This is Jill
Donation protected
This is Jill. If you see her now, she is a 68-year-old woman with shoulder-length, wavy, grey hair, a tank top, shorts, sneakers, and a medical mask. There isn't much about her appearance that shows the horrors she has endured. Being both a breast cancer survivor of 4 years and having a congenital heart problem leading to three recent pacemaker operations riddled with complications are the least of it. Without going into painful detail, I will mention that she and her siblings grew up in Chicago with parents whose abuses were the stuff of sickening news horror stories. Always a highly intelligent person, she excelled in school under her own efforts with little guidance. She is a person of tremendous grit. Once she escaped home as a young adult, she moved to Clearwater, Florida where she worked hard to pay for her own higher education. She since has earned a master's degree and several higher education certificates on top of that.
At the end of her final term in college, she gave birth to an only son, Angelo, whose father left them after he was only 3 days old. She has never been married, nor had any long-term, significant relationships. In short, no man to pay or help pay for any bills. Ever. Rather, she committed herself fully to her role as a responsible and caring mother. Raising a son alone with no child or family support was no small feat. Her low wages as a female social worker saw her helping countless people in need over the years, all the while still being in need herself. She was a talented writer, earning extra money writing articles for local papers as well as taking on many babysitting, housecleaning, and pet-sitting jobs to make ends meet. Her tenacious parenting has seen her son earn Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
Jill has also made a long career of rescuing and refurbishing clothing and household goods for resale, more often than not taking these and donating them to others in need. She is always seen as someone to lean on. Someone with an extremely tough exterior who is consistent and solid in her role as a community helper. She even is an original member of the Clearwater Community Gardens. For several years, she has gone to grocers and food banks to deliver goods and food to those who are both in need and physically unable. Through her health issues and breast cancer, during which she lost her hair and one breast, she still remained strong for those around her, never wanting anyone to worry for her. This is Jill.
Now, Jill is the one in need. She has recently been diagnosed with AML Leukemia, an aggressive strain with a low survival rate. She has already been through 2 cycles of chemotherapy, had 2 blood infections that left her hospitalized for months near death with critical low white blood cell counts. Fortunately, she is extremely tough and once out, is already back at helping others. Unfortunately to keep on keeping on, she requires a bone marrow transplant. Several of her siblings have agreed to test to find the best possible transplant match. The matching donor will need airfare and accommodations to the cancer center for the procedure. Jill will then be set to stay there for one month to recover. Once this happens, the after care requires a 24-hour caretaker both for the month in center and for two months afterwards near campus.
Her son has since left his career and life in California to move back to Florida to be near her. He will take on this duty, which includes mandatory training classes and will need income to pay for their bills while their lives are on hold during this delicate and medically vulnerable time. Many companies are making it near impossible for them to sign up for hardship and will apply billing cycles per usual or near usual. The two of them will be required to stay within 30 minutes of the cancer center where they will go in for daily evaluations during the months of recovery.
We will keep progress posted of the surgery timeline as it requires much planning, as well as the procedure itself and thereafter. We, her few family and friends greatly appreciate any donations to help fulfill these requirements by her specialists in order to give this very hard-working woman the surgery, chance at life, and care she greatly deserves. Thank you for your time.
At the end of her final term in college, she gave birth to an only son, Angelo, whose father left them after he was only 3 days old. She has never been married, nor had any long-term, significant relationships. In short, no man to pay or help pay for any bills. Ever. Rather, she committed herself fully to her role as a responsible and caring mother. Raising a son alone with no child or family support was no small feat. Her low wages as a female social worker saw her helping countless people in need over the years, all the while still being in need herself. She was a talented writer, earning extra money writing articles for local papers as well as taking on many babysitting, housecleaning, and pet-sitting jobs to make ends meet. Her tenacious parenting has seen her son earn Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
Jill has also made a long career of rescuing and refurbishing clothing and household goods for resale, more often than not taking these and donating them to others in need. She is always seen as someone to lean on. Someone with an extremely tough exterior who is consistent and solid in her role as a community helper. She even is an original member of the Clearwater Community Gardens. For several years, she has gone to grocers and food banks to deliver goods and food to those who are both in need and physically unable. Through her health issues and breast cancer, during which she lost her hair and one breast, she still remained strong for those around her, never wanting anyone to worry for her. This is Jill.
Now, Jill is the one in need. She has recently been diagnosed with AML Leukemia, an aggressive strain with a low survival rate. She has already been through 2 cycles of chemotherapy, had 2 blood infections that left her hospitalized for months near death with critical low white blood cell counts. Fortunately, she is extremely tough and once out, is already back at helping others. Unfortunately to keep on keeping on, she requires a bone marrow transplant. Several of her siblings have agreed to test to find the best possible transplant match. The matching donor will need airfare and accommodations to the cancer center for the procedure. Jill will then be set to stay there for one month to recover. Once this happens, the after care requires a 24-hour caretaker both for the month in center and for two months afterwards near campus.
Her son has since left his career and life in California to move back to Florida to be near her. He will take on this duty, which includes mandatory training classes and will need income to pay for their bills while their lives are on hold during this delicate and medically vulnerable time. Many companies are making it near impossible for them to sign up for hardship and will apply billing cycles per usual or near usual. The two of them will be required to stay within 30 minutes of the cancer center where they will go in for daily evaluations during the months of recovery.
We will keep progress posted of the surgery timeline as it requires much planning, as well as the procedure itself and thereafter. We, her few family and friends greatly appreciate any donations to help fulfill these requirements by her specialists in order to give this very hard-working woman the surgery, chance at life, and care she greatly deserves. Thank you for your time.
Organizer
Marie Katevale
Organizer
Clearwater, FL
