Help Chris in Her Battle Against Breast Cancer

Hello and thank you for visiting Chris Jenkins’ Go Fund Me page. My name is Michelle Figueroa, and I am a friend of Brett and Chris Jenkins. Chris and I first met in December 2019, and I am blessed to say that we have been friends ever since. My husband and I moved in next door to Chris in Gulf Shores, and it would be accurate to say that when we have the opportunity, we are together. We have laughed together, shopped together, swam together, worked puzzles together, cleaned together, travelled together, spent hours in the sun together and shared countless meals together. Because Chris is my “sister,” there is nothing I wouldn’t do for her...however I need your help!

After the death of her father, Chris and her husband moved to Gulf Shores, Alabama because “life is short,” and they wanted to live in a place where they could enjoy what they love…the surf and the sand. And they definitely enjoy life here.

Little did they know that in a few short years, they would be battling for Chris’ life. On a recent trip to Illinois, Chris felt a stabbing pain in her right breast as she was shoveling snow. Later that evening, she felt a lump. Any woman knows, this is a nightmare that we all hope never knocks on our door. She returned to Alabama to have the lump checked out.

After a long, three-week wait for results, a biopsy revealed that Chris has Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. This was a complete shock since her mammogram this past September appeared normal. While ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer, triple negative cancer is the most aggressive and is more likely to spread beyond the breast and more likely to recur (come back) after treatment. Chris is currently waiting on genetic testing results to reveal whether or not she has a BRCA genetic mutation. We pray that she does not!

An aggressive cancer requires an aggressive treatment, and Chris’ fight will begin with a five- or six-month chemotherapy regimen at Southern Cancer Center in Foley, AL. The hope is that the existing tumor will shrink and any microscopic cancer cells that may have escaped to her blood stream (and other parts of her body) will be killed.

Once her chemotherapy is complete, she will have surgery to remove the tumor. The doctor thinks this will be a lumpectomy, and we pray that this will not turn into a mastectomy/double mastectomy situation. Following surgery, Chris will undergo radiation (every day, Monday through Friday, for six weeks). This is not an easy path and will include many side effects, including nausea, photosensitivity, fatigue, possible neuropathy and the loss of her hair.

Chris is a hair stylist and has kept her business in Illinois, travelling home as often as possible to keep her existing client base. She is kind enough to take care of our hair care needs at home too!

If you know Chris, then you know that she is determined and hopeful that life can remain as normal as possible during her treatment. She doesn't want to give up her work schedule. However, with the onset of her cancer this may no longer be a possibility….at least for now. Chris cares deeply for her clients, who are her extended family. When Chris is not styling hair, she is babysitting, which keeps her very busy.  She doesn’t want to let them down, but the truth is, she may not be able to work as often as she wishes. It all depends on how her chemotherapy treatments go. 

So why have I set up a Go Fund Me campaign? Well, in addition to the possibility of lost income, Brett and Chris have medical insurance that requires them to foot the bill for the first $14,000 in medical expenses, each year. As you can imagine, when you go through cancer, this will add up very quickly. Her doctor feels that Chris’ treatment may extend into 2022, which means they will be looking at this same deductible again in January. Between the possible loss of income and the medical bills, they are facing two uphill battles: financial and health. This is a heavy burden to carry, and we want her to be able to concentrate on her health and her recovery.

There are three ways you can help Brett and Chris get through these trying times.

• First, you can pray for them. If you don’t know what to pray, you might pray the prayer below. If you have a church home or family, please add them to the prayer list.
• Second, you can share this Go Fund Me campaign. You can share it right from your Facebook page and/or you can email the link to your friends. If you have the mobile app, you can even share it to your Instagram. I’ve donated to Go Fund Me campaigns for people I don’t even know. I am hoping others will do the same, but we have to spread the message through sharing.
• Third, you can donate to help them cover the cost of their medical bills and loss of income. While we don’t have the ability to cure her cancer, we do have the ability to come together, friends, family and even strangers, and alleviate the financial burden and stress so that they can concentrate on the more important battle of beating cancer.

Let's show Chris that she doesn't fight alone! I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your consideration. God bless you all.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, please hold Chris close at this time of uncertainty. Remind Chris of your promises when she is feeling overwhelmed. Whisper words of love when she feels alone. Let her lie down in peace when she is weary. Give all who care for her great waves of wisdom. Lead her and Brett through this journey singing songs of hope over her life. Quiet her soul as she faces chemotherapy, surgery and radiation for this breast cancer. Come quell the fears that she has, and fill her heart and mind with your everlasting love. Amen.