Chanin’s breast cancer fight

Hi, my name is Jon and I’m starting this page for my partner in life…my amazing wife, Chanin. Chanin and I have been together, joined at the hip, since we met almost 35 years ago. She is everything to me. Chanin went in for a mammogram on May 9 and, from the point on, our world has completely changed. She has invasive ductal carcinoma in her left breast. It’s currently stage 2 pending some additional test results. It’s very aggressive and Chanin will begin chemotherapy within the next two weeks to try to shrink the tumor before they remove it. She’s had MRIs, CT and PET scans, an echocardiogram and an ultrasound. She’s had 2 biopsies and numerous blood draws. It’s simply terrifying and overwhelming. My wife is only 53. She just finished going back to school to earn her second degree, this time in elementary education. She hasn’t even been able to finish her student teaching. We’ve been that classic couple, like so many of you, that have worked and raised a family and put off many of our dreams…things we want to do together, places we want to see. It just all changed in a heartbeat. Chanin also has a history of heart issues which scares me to no end. I pray every day that her body will be strong enough to endure chemo and the surgery. We’re doing everything we can think of to get her through this. We’re even trying cold capping in an attempt to save as much of her hair as possible. I didn’t want to do this at first. I don’t ever like to ask for help. But the weight is immense and I don’t even want to stress about that right now. I’m devoting 110% of my energy to lessen my wife’s burden and to be her rock. This has been the worst year of our lives so far. Chanin’s mother had a massive heart attack in January and our daughter Jordan scared us with what luckily was just a kidney stone that sent her to the ER. And now this. I turn to God and to my supportive family and friends to give me strength. I sincerely thank all of you in advance for just being a part of our lives. I’m sorry to ask and I never thought we’d be here, but here we are. Thanks for listening to me…I know I tend to be long-winded. Chanin is my soulmate and there’s nothing I won’t try. Blessings to you all, my family and my friends.