JILL’S STORY..

Jill was an amazing woman who exemplified resilience and determination. She was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She was a ray of sunshine, radiating love, warmth and strength in every aspect of our lives. She poured her heart and soul into motherhood, finding immense joy in being with her children, showering them with affection, laughter and boundless love.

In the late fall of 2017, Jill had some of the subtle symptoms such as abdominal tenderness, indigestion and constipation. She attributed these symptoms to menopause and was not concerned. As her symptoms persisted and she started to experience bloating along with the constipation and stomach pain, she started to worry and decided to see her Primary Care doctor. He sent her to a Gastroenterologist who scheduled an Endoscopy and Colonoscopy. Both tests were performed and Jill was told everything was fine. Jill’s symptoms persisted and she continued to see doctors trying to get answers as to why she was not feeling well. Even her Gynecologist missed the warning signs of Ovarian Cancer. When Jill’s health got worse and she was having a hard time breathing, she went to the Emergency Room, where they found her lungs were filled with fluid and she was admitted to the hospital. On January 7, 2019, Jill received the devastating diagnosis of Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer.

Jill never asked, “why me?” She knew she had a long road ahead of her and was going to fight with all her might! Jill had a mission and she said “If God gets me through this, I am going to be the biggest advocate for Ovarian Cancer. I am going to make sure that women know the signs and symptoms and what to look for.” Unfortunately, she was never given that opportunity. Jill passed away on January, 18, 2019, eleven days after being diagnosed.

Jill’s life was abruptly ended by stage 4 Ovarian Cancer, a diagnosis that went unidentified by her doctors. The unexpected loss of Jill, coupled with the revelation that her condition went undetected for so long, left us grappling with shock, disbelief and profound sorrow. The understanding that her passing might have been avoidable had her condition been recognized earlier only amplifies our grief and raises unanswerable questions.

Though the pain of her loss will never fade, we take comfort in knowing that we continue to be her voice; providing information and education to women surrounding Ovarian Cancer, crucial information that could potentially save lives.