Supporting Adriaan Jenken and Valerie White

My name is Sara White and I am reaching out on behalf of my sister, Valerie White and her son, Adriaan. Adriaan is 21 years old and has been battling stage 4 Glioblastoma cancer for almost two years.

https://braintumor.org/events/glioblastoma-awareness-day/about-glioblastoma/

In the fall of 2022, Adriaan was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was undergoing radiation and immunotherapy, which slightly reduced the tumor size, recently his condition has worsened. In his last MRI, it was discovered that he developed another tumor in a different spot. Despite receiving treatment that extended his life beyond the initial prognosis of 18 months, he is now rapidly declining. His memory is nearly gone, with only some long-term memories remaining, but he remains in good spirits. His condition means he forgets details quickly, which has helped him not dwell on his circumstances. Over the past few weeks, he has rapidly lost his vision and mobility, requiring full assistance with daily living.

Glioblastoma, or GBM, is an aggressive form of brain cancer. It is characterized by rapid growth and a tendency to spread quickly within the brain. GBM affects the brain's supportive tissue, leading to various neurological symptoms depending on the tumor's location.

Since May 2024, Adriaan’s health has declined significantly. Due to his condition, he has been denied further aggressive treatment but will continue with immunotherapy to help as much as possible. Currently, Adriaan is in the hospital and will soon be assessed for home care support. Once assessed, he will receive full assistance with daily living from a home care nurse, Valerie, and myself. As his condition progresses, he will eventually need to be transferred to the ICU in Saskatoon to receive a permanent shunt to drain fluid to relieve pressure from his brain. Unfortunately, there is little more that can be done, and he will remain in the ICU until he passes away.

My sister, Valerie is a single mother of four and works as a waitress in Esterhazy, SK. She may need to take time off work to spend more time with Adriaan and help him at home until he needs to be transferred to the ICU. While Adriaan receives minimal social assistance, it is not enough to cover his significant living and medical expenses. They do not have insurance or benefits to cover the costs associated with his end-of-life care and the inevitable funeral and burial expenses. We are seeking to raise 20,000 to help ease the financial burden during this incredibly challenging time. These funds will be used for: medical expenses, travel and accommodating stays away from home, home care costs, funeral costs, etc.

We kindly ask for your support in any way you can. Whether it’s through a donation or sharing this with others, every bit helps. Your generosity will allow my sister and nephew to focus on their remaining time together with family without the added stress of financial worries.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can provide. Your kindness means more to us than words can express during this difficult time.