Dear Donors & Supporters of Dear Jack Foundation,
Thank you in advance for considering making a donation to the Dear Jack Foundation, an organization that is very dear to my heart.
On April 22, 2019, my world came crashing down again when I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. What originally started back in 2017 as stage I breast cancer, with a very positive prognosis and low likelihood of recurrence, was now stage IV metastatic breast cancer – something there is currently no cure for. I was absolutely devastated – how was I supposed to carry on living when I was just handed my death sentence?
Surrounded by my amazing support system, I eventually picked myself back up, determined to remain positive and FIGHT with everything I’ve got. However, it’s unfortunately not as easy as just having the right mindset. With a cancer diagnosis comes physical implications, emotional distress, an overwhelming financial burden, and so much more. You start taking things day-by-day, often so focused on your diagnosis and treatment that you forget to actually live. That’s where Dear Jack stepped in.
Not only did the Dear Jack Foundation give me hope by connecting me to a network of other adolescents and young adults fighting similar battles, they also granted me a wish through their LifeList program – providing me with something I would have never been able to do on my own…
My boyfriend and I recently moved into our first house and were finding it very difficult to furnish our home due to my unsurmountable medical debt. Though some of my traditional medical treatment is covered by insurance, my annual deductible, co-pays, transportation costs, integrative therapies and the approximately $15,000 a year I have to spend on testing and natural supplements are not. Being hit by cancer once is enough to sideline anyone financially, but twice can be absolutely crippling.
Dear Jack not only purchased a brand new washer and dryer for us, something we desperately needed, but they also got us a beautiful patio sectional so we could spend time with our friends and family on our new deck. Because of Dear Jack my focus was shifted from the emotional and financial burden I deal with on a daily basis to celebrating and enjoying our new home, and for that, I am forever grateful.
Without you, none of this would have been possible, as Dear Jack relies on the generosity of its donors to make dreams come true for people fighting cancer. Please know that anything you give will make a REAL impact on people like me, facing the biggest battle of their lives. So, I encourage you to give, no matter how much – you are making a difference.
On behalf of all the beneficiaries of the Dear Jack Foundation, THANK YOU!
With Gratitude,
Abby (LifeList Program Participant)