MY STORY
My name is Jen Varela. I am a woman who has worn/is wearing many hats (like all of us). I was a flight instructor. I am an Iron Man finisher with Team in Training. I am a wife. I am a mother of five. I am a cancer patient.
I love life. All of it. The good, the bad, the beauty and even the “ugliness” of it. I was finally diagnosed May of 2014 with a rare form of cancer called Cutaneous Lymphoma… specifically Sezary Syndrome (which happens to be a more aggressive form of it). I say finally because unfortunately it is a cancer that goes on for years being misdiagnosed as eczema, psoriasis and even allergies. Fortunately, in my case, it was only about a year and a half of pondering why and what was going on with my body before my diagnosis.
NOW I WANT TO GIVE THIS CANCER A PURPOSE.
I want to know that when my hands and feet are cracking so bad, it hurts to get them wet or when my skin is scaling and shedding so much, I can sweep a pile of skin off the floor or when my skin looks like I forgot to get out of the sun tanning bed its so red and I can no longer maintain a body temperature and am putting on a coat when it’s 80 degrees outside… that it’s all for something….. But what???
I’VE FIGURED OUT HOW!!!!!!!!!
In this journey with cancer I fell into the hands of Dr. Youn Kim at Stanford. I have been so unbelievably blessed. She is THE MOST AMAZING doctor. She truly cares not only about her patients but also about finding a cure. She is passionate, determined and relentless. It’s not uncommon to receive an email from her that was sent at 2 AM checking on me or a text reminding me to give her updates on my skin. Just a few months ago this was her text when I had a bad reaction to a wonderful trial drug:
“I want you to be reassured that we have solutions to every bump in your road ahead & I will be there side-by-side with you”
How many doctors do you know do this?????
I feel so incredibly blessed!! I have an angel on my side. I want to be one in return.
I’ve finally figured out how to give my cancer a purpose!! Just like Dr. Kim has been my angel, I want to be hers…. And through her, an angel to many more cancer patients. I can do this by helping her with her research.
So many people are fundraising these days. Why donate to my cause?
I thank you for your time.
I thank you for your consideration.
Let’s celebrate LIFE and EVERYTHING about it!!!
With love,
Jen
I love life. All of it. The good, the bad, the beauty and even the “ugliness” of it. I was finally diagnosed May of 2014 with a rare form of cancer called Cutaneous Lymphoma… specifically Sezary Syndrome (which happens to be a more aggressive form of it). I say finally because unfortunately it is a cancer that goes on for years being misdiagnosed as eczema, psoriasis and even allergies. Fortunately, in my case, it was only about a year and a half of pondering why and what was going on with my body before my diagnosis.
NOW I WANT TO GIVE THIS CANCER A PURPOSE.
I want to know that when my hands and feet are cracking so bad, it hurts to get them wet or when my skin is scaling and shedding so much, I can sweep a pile of skin off the floor or when my skin looks like I forgot to get out of the sun tanning bed its so red and I can no longer maintain a body temperature and am putting on a coat when it’s 80 degrees outside… that it’s all for something….. But what???
I’VE FIGURED OUT HOW!!!!!!!!!
In this journey with cancer I fell into the hands of Dr. Youn Kim at Stanford. I have been so unbelievably blessed. She is THE MOST AMAZING doctor. She truly cares not only about her patients but also about finding a cure. She is passionate, determined and relentless. It’s not uncommon to receive an email from her that was sent at 2 AM checking on me or a text reminding me to give her updates on my skin. Just a few months ago this was her text when I had a bad reaction to a wonderful trial drug:
“I want you to be reassured that we have solutions to every bump in your road ahead & I will be there side-by-side with you”
How many doctors do you know do this?????
I feel so incredibly blessed!! I have an angel on my side. I want to be one in return.
I’ve finally figured out how to give my cancer a purpose!! Just like Dr. Kim has been my angel, I want to be hers…. And through her, an angel to many more cancer patients. I can do this by helping her with her research.
So many people are fundraising these days. Why donate to my cause?
- You know EXACTLY where your money is going. 100% is going to her research. None of it will go to operational budget. (She wanted to reiterate this). At the end of the year we will receive a letter informing us how the funds were allocated.
- Because this is a rare cancer, Dr. Kim is reaching out around the world and making this a multi institutional, multi research conglomeration. Most institutions want just their name on it and they don’t pool their knowledge together. This isn’t about ego or making money. It’s about truly helping.
- In formulating solutions/cures and having to get down to the molecular level that you need to on something as rare and individual as CTCL it will reach over to other cancer cures as well.
- Dr. Kim and her team are AMAZING and she deserves to have something amazing done for her.
- Helps me be an inspiration to others who are battling with hard times and to perhaps give them the push to try and look at things in a positive way. “Some good can come from any situation” is my motto to my kids.
I thank you for your time.
I thank you for your consideration.
Let’s celebrate LIFE and EVERYTHING about it!!!
With love,
Jen
Me feeling good before my lymphoma surfaced. I'm enjoying my skin being normal again!!!!!!!!!
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My AMAZING family!!! I couldn't be on this road without you.
I LOVE YOU ALL, INFINITY X INFINITY TO THE MOON AND BACK FOREVER AND ALWAYS.... |