Help Jen and Her Family

Our dental hygienist, Jennifer Novak, recently underwent brain surgery on Monday August 23, 2021. After experiencing some facial and finger numbness, Jen and her doctors decided she needed to have an MRI to see what was the cause. After the scan on Friday, Jen was immediately admitted to Lehigh Valley Hospital for surgery on Monday. Jen endured an intense seven hour brain surgery to remove the mass. After seven long days in the hospital, she was discharged and able to go home. The tumor was diagnosed as a meningioma; usually a noncancerous tumor that arises from the membranes surrounding the brain. Thankfully, the tumor is benign! Jen has a long recovery ahead of her.

Simple, ordinary daily tasks that many take for granted are now a struggle for Jen. These tasks include difficulty eating, spells of extreme lethargy, loss of muscle strength, dizziness, impaired vision and nerve sensation and loss of mobility in her hands. As a result, Jen is understandably taking a leave of absence and her return to our supportive family here at Broad Street Dental Associates remains uncertain.

Jen is one of the most amazing and strongest people we know. She is a dental hygienist that also is president of her daughter's PTA. She is always on the go doing something for her friends and family, especially her two children Zakary (13) and Mattingly (10). Mike, her loving husband of nineteen years has now taken over all of Jen's beloved roles including taking the kids to the bus stop, school events, baseball and softball games and wrestling, in addition to working extra hours. Just the simple task of driving is now on Mike. Jen just wants life to get back to normal enjoying the simple things in life such as spending time with her friends and family and even working!

To the outside, Jen appears as she always has- strong, confident and a wonderful mother, but she is in need of assistance. She always does so much for everyone else, it's our turn to help her and her family.