at the same time several friends have urged me to set up a GoFundMe as a way for those who are not nearby or available in-person to support me and contribute mostly to medical costs, support services like in-home care, and eventually perhaps a board-and-care situation when I need that, as well as medical transport because driving has become more challenging due to muscle weakness in my back and legs and frequent fatigue. Medical transport is more affordable than Uber or Lyft and provides a ride to frequent appointments and outpatient surgeries which are 45 minutes at least and sometimes more than an hour drive from where I live. Donations will also support food and grocery delivery when I am just too weak to cook or drive and walk around a store. Basically this is meant to support paying for things that are not covered by insurance. I am working through exploring some resources that may be available but so far my social security and a small pension from teaching put me just above the limits to qualify for Medi-Cal or any other services provided by State and Federal programs. (I was shocked to learn that you have to have under $1800 a month gross income to qualify. I can’t imagine anyone being able to live in Southern California for less than $1800! Basic rent for a studio or one bedroom apartment is hard to find for that.)

I appreciate so much the outpouring of love and care from friends near and far and want to make this easier for all of us, so this GoFundMe is meant to do that. If you are not a fan of Go Fund Me’s percentage take of donations, and want to use a different method, please reach out via text or a messenger app and I will send you my Venmo or Zelle QR code or mailing address - whatever works for you.

Thank you for all of your love and support during this difficult and ever-changing experience with the disease and with the health care systems that are not coordinated enough to feel supportive. I appreciate the many, many ways some of you have tried to fill those gaps and help me navigate the patchwork of care and qualification that often falls far short of what is most needed during such challenging medical experiences.

Please feel free to communicate with me via text or one of the many messenger type apps if you have any questions or need more information. If you are not in a position to help in this way, please know that I appreciate every kind thought and card or letter and message and all good energy sent my way every bit as much as the in-person or monetary support that so many of you have offered. It is not an experience that anyone should have to go through alone and yet so many people do because of the overwhelming impact and lack of coordinated care resources.

Thank you for your ongoing encouragement and for the outpouring of support of love that keeps me going in the toughest times.

Love to all,

Jennifer