Jennifer Snider's medical fund
Donation protected
We are hoping to raise money to help Jennifer & Monty for the medical costs and living expenses that have increased substantially since September 2, 2014--the day that Jennifer began the biggest battle of her life.
Jennifer is a wife of 11 years, mother of 3 (15, 10 and 4!), sister, daughter, and a RN at a local hospital. She loves being all of those things but this battle could change all of that.
After years of battling debilitating headaches, a trip to the ER confirmed the need for an MRI, quickly followed by the immediate need for brain surgery. Brain Surgery! We did not know much about brain cancer and wouldn’t know much more until the surgery was completed.
For people outside the medical field, her first 24-48 hours were something amazing to see. Brain surgery seemed like this impossible thing; then, afterward she was talking; she was walking; she was laughing. Then days later the tests were done and here came the kick in the gut we never even considered: A diagnosis of “incurable grade 4 brain glioblastoma tumor” and a less than favorable prognosis, especially with such young children. I have always hated the word “incurable,” but if you talked to or watched Jennifer I am sure she didn’t put much weight into the word, either!
Her doctor started to explained her follow up: 5 days/week for 6 weeks chemo/radiation combo treatment plan. Side effects? Only likely blindness in one eye, deafness in one ear, effects on vision in her other eye. Oh! And, of course, hair loss and nausea. We began to pray!
From the beginning I felt I was supposed to “pick her up;” to “lighten her spirits.” Instead, she did that for me. She has fought this whole time. Even when she was exhausted she put on a smile. Even when she was hurting, she still managed to laugh.
As the treatment continued, her amazing doctors continued to provide her with miraculous updates… like minimal effect on hearing and vision, and a possibility that they may have gotten it all!! Again, not knowing how to take it all Jennifer continued to work toward the prize of being cancer free.
Well, she completed her 6 weeks of chemo & radiation and then took 4 weeks off before starting really high levels of chemo treatments early December. She will need to do that for a week each month for 6 months and continue scans to ensure their success continues to keep this tumor away. This whole process has been exhausting for her mentally and, of course, physically. But the 4 weeks off seemed to really help her. She was able to clean her home. Which to most would be something to complain about, but for Jennifer--she was excited about!
(Ringing the bell... WOO HOO!!)
Anyway, after the 4 weeks off from treatment, the radiation doctor scheduled her MRI to measure their successes and to monitor what was going on. This was going to be the test to answer so many questions!! How aggressive is it? Did they really get it all? Is there another brain surgery before Christmas?? So many questions for one test… Well, she went in and completed the MRI and then started chemo again with the expectation that next week she would get the results at a follow up appointment. Instead, the doctor called later the same day and told her they did not want her to wait until her appointment next week to know that the scan only showed evidence of the surgery! NO TUMOR! No sign of it at all!!
For now this does not change anything, the prognosis is still the same. This type can come back and grow very fast. She still has so much to do! But however you want to refer to the situation… answered prayers, a Christmas miracle, or, as I call her, My Own Super Hero, she is currently tumor free!! Although I am not sure I would be as excited about this as she is, she gets to go back to work! I know I said it “gets” to go back to work. She is so excited to be able to bring home the bacon again… at least once or twice before Christmas!! Christmas has not been about the presents for me for a very long time, but this year it is going to very special!!
Thank you again for every moment you took out of your lives to read this. Thank you for considering giving a donation because every $1 or $5 or $10 dollars count. Every bit will help her be able to focus on her continued recovery and continue for her and Monty to provide for their family. Many thanks to you for continued prayers and positive thoughts about my sister and our families--it means so very much!!
Jennifer is a wife of 11 years, mother of 3 (15, 10 and 4!), sister, daughter, and a RN at a local hospital. She loves being all of those things but this battle could change all of that.
After years of battling debilitating headaches, a trip to the ER confirmed the need for an MRI, quickly followed by the immediate need for brain surgery. Brain Surgery! We did not know much about brain cancer and wouldn’t know much more until the surgery was completed.
For people outside the medical field, her first 24-48 hours were something amazing to see. Brain surgery seemed like this impossible thing; then, afterward she was talking; she was walking; she was laughing. Then days later the tests were done and here came the kick in the gut we never even considered: A diagnosis of “incurable grade 4 brain glioblastoma tumor” and a less than favorable prognosis, especially with such young children. I have always hated the word “incurable,” but if you talked to or watched Jennifer I am sure she didn’t put much weight into the word, either!
Her doctor started to explained her follow up: 5 days/week for 6 weeks chemo/radiation combo treatment plan. Side effects? Only likely blindness in one eye, deafness in one ear, effects on vision in her other eye. Oh! And, of course, hair loss and nausea. We began to pray!
From the beginning I felt I was supposed to “pick her up;” to “lighten her spirits.” Instead, she did that for me. She has fought this whole time. Even when she was exhausted she put on a smile. Even when she was hurting, she still managed to laugh.
As the treatment continued, her amazing doctors continued to provide her with miraculous updates… like minimal effect on hearing and vision, and a possibility that they may have gotten it all!! Again, not knowing how to take it all Jennifer continued to work toward the prize of being cancer free.
Well, she completed her 6 weeks of chemo & radiation and then took 4 weeks off before starting really high levels of chemo treatments early December. She will need to do that for a week each month for 6 months and continue scans to ensure their success continues to keep this tumor away. This whole process has been exhausting for her mentally and, of course, physically. But the 4 weeks off seemed to really help her. She was able to clean her home. Which to most would be something to complain about, but for Jennifer--she was excited about!
(Ringing the bell... WOO HOO!!) Anyway, after the 4 weeks off from treatment, the radiation doctor scheduled her MRI to measure their successes and to monitor what was going on. This was going to be the test to answer so many questions!! How aggressive is it? Did they really get it all? Is there another brain surgery before Christmas?? So many questions for one test… Well, she went in and completed the MRI and then started chemo again with the expectation that next week she would get the results at a follow up appointment. Instead, the doctor called later the same day and told her they did not want her to wait until her appointment next week to know that the scan only showed evidence of the surgery! NO TUMOR! No sign of it at all!!
For now this does not change anything, the prognosis is still the same. This type can come back and grow very fast. She still has so much to do! But however you want to refer to the situation… answered prayers, a Christmas miracle, or, as I call her, My Own Super Hero, she is currently tumor free!! Although I am not sure I would be as excited about this as she is, she gets to go back to work! I know I said it “gets” to go back to work. She is so excited to be able to bring home the bacon again… at least once or twice before Christmas!! Christmas has not been about the presents for me for a very long time, but this year it is going to very special!!
Thank you again for every moment you took out of your lives to read this. Thank you for considering giving a donation because every $1 or $5 or $10 dollars count. Every bit will help her be able to focus on her continued recovery and continue for her and Monty to provide for their family. Many thanks to you for continued prayers and positive thoughts about my sister and our families--it means so very much!!
Organizer
Amy Counts
Organizer
Pleasant Hope, MO