Help Janessa fight ovarian cancer

Hello, I’m Katie Ellis - one of Janessa’s best friends for more than 20 years.

 

Janessa is a 34-year-old wife and mother to a 2-month-old son who needs our support! She’s currently battling the biggest fight of her life against advanced-stage ovarian cancer, in which symptoms developed rapidly during her pregnancy. She’s bedridden at the moment due to the severity of her condition. She starts six rounds of aggressive chemotherapy tomorrow, as well as 10 rounds of radiation on the top of her legs.

 

If you know Janessa, you know she has the biggest and kindest heart in the world. She’s currently unemployed due to her condition so money raised will help with unforeseen medical bills, a wig for her to wear and necessities to help support Janessa and her family.

 

Updates will be given HERE! As well as her Instagram (janessa_tt). Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and support!

 

Here’s her story: “Some of you know me and some of you probably have no idea who I am (hello!), but thank you for reading my story! In October 2012, I had a 9-pound borderline-malignant tumor removed from my right ovary (along with my fallopian tube and appendix). Surgery was able to successfully remove the tumor with no need for treatment (chemotherapy, etc.) I underwent extensive testing biannually for five years - and there was no sign of a recurrence. Fast forward to the end of my 2nd trimester of pregnancy in June 2021, I started experiencing sciatica in both my legs that got worse AND WORSE as time progressed. I told my OB at each appointment about my pain, but I was told the standard line of “that’s pregnancy for you!” I saw a chiropractor on a weekly basis; tried using a weighted blanket, bounced on a yoga ball, lathered my legs in magnesium lotion, made my husband give me massages on a nightly basis - you name it, but nothing helped me. Through my research I learned sciatica disappeared after birth. It was my only saving grace at the time: “The storm will pass!”

 

 

 

Shortly after my baby shower, the pain got so much worse that I could barely walk, stand or sit longer than a few minutes. It felt like my legs were being stabbed in the nerves over and over. I clung to over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs for a slight refuge from the pain. I cried EVERY SINGLE day. My primary doctor couldn’t see me for a few weeks (recommended by my OB) so I took matters into my own hands and booked an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon who ordered a MRI. A herniated disc made sense, but the results were beyond what we imagined. Numerous lesions along my spine - top to bottom - as well as two tumors on my pelvic muscles. After several weeks of tests (PET scan, MRI x2, CT scan, ultrasound, bloodwork, three biopsies, etc.), I was referred to an oncologist who gave us the news: You have ovarian cancer. It spread to the bones and muscles in my spine, pelvis and top legs. “It has been growing inside you for years without knowing it,” said my oncologist. There’s no way to be certain, but looks like the tumor from 9 years ago left behind precancerous cells.

 

So, here I go, embarking on the hardest journey of my life! Thank you for reading my story. I love you ALL ❤️“