For Jolynne's Boys
Donation protected
My friend Jolynne Andal Biljetina is one of the most optimistic, gentle, giving, and loving people I know, and she and her family need our help.
In January 2016 Jolynne organized a Google Hangout among a group of us gals who'd worked together for a few years doing research on early childhood development. We had all since moved on to different jobs at different organizations in different parts of the country. We were super eager to catch up. Giddy, even.
The gals with Jolynne's son, Eli
The gals, with Jolynne on bottom right
When the big chat day finally arrived, in February, we all logged in on Hangouts but were disappointed to learn that Jolynne wouldn't be joining us after all. Both her boys had been coughing for days, she said; and she was coughing now, too. Walking pneumonia and bronchitis, she said.
The boys got better, but Jolynne's cough never went away. Nor did the chest pain that came along with it. In late February 2016 Jolynne was diagnosed with the rarest form of an aggressive cancer in the lining of her lungs, called sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
Rollercoaster of Hope
Prior to the official mesothelioma diagnosis, Jolynne had been going through the wringer day after day and week after week, all sorts of doctors trying to fix what they didn't yet know was wrong. She was tested for TB, biopsied, had surgery to drain the persisting fluid build-up on her lungs, and then more surgery and more testing and more draining. She started chemotherapy in April, which seemed to work at first but then it stopped. And then remember that immunotherapy treatment that knocked out President Jimmy Carter's brain and liver tumors ? Well, they put Jo on that and the tumor shrunk a whopping 25%!
But then the cancer spread to the brain. And Jolynne received whole brain radiation therapy.
And then there was this...
Fighting for the Boys
Jolynne is still fighting strong to stay alive as long as she can to grow old with her husband, Eric, and watch their boys Ethan and Eli grow to be productive and happy citizens. She and Eric have always made it a top priority to invest in their boys' education and extracurricular activities, including sports, music and martial arts.
Eli & Ethan
Jo's campaign goal is to have a fund for her children that will support their continued positive growth so that they can be productive and happy citizens in their communities.
Jolynne, Eric, Ethan, & Eli
Jolynne and Eric and all who love her will continue to pray and to fight for her life, to seek alternative treatments and miracles, and to hope. But her sons are not ready yet for battle armour. Her sons are just boys, knowing only that mommy doesn't feel well enough lately to run and play with them, or sometimes even to read to them as she loves to do.
Let's do this for the Biljetina boys.
In January 2016 Jolynne organized a Google Hangout among a group of us gals who'd worked together for a few years doing research on early childhood development. We had all since moved on to different jobs at different organizations in different parts of the country. We were super eager to catch up. Giddy, even.
The gals with Jolynne's son, EliThe gals, with Jolynne on bottom rightWhen the big chat day finally arrived, in February, we all logged in on Hangouts but were disappointed to learn that Jolynne wouldn't be joining us after all. Both her boys had been coughing for days, she said; and she was coughing now, too. Walking pneumonia and bronchitis, she said.
The boys got better, but Jolynne's cough never went away. Nor did the chest pain that came along with it. In late February 2016 Jolynne was diagnosed with the rarest form of an aggressive cancer in the lining of her lungs, called sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
Rollercoaster of Hope
Prior to the official mesothelioma diagnosis, Jolynne had been going through the wringer day after day and week after week, all sorts of doctors trying to fix what they didn't yet know was wrong. She was tested for TB, biopsied, had surgery to drain the persisting fluid build-up on her lungs, and then more surgery and more testing and more draining. She started chemotherapy in April, which seemed to work at first but then it stopped. And then remember that immunotherapy treatment that knocked out President Jimmy Carter's brain and liver tumors ? Well, they put Jo on that and the tumor shrunk a whopping 25%!
But then the cancer spread to the brain. And Jolynne received whole brain radiation therapy.
And then there was this...
Fighting for the Boys
Jolynne is still fighting strong to stay alive as long as she can to grow old with her husband, Eric, and watch their boys Ethan and Eli grow to be productive and happy citizens. She and Eric have always made it a top priority to invest in their boys' education and extracurricular activities, including sports, music and martial arts.
Eli & EthanJo's campaign goal is to have a fund for her children that will support their continued positive growth so that they can be productive and happy citizens in their communities.
Jolynne, Eric, Ethan, & EliJolynne and Eric and all who love her will continue to pray and to fight for her life, to seek alternative treatments and miracles, and to hope. But her sons are not ready yet for battle armour. Her sons are just boys, knowing only that mommy doesn't feel well enough lately to run and play with them, or sometimes even to read to them as she loves to do.
Let's do this for the Biljetina boys.
Organizer and beneficiary
Celina Chatman Nelson
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Eric Biljetina
Beneficiary
