All my love, Jennifer…

It’s almost impossible for me to put into words about how I’m feeling lately but I am going to try. The best I could come up with is picture me as a child waiting on the school lunch line with two dollars that was left for me each and every morning. And each and every afternoon I knew it wasn't going to be enough even for a basic meal but I always got on line. Now I had to decide quickly. Do I put something back, put it on a tab or not eat anything at all and starve.  You get the idea how cancer has made me feel?  I come asking for help from all my friends. 

You may know or may not know, I have Stage 4 Breast Cancer with Bone Metastasis. I found this out midnight on my husband’s birthday, I will never forget. “You have lesions on both hips, shoulder, two spots on your spine and your sacrum.” I thought the doctor was going to tell me the same story like two previous hospital visits that it was sciatic pain. Not this time. All the blood rushed through my body with sadness. Immediately I was admitted and held for two weeks.  

Sometime within those weeks, I thought back to 2020 when I was first diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer.  My doctor then was so confident performing a simple, single lumpectomy with some lymph node removal that I would be as good as new! I received months and months of horrific chemotherapy treatment, then finally radiation. I rang the remission bell! But within the year after the follow-up visits, I complained of leg pain, obvious leg pain. My doctor insisted it was all in my head and I should seek a psychiatrist. Look at me now. I have stage 4 bone cancer throughout body and my bloodstream that a psychiatrist could never heal.

My God, I pray you will never feel the pain of this disease or any disease. Pain brings on a whole new meaning to the word. I have endured so many pokes and pricks. So many procedures, scans, tests, surgeries, etc. during the height of covid.  My husband was always at my side from a waiting room or a car.  He did that time and time again after sometimes working all night. He was there and is still at my side. I would not even be here now if it was not for him dragging me to every chemo session when I did not want to go. I thank him soo much but he can only do so much. 

Here is the bright side. I am still here fighting! It is a huge fight. I thought I saw signs of hope, but in the last few months my body has declined rapidly with significant body changes. Without description, I know I need more opinions. I want that second and third opinion. This takes many more copays. I have depleted my savings. Nobody plans for this. I certainly did not have savings for Christmas and cancer. This is where you can help me. I need to act fast.

Although my life has turned in this direction, I believe God has led me here and now it is up to me to fight and not ask why. Please help me fight. My oldest daughter, Jamie, is having her first child with her husband this February! I HAVE TO SEE THIS BABY! My youngest, Sydney, has not yet married, no children, I WANT TO BE HERE for all her milestones yet!

Soo many people have asked me how they can help, and I was unsure, so they suggested I create a GOfundMe account. Yes, it is embarrassing to put your finances out there for the world but I have to be transparent. We live nearly paycheck to paycheck because of all our medical bills even with insurance was/is astronomical. We are struggling. Sometimes I can visit up to 4 doctors a week. There is finally talk of a mastectomy and reconstruction. 

If you feel led to contribute to little old me, it would be a blessing. This would make surgeries, tests, scans, ambulances rides, co-pays, travel expenses easier to pay and focus on my mental health to get through all of this. And if this does not work out, I gave it my everything. I just hope I made it just in time.

Thank you for all your love, for prayers and support. Please don’t stop. You hold a special place in my heart. You do. I hope I will always have a special place in yours. I pray for you. Help me buy that blue raspberry Slush Puppie! 

I hope throughout my life I made your Life a little better

And especially I hope I made you Laugh!

All my love,

Jennifer Karcz

Jennifer Marrero

Jennifer Hall

My journey