The Cathy Jacobi Medical Assistance Fund

After re-locating to Knoxville a few years ago, we had the pleasure of meeting retired US Army Col. Kevin Jacobi (now gentleman farmer) at the Knoxville Farmers Market. Kevin and his wife Cathy decided to serve the people of East Tennessee with high quality sustainably farmed and ethically raised poultry, meats, and eggs. We quickly became customers and friends, and eventually met Cathy when we joined the Jacobi’s at the best farm to table experience at their Land Basket Farm and enjoyed her company, beautiful smile, and heart-warming personality. During the recent holiday season, however, this vivacious, energetic woman found herself in the hospital unable to walk.

With no prior sign of serious illness, Cathy was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a plasmacytoma cancer of the bone. The cancer has formed a large mass on her backbone that has penetrated the vertebrae which has gained access to her spinal cord. She is now paralyzed from the breast line down.

Cathy’s debilitating illness continues to pose myriad of challenges to her and Kevin’s family life and business, including the growing need for financially burdensome professional daily home care. This medical assistance should permit QOL and therapeutic improvements for Cathy and allow Kevin to apply critical time management to the farm’s business. We consequently assessed that the Jacobi family merited funding not provided thru their existing insurance. As friends and community members, we are creating this GoFundMe page to assist with their comprehensive emergency medical needs. We hope that if you have the means, we invite you to join us in supporting this incredible family during this difficult time. Thank you. Grace and Joseph Brescia.