Janice Decker has not given birth to any children and still she is a mother to many. Some she chose to take on, others were laid in her lap by their parents who knew that Auntie JJ would be phenomenal in the event their kids needed a stand in parent. She has met the task time and time again. Last I checked she was godmother to seven children ranging in age from 21 down to 9. As well as being a mother figure to countless students in her 18 years teaching in public schools. Each one of them feels the love and each one of them knows a stern look from their beloved Auntie, Ms J. or Mrs. Decker means business.

When Janice was just a freshman in college she had to be rushed to the emergency room by her sorority sisters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated at the Zeta Alpha chapter of North Carolina A&T State University. The doctors tested and tested and finally it was determined that Janice had lupus (SLE). At 18 years old she was burdened with an autoimmune disease that would have reoccurring effects for the remainder of her life. Since that diagnosis, Janice has fought and beat diagnosis after diagnosis. There were seasons of 24 hour oxygen usage. Surgery after surgery. In and out of hospitals. Fatigue, fainting spells, bone pain, muscle pain, you name it and Janice has likely experienced it. Go ahead and ask, "Cancer?" The answer to that question, Yes. At 40 years old in the middle of the worldwide Covid pandemic, Janice found herself in a different kind of battle. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). While the world scrambled to buy up toilet paper and hand sanitizer, Janice's husband Damon chauffeured her to chemo treatments during the pandemic. 2020 was the first Christmas in her life that Janice was not physically present with family. She and Damon joined the family via zoom, as we all opened presents and spent time "together". It wasn't what we did but it was what we had to do like many that year. Except we were in the middle of the fight for her life. November 13, 2020 was the date of her final radiation treatment and we were all present to support her as she rang the bell! It was an exciting time. She beat cancer! The fight was over and it was time to get back to being the vibrant godmother who did not miss a birthday celebration or holiday with her kids and she did. Until June 2022 when she felt a lump-AGAIN. After a biopsy, it was determined that TNBC was back for another round. This time it came back with a vengeance, same breast stage 3 but the tumor was double the size. Janice, like the fighter she is, sat down with the family and laid out the plan to be a 2 time champion against this deadly disease. Today is February 8, 2023 and Janice is in the fight for the second time.

Janice and Damon had begun meeting with a realtor and looking into adoption prior to her first fight with cancer. The dream of being homeowners and starting a family of their own was in reach, but cancer has a way of crushing your savings. They made it through and after round 1, they began working towards this goal again. Now they are back in the ring with cancer and the savings that were depleted in round 1 never had a chance to get ready for round 2. So here we are.

On Christmas day 2022, they received a gift from local nonprofit organization Dakotastrong of $750. Enough to take a breath but not even close to allowing Janice to breathe. My name is Kevin. I'm Janice's brother in law. I have watched her life unfold over the past 24 years. I don't know a tougher woman! Janice will tell you she is not tough and finish that sentence "But God is"! If you want to see faith at work and present in the life of a person, sit down with Janice for 5 minutes. She'll preach to you and encourage you and you may not hear any of it because you will likely be in awe. The out-of-pocket cost of cancer treatments after insurance are enormous from co-payments, prescriptions, transportation, etc. Janice and Damon have not been financially irresponsible, they have simply fallen victim to the horrible fight against cancer. Janice fights daily and the last thing she needs to worry about are mounting medical bills.

This is an opportunity for all us who have been blessed by Janice, whether it was her love and support for your child, her dedication to teaching you business skills and concepts as a student, her loyalty as a friend or sorority sister, her warm professionalism as a colleague, or her inspiring you through prayer or sharing her testimony, to pour back into this woman who gives selflessly. Janice will continue to fight and Damon will continue to be by her side but the bills keep rolling in. With your help and organizations like Dakotastrong, this financial battle can be defeated as well, so when Janice rings the bell again, she can go home and Netflix and chill! Well maybe not Netflix and chill, but there will be no pile of lingering bills to sort through after the 2nd fight of her life!