Jessica, one of my closest friends for a decade now, received some very unexpected, scary, devastating news. She had been complaining of knee pain here and there over the past year, but recently it got so painful and swollen one day, she couldn’t even press down on her gas pedal to go to the doctor.
A CT scan showed a mass of some sort on her femur bone, and she was quickly referred to an oncologist in St. Louis. Since then, she has been diagnosed with Stage 3 Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, which is a rare and aggressive soft tissue cancer.
She can no longer put weight on her leg due to the possibility of breaking her leg because of the tumor growing around or through her bone. She is no longer able to work at the moment.
Next week on Thursday, June 19, she will undergo surgery to have a femur replacement. Once recovered from that, she will have a port put in and start chemo 3 days a week for the next 6 months.
She has a long way to go and won’t be able to work. She has two sons, one who is going into 6th grade this coming school year.
Jessica has always been there for me, through my good times and bad times. She’s helped me through so many things. She’s always helped take care of me after my last few surgeries, she babysits my kids, and our sons have play dates. Anytime I need anything, even just someone to talk to, she is always there.
Now, it’s her turn to let us help take care of her for a while. This journey will not be easy and I’d like to help with that financial burden all of this will be. There are so many expenses to think about, whether it’s gas to get to and from treatments, school supplies, shoes, and clothes for her son, money to help pay her car note that she worked hard to get, food, medical expenses insurance doesn’t cover, etc. The list goes on and on.
If you can donate anything at all, it is so appreciated. It doesn’t matter if it’s $1 or $100.
If you can’t donate right now, please share to get the word out and please keep my dear friend Jessica in your prayers.
