Help get Jacque Meis home

Thank you for helping us care for Jacque. I am Kathy, one of her dear friends. There is a small team of us friends and including her family, we are wanting to see Jacque get all the care and treatment she deserves and chooses to have. Jacque's family includes her 2 children, Lilly age 18 and Sam age 20, her 2 Siblings - no ages will be given ;), her 2 parents, nieces and many other family members. Jacque has enjoyed music her whole life. Participating in the Railmen Drum Corp Alumni, she got 2 of her friends Jennie and Jodie to join her in the Color Guard; being the choreographer and teaching the routine. Played in the Bell Choir, sang in the choir and was a member of the Sign Choir at church. Sharing her joy of music with her daughter by passing on her love of the clarinet. Jacque enjoyed going to karaoke night with her friend Peggy. As a mom of 2 autistic children, she strongly advocated for their education. Is the kind of friend that one can depend on for a good chat to work through problems, she supports her friends and helps celebrate their joys.

As it turns out, most likely these 15-plus years that I have known Jacque, I have probably not known her without her tumor. The Ependymoma tumor was slowly growing on her brain stem for most likely over 20 years. Sneakily changing Jacque and doing its hidden damage. Surgery to remove the 4cm tumor was on September 9, 2022. She awoke unable to talk, or walk and having trouble swallowing. She could, however, communicate in ASL with her left hand. By Tuesday, September 13th Jacque was trying to teach her nurse the manual alphabet. Letter by letter, she was signing entire sentences. The letter board and her sometimes mixed-up signing were her only way to communicate for many weeks. Today, December 20, 2022, Jacque can speak, with us understanding nearly 70%. She still relies on spelling verbaly, using the letter board and letter signing to help fill in the blanks. She is still working on gaining strength in her legs while combating dizziness. Jacque uses her legs to peddle around in her wheelchair and does quite well. She has speech, physical and occupational therapies every day.

Did you know that insurance does not want to pay for radiation (est $150,00), the care and the therapies (est $10,000 monthly) that Jacque requires at the same time, to continue her recovery, at the same time? There are special glasses that Jacque needs to help combat the double vision which contributes to her imbalance and dizziness. These glasses cost upwards of $2,000.00 to start. There is also the future need for a specialized vehicle. All of this is not including her medical bills from the 3 weeks at Ia City, being life-flighted to Ia City, her 12-day stay at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines and ongoing intense therapies and care being given at skilled nursing. After insurance, these bills approach $25,000. Did you know that Skilled Nursing care is not available with therapies needed while receiving radiation? Where does one live when needing skilled nursing care while recovering from a cancer surgery that changes you AND needing p.t., o.t. and sp.t. AND radiation?

We appreciate any gift amounts that help get Jacque the care she needs on her journey to return home, which will have to have accommodation for her needs. Any other type of support you can offer is also appreciated. You can keep up with Jacque's journey through her CaringBridge Site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacquemeisSite Name: jacquemeis