Help Jessica Burke (Daigle) Continue Her Fight!

Our beautiful Jessica - daughter, granddaughter, cousin, niece, sister, and friend to those who are lucky enough to have her in their lives was diagnosed with a very rare form of Ovarian Cancer called 'Small Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary, Hypercalcemic Type' (SCCOHT) in June 2021.

 

In June 2021, Jessica underwent emergency major abdominal surgery at the IWK Hospital in Halifax to remove the tumour. Soon after, she began a harsh regime of treatments. Since, she has completed 28 chemotherapy treatments requiring multiple in-hospital stays for complications along the way, including a second abdominal surgery in December.

 

Due to the rarity of this cancer, Jessica has a second oncology team based in Toronto, Ontario, with whom she, her family, and primary medical team in Halifax consult regarding current and future phases of her treatment. Jessica's next step, following her recent completion of chemotherapy is to receive immunotherapy in Toronto, Ontario at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Unfortunately, immunotherapy for SCCOHT is not available in Nova Scotia. This means Jessica and her family must travel back and forth between Toronto and Halifax for the better part of this year.

 

Jessica, 25 years old, currently lives in Halifax NS but is from Glace Bay, Cape Breton, NS where she grew up with her mother, Tammy Daigle and stepdad, Blaine Jackson, Jessica's father, Shaun (Leighann), are from Sydney, NS. Jessica's grandparents Harold and Terry Daigle who are very close to Jessica spent many days this past year sitting outside hospital windows just to catch a wave and blow a kiss from the parking lot, as strict visitor restrictions during the pandemic were understandably in place. Prior to her cancer diagnosis, Jessica was set to begin her third and final year at Dalhousie Schulich of Law and commence her legal career. Now unable to attend school or work, we'd like to help Jessica with her accumulating expenses and future travel costs out of province for the next 9 months, not to mention the financial hardship her family has already endured to support her through treatment this past year.

 

Jessica has fought with courage and dignity, she has a long year ahead of her and she needs our encouragement and support to continue her battle with this horrendous disease.

 

Let's Help Her Fight!

 

During treatment and times of uncertainty, finances should not be an additional stress for cancer patients and their families. For this reason, we the relatives of Jessica ask that you help if you can and please share her story with others.

 

Cheryl (cousin and godmother)