Stage II became Stage IV-Please help Joanna.
Donation protected
Hi. My name is Tara. My friend Joanna and her family need our help. Joanna is my closest friend and I love her so much. We have been friends since high school, were roommates in college, attended each other’s weddings, been there through babies and are still friends and now our kids and husbands are friends. Joanna is a passionate chef, mother and wife. She is a private person, someone who cares deeply and doesn’t want anyone to make a fuss over her. Well I’m making a big fuss over her now! Last week my friend Joanna received the worst news of her life, news you don’t want to hear when you thought you were in remission. She was diagnosed last February 8, 2021, with Stage II Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC); one of the most aggressive and the rarest breast cancer. Doctors don’t know what causes it so they deem the cause “environmental.” Joanna doesn’t have any genetic mutations making her more susceptible. Yet there she was, 38 years old, being told she had breast cancer into her lymph nodes. Her oncologist and surgeon, along with Joanna and her husband Jason, were hopeful, with a plan. Joanna proceeded with a double mastectomy with reconstruction, radiation, IV chemo and oral chemo. She literally did it all. Throughout this she was getting a new FDA approved Signatera blood test (not yet approved when she first started) that is said to be the earliest way to detect her specific type of cancer. Approximately 11 months ago this test came back negative. Joanna decided to continue with oral chemo, after IV chemo completion, in the attempt to ensure it would never come back. Approximately two months ago, while waiting for another Signatera test result, she received the words she had been waiting to hear…she was in remission. Celebration time right? No. The Signatera test came back positive, one week after being told she was in remission. Her cancer is back but they didn’t know where. It has taken about 10 weeks for insurance to deny and approve so many needed tests. Joanna, Jason and loved ones have been anxiously awaiting results, results that would change everything. Joanna has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer. It is now in her sternum (her chest bone) which means it can now be anywhere in her body. Joanna has been given 5 years. She is devastated. Joanna and Jason have 2 girls..both who just celebrated birthdays this month, 8 and 10 years old. Joanna has made drastic life style changes to defy the odds. She is now seeing a natural doctor, getting Vitamin C and Ozone therapies along with others. She has had another port placed in hopes of taking the best of western and eastern medicine and using them together to beat the odds. All of this comes with such a high price tag. Joanna and Jason’s insurances have not covered everything. Last year they had a $17,000 deductible. This year it’s about $8,000; insurance continues to prove its challenges. They are unsure as to what insurance will cover in the years to come. Insurance does not cover any of the natural treatments that will help Joanna’s body endure the harshness of more chemo. Please, I ask you to keep Joanna and her family in your prayers and to donate if you can. It has taken me a year to convince Joanna to let me do this. No one knows what cancer will do to their lives and bank account until they are living it. It drains a person, their spirit and their savings. Please help Joanna and her family. Joanna is a private person and this is hard for her in so many ways. She told me “other people have it worse.” What?! I just want to hug her and make it all go away. There is no donation too small or unappreciated. If you could help in any way, Joanna, Jason and my self would be forever grateful. If you are unable to donate monetarily please pray for Joanna and/or send best wishes within your own spirituality. Thank you in advance from the very bottom of our hearts. She wants to live and defy the odds. She has not given up. Let’s keep up the fight with her!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Tara Kolenic
Organizer
Grand Haven, MI
Joanna Hayden
Beneficiary