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Support Jera, Young Mom Battling Brain Cancer

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My name is Jenni and I'm raising funds on behalf of my baby sister, Jera, who is beginning her journey with Glioblastoma (brain cancer).

On May 22, after a long-awaited MRI, Jera was told she had aggressive cancer and was immediately scheduled for a neurosurgery consult for the following morning. At the consult, they expressed urgent concern for removal and scheduled her for a craniotomy just 10 days later on 6/2. Her surgery went as well as we could have hoped for at the time, and her surgeon was confident he removed all visible tissue and sent it for molecular testing. Her follow-up with the neuro team seemed positive, and they were hopeful that she would have no further treatment if future scheduled scans came back clear. Then we received the testing results and new scans, and the news wasn't what we hoped for. On 6/25, we learned that there were still many cancer cells distributed throughout her brain and that she had grade 4 Glioblastoma. She will be beginning a six-week radiation and chemotherapy treatment in July.

As a 33-year-old wife and mother of 3 boys (aged 12, 8, and 1), this was and is hard news to hear. As a family, they have spent the last year trying to establish a new home, life, and business back in their home state of SC after a few years of out-of-state work. That has been its own round of struggles before any of this came to light, and they hadn't yet found their sure footing. That being said, when it rains, it pours, and it's torrential right now. Despite all odds, Jera is confident, faithful, and hopeful in total healing and remains in strong spirits. She would only ask for your heartfelt prayers, but as her family, we are asking for any and all help you can offer to help offset the financial burden that will be transportation, treatment, time away from work for both her and her husband, to care for her and their 3 boys during and after this battle and any outcome it may bring.

Some stats on Glioblastoma (GBM) for those who may not be aware:

  • GBM is the most aggressive brain cancer
  • GBM accounts for 48% of all malignant brain tumors
  • The average 5-year survival rate of GBM patients is 5%
  • It affects 13,000 Americans a year
  • Funding for brain cancer is critically low, only receiving around 5% of total cancer research


On behalf of Jera and her family, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any and all support.




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    Organizer

    Jenni Barfuss
    Organizer
    Summerville, SC

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