Support Jenna Genkos' Recovery from Wernicke Encephalopathy

I am humbly asking for support for my sister, Jenna, and her family in a time of need. In September, Jenna underwent gastric bypass surgery in the hope of improving her health. Unfortunately, the recovery process has been far from easy. After suffering from persistent nausea, vomiting, and difficulty keeping even small amounts of food and water down, Jenna was diagnosed with a stricture in November. Despite undergoing two dilations, she continued to experience severe symptoms.

Last week, things took a turn for the worse. Jenna began experiencing severe weakness, balance issues, confusion, and altered mental status. On December 19, she was hospitalized and diagnosed with Wernicke encephalopathy, a neurological condition caused by a deficiency in thiamine, often due to malnutrition. Thankfully, Jenna has been slowly improving every day with IV thiamine treatment and physical and occupational therapy, but she remains unable to walk and is suffering from short-term memory loss.

To regain strength and functionality, Jenna will require inpatient rehabilitation for aggressive physical and occupational therapy, which will take time and significant effort. On Christmas Eve, Jenna's job placed her on unpaid leave, leaving her without a paycheck. She is also at risk of losing her health insurance because she must continue to pay premiums without an income.

Jenna is a beloved daughter, sister, partner, and mother to her 8-year-old son, Asher, and has a strong support system. However, despite their love and determination, the financial burden of medical bills, healthcare costs, and day-to-day expenses has become overwhelming.

We are asking for your help to ease the financial strain on Jenna and her family during this incredibly challenging time. The funds raised will go directly toward:

Your generosity will not only help ease their financial burden but will allow Jenna to focus on recovering and getting the care she needs to regain her strength and return to her family and life. We want to give Jenna the best chance possible for a full recovery, and your support will make a world of difference.

Jenna is a strong and determined woman who is fighting with everything she has to recover and return to her family, especially for her son, Asher. At this point, she still faces a long recovery with many challenges, unknowns, and a lot of hard work ahead. We are grateful for anything you can contribute, whether it's a donation or simply sharing this page with others.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and support.

With gratitude,

Heather Tardibone (Jenna's sister)