Love For Jessica Henkel & Family

This page was created to provide help, love, and support for Jessica Henkel and her family while she battles thyroid cancer. I previously created a GiveInKind page, but everyone who wanted to see the page and updates had to sign up and sign in. This should be easier- I hope!

Jessica has been experiencing serious health issues since March of this year. During her first hospital stay, a CT scan showed something abnormal on her thyroid that wasn't causing her health crisis, but was something she'd need to look into with her doctor. In May (when her health was more stable), she had an ultrasound that showed a nodule on the left side of her thyroid, followed by a needle biopsy of that nodule in the beginning of June. On June 8th, Jessica received a call that the biopsy results were positive for cancer cells. She met with the surgical oncologist July 19th and she had surgery to remove her thyroid and some lymph nodes for testing August 1st. She recovered well from her thyroidectomy and the meals everyone brought were so appreciated (and I think they totally helped her be able to rest and heal faster). At her 2-week post-op appointment with her surgical oncologist, Dr. Howe, she learned that the two lymph nodes they removed for testing were positive for cancer. So, this week, she had three days of appointments in Iowa City that consisted of bloodwork, thyrogen shots, swallowing capsules of a diagnostic dose of radioactive iodine, a full body scan and ended with swallowing a capsule with a higher dose of radioactive iodine yesterday.

Jessica is currently radioactive and has to stay away from people and pets for a few days while the excess radiation leaves her body. She'll have a follow-up scan next Monday to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else in her body. We are hoping and praying that it hasn't and that this treatment will rid her body of cancer for good.

As most of you know, her husband Matt left for deployment September 16th. He's at an army base in the U.S. preparing to travel to the middle East for at least 9 months. This is their first deployment as a family and it will be challenging for sure, especially with her current health concerns.

On top of all of these things, her growing number of autoimmune symptoms are still a mystery to her team of doctors.

She's awesome and she's showing incredible strength through all of the things she has going on, but because we've had so many people wanting to help and because she's currently unable to work, I thought I'd give you all some ideas of ways to help.

Donating here or through her Venmo would be greatly appreciated and the funds would be used for gas or groceries or paying bills. Her Venmo username is @Jessica-henkel-3

If gifting a meal is more your thing, please reach out to either me (Lindsey Myers) or Jessica herself and we can let you know the best time for that. Even sending a card or note of encouragement in the mail would be uplifting for sure!!

Those of you who are blessed to know Jessica already know that she is not the type of person to ask for help. She has always been the one who jumps first to take care of others, no matter what they might need. Now, we all have the opportunity to show her love and support during this difficult time.

Thank you all so much!

Lindsey