Carry Jenna Through Cancer

Jenna, a San Diego based homeschooling mama of 2, was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in her foot called synovial sarcoma and will be undergoing a below-knee amputation in early June.

Join us at her fundraiser June 2nd at BUCHA Brewery from 3pm-7pm! Check out the updates for the flyer and to purchase tickets.

Here is her story and how we can help carry her through cancer:

 

We know her as a down-for-anything adventure buddy (especially if it’s a reggae or Post Malone concert), a deep listener, a cheerleader of all her friends’ dreams, and a badass homeschooling mother of 2.

For years Jenna has remained all of these things and more while also living with severe chronic pain in the arch of her foot.

For 20 of her 37 years of life she has sought medical help with no relief.

In her own words she’s recounted “I've done everything under the sun for treatment, including surgeries in 2014. Still scans showed inflammation, arthritis, tenosynovitis, and whatever else, and doctors continued to respond with… “we can try another injection?”

Then last year, the pain increased, and she found a small bump on her arch. She had to beg for an MRI which the doctor said showed a ganglion cyst.

Her pain was at a level 9 and the orthopedic specialist she was seeing said to her “I wish you the best Jennifer, there’s nothing I (we) can do. Good luck” and sent her away with no further answers or recommendations.

We watched this helplessly as her friends and family. And still she showed up full stop to her life as a homeschooling mother. Painfully limping up trails with her kids, pushing a wagon full of snacks and skateboards around and making sure her kids never missed out on anything.

For the last couple of months, and through the daily grind, she’s been waiting on hold for 20 minutes at a time with UCSD, sometimes multiple times a day, trying to be seen by another orthopedic specialist. At first they told her the first available appointment was 60 days out. In tears and perseverance she called daily looking for cancellations and was able to get in.

That appointment would end up being a before and after story she never thought she would tell.

She will always remember it was this appointment that led to the MRI with contrast scan (a more detailed way of taking a scan) - that revealed it was a tumor and not a cyst - that led to the needle biopsy - that led to the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue cancer in her foot. And a tumor labeled, “aggressive”.

There are so many whys and hows in all of our minds. I wish I could answer them but here is what we know.

Jenna’s current medical team has said there is a 95% chance of a below knee amputation, chemotherapy and radiation as other recommended forms of treatment.

The doctor has said the cancer is in stage 3 or 4 and is waiting for a set of full body scans to confirm the cancer has not spread past her foot. We believe it hasn’t! And will update you here.

Jenna is committed to seeking 2nd and 3rd opinions and receiving both integrative and holistic care alongside what conventional medicine will recommend. She is personally focused on cellular healing that could change recommendations for treatment.

This is what our texts are looking like right now…

“I am a walking miracle. Capable of healing my body, shrinking tumors, repairing tissues and healing.”

So if you want to start a daily practice of prayer for Jenna this is a great one!

We’re calling all hands on deck. Together we can help carry Jenna through cancer.

Behind this fundraiser are a group of moms, the soul sisters from Jenna’s homeschool community (aka Nature Club). I know “clubs” sounds exclusive but we’ll let anyone in and we love you already. That’s the vibe. Come as you are and leave better.

Jenna has been that to us. Someone who leaves you feeling better about yourself. And we will be that for her all the way through this journey.

Since we are so close to her daily grind we’re able to identify, organize and execute support for her.

There is immediate financial support needed for things like house cleaning, cooking, and childcare to allow time and space for appointments and healing, but also to get started immediately with integrative and holistic treatments, as well as further opinions, that aren’t currently covered by medical insurance.

Many of the integrative therapies are going to run around $5-7K per week and involve months of bi-weekly or more treatments.

All of the donations made through this page will go directly from GoFundMe into Jenna’s account and we are helping with the hiring and logistics of her support system.

With the combination of her own grit and our support Jenna is not just going to walk again.

She’s gonna run.

***UPDATE: Jenna is moving forward with a below knee amputation. It is scheduled for early June.