Cancer Treatment to Save Jacqueline's Life

All – Jacqueline has asked the organizers of this GoFundMe to make this initial post.

Dear Friends,

It is with an emotional and pained heart that I share the news that I have been keeping to myself. I have cancer. It’s hard to even process that this is really happening to me. I was diagnosed in March 2022 and thought I would easily address this without telling anyone.

The areas of concern are my bladder with new spots that have appeared in my lungs and a tiny questionable spec in my left kidney.

I have come to realize that I can’t do this on my own with just immunotherapy and I need help. And, that I need to share and welcome the support of friends, family and community.

Never in my life have I needed to depend on anyone. I have always been the one donating and giving my time to charities and non-profits. I started an environmental non-profit in 2006 to save isolated wetland ecosystems. This non-profit continues today. I have fostered and rescued animals. I have assisted feral cat communities. I authored a Facebook group during the Montecito mudslide disaster to help people.

The tides have changed. Today, I am the one that needs rescuing, saving, donations and help.

If I do not get life-changing integrated treatments immediately, I am going to die soon.

It is a sobering moment in life. If my body can’t make it, I have made peace with it and have freedom around death because I know we go on eternally.

I would really like to stay on Earth, grow in love and create more amazing experiences. Life is so precious and such a gift. 55 seems too young to transition. My mom transitioned in 2020. My 86-year-old father who lives in Michigan is depending on me to make it through this.

I started to feel worse in the Fall of 2022 and have slowly felt more and more that my body was sliding. I was worried and knew in my heart that my growing more tired and the cough I had developed signaled progression of this thing we call cancer. I still can’t even fully process this without crying. It’s emotionally exhausting. I am a bundle of emotions working to meet each feeling with grace and an open heart.

I don’t have family in California. I don’t know how I am going to be able to care for myself through the next 12 months. This has delayed my treatment plan.

As I write this, I am laying in my hospital bed with two tubes coming out of each kidney and in the ICU. I have a severe infection with hydronephrosis due to the cancer in the bladder and they are working to save my life. It’s my 7th hospital visit in 12 months and my 5th trip through the ER. I had never been sick like this in my entire life. I have always focused on wellness.

I have been on Immunotherapy and we thought it was kicking in. It hasn’t had the impact on the high PDL1 receptors that bloodwork said it would. My port for chemo will go in this week when I am stronger. I have lost about 80 lbs. Some weight I needed to release and I had reached a good weight. I have been unable to fully eat for 3 months due to infection and I am exhausted. I am losing muscle. Now it’s getting scary. I can’t do chemo without integrated support to also boost my immune system. I know I won’t make it if I do.

Working has been a challenge. All resources are now exhausted.

I need a specialized integrated approach using advanced fractionated chemo and some techniques from Germany that the Cancer Center plans to bring in for me. I also can get Mistletoe therapy which is the standard of care in Europe. John Hopkins just finished phase one of a clinical trial last year and the results have been positive and they are headed into phase two. The cancer center works with the foundation running the study. This is going to be my best chance. UCLA is also part of my care plan.

None of this is covered by insurance. It’s not cheap.

There are two options for donating. 1. Donate directly to GoFundMe which takes out taxes. 3. Donate to my Zelle account.

The GoFundMe total was calculated based on my treatment plan.

$150,000

How will your donation be used:

1. UCLA and Cancer Center Treatment Plan– Chemotherapy (fractionated method used in Europe), integrated care, specialized treatments from Germany, hyperbaric oxygen, John Hopkins study mistletoe therapy via IV, and more. Immunotherapy is also in process now.

2. Housing near the cancer center.

3. Expenses, organic food, supplements, oxygen

4. Paying bills.

5. Caretaker, as I have no family to help me and I don’t know how I am going to be able to drive to treatment every day and keep on track.

What new future can be created together so healing goes quickly?

Life is so precious. Take moments to feel the wind and enjoy the sunshine as they are gifts.

I love you with all my heart and soul.

Thank you. Please share this with all your communities and friends.

Jacqueline Rubasky