For My Jenn

I’m Julie Rae and my wife is Jenn.  Anyone who knows us knows that we are one person living in two separate bodies, and that she is my everything.  We met fourteen years ago when we were working at Bank of America, and slowly became friends.  Two years later, that friendship blossomed into what we were both secretly hoping it would, and were both very surprised that the feelings were mutual.  We have been inseparable since, and were married October 22, 2011 in Central Park New York.  We’ve shared what most marriages do – buying a home together, integrating families, planning for a family of our own, hosting holidays, caring for each other through illnesses, and many, many laughs.  

Unfortunately, only six months after our wedding (and the happiest six months of my life), her body, specifically her pancreas, decided to stop cooperating.  We were at work on a warm, sunny April morning, and she suddenly felt nauseated and dizzy, and it never went away.  After several trips to several doctors, and a referrals to a few specialists, it was determined that a pancreas divisum, and a procedure called an ERCP would be necessary to determine why she was experiencing the symptoms she was experiencing.  Frighteningly, ERCP’s, which consist of a scope and small wire being fished through the pancreatic duct, can cause pancreatitis, which can be deadly.  The first ERCP did just that. She came down with severe pancreatis and was on a clear liquid diet for nearly three weeks, which caused her to become severely malnutritioned.  During this process she was also diagnosed with Gastroparesis, which as a partial paralysis of the stomach, meaning her stomach only works at 25%.

Jenn has since undergone ten ERCP’s, a few that resulted in pancreatitis, a few of those severe that required hospitalization.  Each surgery has resulted in the placement of stents within the pancreatic duct to open up the duct which, for whatever reason, is closed to the point that it doesn’t allow for the flow of the pancreatic juices, they therefore back up into her pancreas, and make her very ill, causing chronic pancreatitis.  Malnutrition and illness is something we face every day of our lives, as well as the fear of what this all means long term.

We have now reached another fork in the road, and for Jenn to continue treatment we must travel to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ.  several times for several surgeries. 

As you can imagine, this is very costly and the medical bills have piled up over the last four years, and the travel expenses are going to be significant.  We don’t like asking for help, and don’t take it easily.  This account is being set up with much reluctance from Jenn as she strongly feels there are others who need it far more than we do.

Jenn is an amazingly loving and giving person – the most compassionate person I’ve ever known, really. Please, if you can spare a few dollars, your help is much needed and abundantly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!