Our friend Jen - stage 4 breast cancer treatment for a single Mum and wildlife advocate.

$44,952 of $150,000 goal

Given by 230 generous donors in around 8 months

Fundraising for non-subsidised life lengthening treatment a wonderful friend and Mum. All funds are converted to NZD upon donation.

Nelson

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Last year, we celebrated Jen getting the all clear from a shocking breast cancer diagnosis. This year, Jen discovered that she now has stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, with secondary growths in her hip, lymph nodes, and chest wall.

Recently, after a trip back home to see her family in the states, Jen went back to hospital for some scans, and although her cancer has not spread - her chest tumour has grown. Unfortunately this means she must now begin a very expensive non subsidised treatment. approximately $150,000 is needed for this option.

Jen is a single mother, with family over the other side of the world in the states. We, her village, need to support her through her treatment and to provide legacy care for her boys.

This is a hand no one should ever be dealt, and as Jen begins her life lengthening treatment, she is immediately met with hurdles - hospital stays, infections, and reactions to medications. There are so many unknowns, but one thing we can do is help create funds to provide her some financial relief for her treatment, and to support Noah and Logan, her wonderful young boys to enjoy those moments and make beautiful memories with their gorgeous Mum.

Emma Matthews' involvement (page creator)

Jen is my friend. Our children have grown up together in Nelson, New Zealand.

Use of funds

Making lasting memories, making Jens home comfortable, cost of living travel costs and care for Jen, Logan, and Noah

October Update 🌱🌻☀️💕🐸🌼🏵️ 22 October 2026

Posted by: Jen Germano

Firstly, thank you all for your support! I've been really fatigued so don't have the energy to respond to all your messages but I do read them all! And your help to allow me to do this unfunded chemo, buy me time with my kids and life, and take off the financial stress - there are no words to say how grateful I am 💕

Medical update...been working with the hospital team to adjust the MANY meds I take alongside chemo (steroids, anti nausea meds, antihistamines, pain killers...) as the side effects were huge. Finally at a point where life seems doable. Fatigue, weight gain from steroids, pain but not chronic and constant....and not the horrible intense gut issues that plagued me for the first 6+ weeks of this new chemo.

On week 8 of Trodelvy chemo now, and life is getting into a quiet routine. Hospital/specialist appointments, work at DOC half days most days (tried to do some island froggy fieldwork but got sick and had to advise from afar), gardening (a toned down version of my former craziness!), riding my "new" secondhand ebike around town with the boys, dog walks & paddles with friends, BBQs outside with warmer weather, making Christmas plans with my sister who's coming to visit with her family from the USA... One of the gifts of cancer was that it forced me to slow down, to cut things out of my life that caused stress/I didn't need. To be grateful for all the little moments, for all the amazing people in my life and for time, one of the most amazing gifts of all 💕

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