Jade’s Memorial and Family Recovery Fund

My name is Devon Mitchell, and my sister Jade’s family took me in when I was 15 years old—but we were in each other’s lives long before that. To put it simply, she was my sister, and my best friend. When she got held at a regular appointment a few weeks ago I came to see her; less that 48 hours after I returned home she was discharged, and then subsequently she was readmitted to the hospital almost immediately.

At 28 years old she had been battling breast cancer for four years. After she had her second baby Sabrina, when her breast cancer was confirmed as metastatic, and the doctors decided she could no longer do IV chemotherapy, to everyone on social media and in pictures it looked like she was getting better—that was not the case. We moved from treatment into management, and she settled in to fight for her life for the rest of her life. But those of you that know us also know she’s fought a war against addiction since we were 17 years old. Anyone who’s struggled with addiction or has a loved one who struggles with substance abuse knows that is a killer disease to fight on its own, let alone when your feelings of depression and doom are rooted in a very stark reality. All that to say, that my sister has fought and won many battles against not only cancer, but addiction—unfortunately, she lost her war with the former. A co-occurrence of end stage liver failure and infection had the doctors telling her she had two days left.

She was still coherent, and we rallied as a family and let her decide how to spend that last time, and she asked to come home with her husband, and I decided to stay. He and I spent a week and a half with her on hospice caring for her, contacting friends and family, spending time with her daughters, and making peace within our family. The doctors gave us days, and we got a week and a half. We have been more than blessed, and are forever grateful for the extra time we were given with Jade. Her death has ripped a hole in each of us. She leaves behind her parents, husband, two daughters, sister, and two brothers, as well as a loving extended family.

I am here asking for financial help with her memorial services, as well as for relief and security for her immediate family. Her memorial service, remaining medical bills, the weeks the family all collectively missed of work, the activities that her daughters deserve not to miss out on—that is what we are asking the community to help us with. We are so grateful for anything you can do, whether that be to donate, share with your favorite story of Jade, or whatever you are called to do. We thank you all so much for the support we’ve received thus far, and will keep everyone updated on the date and plan for the memorial service as soon as the planning is finished.