Helping Jen to fight lymphoma

Hi. I am raising money for my friend Jen who earlier this year was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of lymphoma.

I first met Jen properly when, on the school run, we both stopped to help an unwell pregnant mum. Over time I have come to learn how kind and considerate she is to others and I have watched in awe at how she has navigated life as a single parent of 3 children, whilst working as a newly qualified GP.

She has not been able to work since Christmas 22 when she was first admitted to hospital, and she clearly won't be able to for some time. Her employers have been very supportive of her. But this unexpected illness has taken an inevitable financial toll for Jen and has created uncertainty for the future.

Jen is very understated in nature and has not asked for this. While she has agreed for me to set up this GoFundMe page, it has been a difficult decision for her. I know she would do the same for others in the same boat. Any donations would be gratefully received.

She recently posted a rare update on Facebook, which she has consented to my adapting, in order to explain her journey.

On Christmas day last year Jen was admitted to hospital unwell. She remained an inpatient until 3rd February, during which time she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma.

She was then home for about a week before being admitted again for cycle 2 of a particullarly gruelling (due to the type of lymphoma that she has had) regime of chemotherapy. Each cycle has involved 21 days as an inpatient with only a week at home each month.

She has had complications such as a Pulmonary Embolus, severe anaemia and a low platelet count. The chemo regime was very strong and there have been many other side effects (all are listed on google if you wish to look up the R-CODOX-M R-IVAC regime)

At the start of May - just after the end of cycle 4 she was readmitted via A&E resus with neutropenic sepsis. This was due to side effects of chemo including severe proctitis, rectal abscesses and rectal perforation. The sepsis brought fevers, fast heart rate and very low blood pressure. It brought overwhelming pain due to the rectal infections and bowel perforation.

She spent 2 weeks in the critical care unit, then had surgery to give her a colostomy stoma in order to give her body a chance to heal from the sepsis.

She has had to have countless blood and platelet transfusions.

Most of her immuno-chemotherapy was intravenous and she had a picc line in her right arm for 7 months. She also had several doses of chemo intrathecally into her spine through a needle in her lower back.

The most overwhelming symptom for her was the nausea and vomiting…. During cycle 4 she couldn’t eat for 6 days.

She has had days when she was so weak that she couldn’t sit up. She had to use a zimmer frame to help her walk after being in bed for 2 weeks in critical care.

After the sepsis and stoma surgery she eventually went home at the start of June. She had lost about 11kg in weight, a large proportion was muscle mass.

She was on 2 weeks of home IV antibiotics. Since then she has continued on and off with very strong courses of oral antibiotics.

Her mum lived in her house from Christmas day until early July providing routine, loving kindness and consistency for her children amidst the deep uncertainty that they have been forced to navigate at such a young age. Her sisters have visited regularly and given the kids familiar reminders of mummy and time with their cousins. Her partner Graham has walked this path together with her and she repeatedly expresses gratitude for all of the above.

The toughest aspect without a doubt for her has been forced time away from the kids. She has spent many months in hospital since Christmas day and this has been gut wrenching for her. They have had visits and face times when when she has been well enough.

Thankfully since June she has mostly been at home.

So far the latest PET scan showed complete remission and no evidence of lymphoma.

Over the next couple of weeks she is due to start the process of autologous stem cell harvesting and transplant. If she is able to go ahead with this, it will involve the most intense round of chemotherapy that she has had to date. And it will involve another 4 weeks as an inpatient away from her children. But being put forward for this is very positive and gives her the best chance of long term remission.

Jen expresses nothing but gratitude to her family, partner and friends and to the health professionals that have supported her and got her to this point. I'm hopeful that by us showing our support to her now, we can help to get her and her family through this next difficult stage in what we hope to be a full recovery.

Update February 2024

Thank you so much to everyone for their kind and generous donations and support. Please see below Jen's latest update with great news! ❤️

Yesterday I met with the Stem Cell Consultant. He told me that the latest PET scan done at the end of January shows Complete Metabolic Remission (the lymphoma has gone!)

He said that as I have finished my treatment, he is discharging me back to my local hospital, so I need to ring the end of treatment bell again. This time it was located in a massive atrium at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Liverpool surrounded by other cancer patients on several floors waiting for their clinic appointments. They all clapped, it was a special moment.

The rehabilitation physically after the autologous Stem Cell Transplant has been gruelling with initial deconditioning leading to desaturation to 79% on climbing the stairs along with shortness of breath and fast heartbeat. Walking around the house, having a shower felt like impossible challenges at times.

Since then I have been doing lots of walks, as well as weights training and eating lots of cooked breakfasts to build muscle mass again.

Things ongoing for my health include that I still have a stoma from the loop colostomy. I am struggling at times with a complication called diversion proctitis but intermittent courses of antibiotics and other medications have helped during flare ups. I am also getting very tired which is common after a stem cell transplant. I have started a very phased return to work (2 mornings a week) and my employer has been very supportive.

I have found it difficult but important to share what has happened. I have found this quote so true: “When we witness our suffering, we grant ourselves permission to feel, express, and recognize the validity of our truth”

People have asked me am I ok to talk about it- yes it’s fine. It’s part of my story. I have had all the emotions especially after having the cancer free news yesterday.

This chapter - I am living in the present but with hope for the future.