Support Jo Lemoine's Fight Against Cancer

If a hug were a person, it would be Jo Lemoine.

I'll be honest, I have a hard time pinpointing when Jo became a customer of my former bakery. However, my earliest memory is that of Jo coming into the bakery at the end of the day and buying me out of all of my sweets for their coworkers. (Whoopie pies were always a favorite, from what I'm told.). From that moment on, no visit from Jo was complete without conversation, a hug, and some serious sweet splurging.

I have only ever known Jo to be this bright, shiny light wherever they go. From what I've learned from their friends, I'm not alone in this description. As life would have it, the good people seem to always get hit the hardest, and Jo is no exception.

January 18th, 2024 - Jo met with their regular PCP to complain about a lump in the breast and severe chest pain.

February 20th, 2024 - a mammogram and ultrasound revealed a 3cm tumor, but no lymph node concerns. An expedited biopsy was requested.

February 22nd, 2024 - Jo met with the breast surgeon for the first time, and for the biopsy. The surgeon was concerned that the feel of the tumor was bigger than what the scans had shown. The biopsy was sent for genetic testing as well.

March 4th, 2024 - Jo met with the surgeon, oncologist, and radiologist to discuss the results. All three agreed that the tumor felt bigger than what was showing and it was decided that a double mastectomy, with a lymph node biopsy, was the best form of treatment.

March 6th, 2024 - Genetic results confirmed that Jo was not a carrier for the BRCA gene, but family history put them at risk of cancer returning elsewhere in the body at 45% and at over 80% in the other breast. They continued with the plan of the double mastectomy.

March 26th, 2024 - Jo went in for their double mastectomy and lymph node biopsy.

April 8th, 2024 - Jo met with the surgeon for their post-op visit. It was discovered that the original ultrasound hid 6cm of the tumor, meaning the tumor was actually 9cm in size. Additionally, the biopsy from the lymph nodes found that they were cancerous. Jo was categorized as Stage 3 Metastatic Breast Cancer, but is possibly in the beginning of Stage 4, pending further test results.

April 10th, 2024 - Jo met with the oncologist to discuss ongoing medical treatment. They were informed that with the exception of the hospital, Jo is not to leave the house.

As a Special Education paraprofessional, you can only imagine how devastating this news was to Jo. Their response to not being able to return to school was that of heartbreak. Jo is one of the most beautiful human beings on the planet, but as stubborn as they come when it comes to putting themselves first. If Jo could find a way to fight cancer from the classroom, they would.

Instead, Jo is stuck between their home and the hospital.

While Jo is busy fighting for their life, we're going to help fight for their livelihood. Being unable to work and having a lapse in insurance coverage means that the bills pile up, and so does the stress. Not just medical bills, but everyday bills including the mortgage, utilities, food, access to the internet, etc... Stressing over these things should be the very least of Jo's worries, and the strain that stress can take on the body is nobody's friend.

Jo started chemo on May 7th, 2024. It will continue for five months, followed by radiation. At best, Jo will be able to return to work in January.

While we all know they'll be running toward that school bell the second the doctor's give them the green light, let's come together and make sure Jo has everything they need from now through at least the end of the year. Even the smallest contribution will help, but if you are unable to contribute financially, please share this campaign everywhere you can.

Let's keep Jo's light shining bright.