“Jody is a picture of unconditional love, joy, and steadfastness”
“Whenever any of us are having a bad day, Jody shows up and it becomes better”
“Her laugh can instantly light up the room”
These quotes were pulled from a collection of nearly 80 letters written to Jody Heaton by her friends, family, and loved ones (picture included). You can read some additional quotes at the bottom of this page to get a better sense of just how beloved Jody is.
Leukemia diagnosis
A few weeks ago, Jody was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), an aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow that progresses rapidly without intervention. She will be admitted to the hospital at OHSU on Wednesday, May 6th to start induction chemotherapy, followed by four rounds of consolidation therapy.
Jody’s mom (Elsie) was diagnosed with AML as well back in 1994 and survived two years with chemo. Now, more than 30 years later, treatments and genetic testing for AML have improved significantly. The team at OHSU believes Jody has good odds of achieving long-term remission.
More about Jody
Jody grew up in a northern suburb of Chicago called Skokie, where she made many lifelong friends who she keeps in touch with to this day. She moved to the Portland area in 1981 and has lived a life of generosity, love, acceptance, and kindness.
In addition to roles like being a Hospice volunteer, Jody has created her own opportunities to make the world a better place. She can regularly be seen giving small gift cards to strangers “just because”, or taking hours out of her day to help friends navigate a challenging situation.
Despite incredible life challenges of her own, such as being held at knifepoint, being housebound for nearly a year, Ménière's disease, and severe panic disorder, Jody’s kind spirit has persisted. Her son Lukas (picture included) will be by her side throughout this journey with Leukemia.
The ask
We are asking for help to cover Jody’s transportation, medical, and living expenses over the next 6-7 months. We are unsure what her insurance will cover as far as hospital stays and testing, and all the monitoring that goes along with her diagnosis.
Jody will also need to commute to Beaverton frequently for bloodwork and transfusions. Sadly, her 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer (picture included) is on its last leg and is getting to the point of being unsafe to drive. We’re not sure at this point if it’s reparable or if she’ll need to get a used car as a replacement. Either way, it will be a considerable cost.
Jody lives on a fixed SSI income and cannot work now due to her condition. These funds would give her peace of mind during all phases of treatment, both inpatient and outpatient.
Additional links
Blog with frequent updates: https://medium.com/@JodyHeaton
Publsihed story about Jody, her mom Elsie, and Elsie’s nurse: https://www.instituteforhumancaring.org/Who-We-Are/Multimedia-Library/Mission-inspired/Rooted-in-love.aspx
What people have to say about Jody
In addition to those listed at the top of the page, here are some quotes from Jody’s birthday book:
“Jody is an incredible woman who will always be one of my heroes”
“Jody has been the most fun, loyal, dear friend anyone could have. I am so privileged to have her in my life”
“You are so loving, kind, loyal, compassionate, and definitely one of a kind! I wish there were more people like you in the world”
“You were there for me when I was having the biggest crisis of my life. You talked with me and opened your home to me”
“Jody has never lost her concern for our well-being. She has smiled with us in our times of joy and wept with us in times of sadness. Jody has shown us all unconditional love. She always has and always will want the best for each and every one one of us, no strings attached”
“Jody is one of the strongest, most wonderful human beings I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She never forgets anyone's birthday, and always goes out of her way to bring presents whether it's Christmas or just spontaneous, as a sweet reminder that she is thinking of us and loves us”
"Jody is, and always will be, my sister…with total trust, acceptance, love and support”
“Thank you for being selfless. You have truly made this world a better place by caring more for others than for yourself. You are an inspiration”
“You are the most giving and generous person I have ever known. You have taught me endless lessons in caring and understanding of other people”
“If the fates had made Jody blessed with material riches, I’m thoroughly convinced she would lead a modest life and devote herself to philanthropy”
“You were the beacon of light in my new life. I never imagined such a beautiful, hilarious, genuine, knowledgeable person such as you would be that beacon”
“I wish I had the capability to simply reflect back on all the comfort, courage, optimism, compassion, wisdom, generosity and laughter that you’ve shared with me. With the loss of my vision, you have helped me retain my dignity. What greater gift can one friend give to another?”
“Jody’s words and advice are never lost with me, I remember them and hold them very dear. Thank you for being my rock, my anchor, and for keeping me grounded when I feel like I may otherwise be blown away”