9-1-1 Dispatcher Who Helps Others Needs Help!

Hello, my name is Jenny and I have the privilege of working with an incredible group of 9-1-1 telecommunicators in Clark County, Washington. As a telecommunicator, we field hundreds of calls each day from citizens in crisis, whether those calls are for a police response or fire or medical response, we are there 24/7 to help those in need. And now, one of our own needs your help.

Earlier this year, our coworker, Roxanne, one of our telecommunicators who has spent over 20 years serving our community, had been experiencing some health issues. Issues included extreme itchiness, fatigue, light headedness, and nausea. On February 14, 2024, she finally received some answers as to the cause of her recent health issues. Tests showed critical liver disfunction and they rushed her in for a CT scan. The CT scan revealed a good-sized mass on her pancreas. On February 21, Roxanne met with her oncologist who scheduled her for an ERCP procedure to implant a stent into her bile duct in efforts to restore liver function. The ERCP procedure was completed on February 23rd and has shown some improvement, however, not as much as they would have hoped for. They did a brushing of the mass when they completed the ERCP procedure which came back as negative, however, a brushing is not considered a reliable diagnostic tool as it will sometimes present both false positives and negatives. Her doctors still presume it to be primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Her oncologist expressed concerns that it could be an aggressive form of cancer, that she needed to complete a biopsy in order to create a treatment plan and recommended her for an EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound). They were trying to get her into OHSU, but that process is not moving as quickly as it needs to be. She is now scheduled for a consult Tuesday, March 4th at The Oregon Clinic at the Cancer Center Providence Medical Center. She is expecting to receive a call to schedule her for the EUS (biopsy) procedure before her consult on Tuesday.

Looking ahead, they believe the Oregon Clinic and her oncologist will want to do chemo before the surgery (removal of the mass), which creates an issue for the plastic stent that was implanted, as it will not hold up to chemo treatments. This means that it will need to be replaced with a steel stent. They will still need to determine who will be performing that procedure.

Those of us who know Roxanne, know her to be a kind and generous individual, someone who is not afraid to stand up for what is right and speak her mind, someone who is an ally to all, an example of strength and determination. She has overcome several hardships in the last few years and regardless of what life has thrown her way, she has fought her way back onto her feet out of her love and devotion to those she loves. She works countless hours to support her daughter, Abi and her mother who also lives with her.

How can you help?

This is where the need for assistance comes in. In addition to the incoming medical costs, she is facing a significant reduction in the amount of income that she has coming in. Roxanne is the sole provider for the household, mortgage, utilities, etc. She has been routinely working 12–14-hour shifts and picking up overtime on her days off, just to make ends meet and to make sure that all of their bills are paid. As she deals with her current health issues, she is managing to work a fraction of her normal hours and is facing the possibility of those hours being reduced further as things progress.

Funds raised with go directly to supporting Roxanne and her family, helping to cover household expenses, including her mortgage, utilities, groceries and incoming medical expenses. Our goal is to help their family maintain basic necessities and expenses while allowing her to focus on her health.

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant impact.

Help spread the word about Roxanne's story by sharing this GoFundMe page on your social media platforms, email, and with friends and family.

Prayers, words of encouragement and positive energy are all welcomed for this individual who has dedicated more than the last 20 years of her life serving those in need.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We will be posting updates to Roxanne's story as we receive them.