HOPE...#LisaStrong

LISA’S STORY

 This page was put together in support of our warrior inspiration, Lisa Jones Kutra.

 Lisa is a mom of Cassie, 15 and Caroline 13, a daughter of Ned and Mary Kay Brogan Jones, a teacher at Stroudsburg Hamilton Elementary School, a friend to all, both young and old, a beloved cousin and a warrior who continuously spreads awareness for Metastatic Breast Cancer.

 Lisa and her family have endured much loss. Her brother Craig died at a year old from liver cancer and her brother David died at age 17 from heart disease while playing basketball. Who would ever believe that tragedy would strike the Jones family again?

 In 2012, Lisa discovered a lump in her breast just two months after a negative mammogram. She was quickly diagnosed with stage 2B Breast Cancer. After surgery, and several rounds of chemotherapy, she thankfully rang the bell at Hershey Medical Center announcing that she was cured.

 While being treated for her cancer, Lisa acquired a love for running and completed numerous races with some of her biggest supporters as part of the Scranton running community.   She ran numerous races in Scranton, Philly, Hershey, Virginia Beach and her biggest accomplishment, the New York City Marathon with Ryan’s Run 6! All being a testament to her strength and endurance.

 Lisa continued to live her life cancer free enjoying her home, her children, her job, her family and friends and her time in Long Beach Island.

 Lisa was not aware that the mental strength and endurance she was gaining through marathon training was actually preparing her for the struggle of her life. Two months after she ran the New York City Marathon in 2015, her cancer metastasized to her liver and she was diagnosed stage IV/end stage cancer. This was a crushing blow to Lisa, her family and her friends.

 This new diagnosis brought Lisa to The University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia where she has endured daunting chemo treatments, some of which had side effects that were extremely harsh to her body. Medical procedures became common place. Not one to complain, Lisa continued to work full time and take care of her home and family.

 Two years ago, Lisa was admitted to the University of Penn for an extremely life-threatening bile duct blockage due to her cancer. Her condition was critical and her family and friends feared that she would not make it home. Lisa’s strength astounded her doctors and it appeared that a miracle occurred as she fully recovered and returned to her teaching position where she has shaped the lives of hundreds of students over the last two decades.

 After her recovery from the bile duct illness, Lisa acquired malignant peritoneal ascites which requires weekly treatment that continues to this day.

 In November of 2018, Lisa was hospitalized with a nonsurgical bowel blockage which became a critical illness as she lay in a coma for four days in ICU. It was, indeed, another miracle that she survived and came home after a month in the hospital. Lisa was sent home in December with the unfortunate expectations that she would not survive more than a few weeks.

 As we put this Go Fund Me page together, Lisa is thriving and with the help of her family and friends and the miracle of medicine. She has regained much of her strength and is learning to deal with the effects of the disease. She requires daily assistance for medications, tube feedings and nursing care. Chemo options have been exhausted.

 Lisa is unable to work and is currently on a medical sabbatical. There currently are copays, uncovered medical expenses, and ambulance fees that are mounting daily.  The expenses of daily living, raising 2 teenagers and maintaining a mortgage continue.  Her Mom and Dad have placed their lives on hold to help Lisa and her girls meet their daily needs.

 Through all this, Lisa continues to spread awareness about Metastatic Breast Cancer. She, like Robin Roberts, is trying to make, ‘her mess her message’. She takes every opportunity to educate everyone about the realities of breast cancer. She is role model, not only to her girls but to her community and the world.

 She often ends her musings on her FB page, HOPE…#LisaStrong,  with the following hashtags:
#bethelight
#stageivneedsmore
#knowledgeispower

 Her family and friends have rallied to support this warrior whom we love dearly!!  Please consider making a contribution to this fund that will help defray expenses.  Share Lisa’s story,  which while heartbreaking, is also filled with love, faith, strength and hope!

Strength and Love,

Lisa’s family