❤️ Joanne’s Journey ❤️

In April, our family received news that no family ever wants to hear — Joanne was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia).

Since then, Joanne has been undergoing chemotherapy and fighting her way through treatment. Her care has required regular trips from Northern Maine to Portland, where she has had to stay in the hospital for several days at a time while receiving chemotherapy.

Each of those trips means hundreds of miles away from home, along with the added costs of gas, tolls, meals, and everything else that comes with traveling long distances for medical care.

Recently, though, our family received some incredibly hopeful news:

❤️ A stem cell donor has been found for Joanne. ❤️

Joanne is now able to move forward toward a stem cell transplant. This is wonderful news and gives all of us so much hope, but it also brings another difficult chapter in her journey.

For the transplant and the care and close monitoring that follow, Joanne will need to be in Boston for approximately three months.

After months of chemotherapy and traveling back and forth to Portland, the additional travel to Boston and an extended period away from home are creating a financial burden that is becoming increasingly difficult for our family to manage.

And while Joanne is fighting cancer, everyday life doesn’t stop.

The regular household bills still have to be paid. Groceries still need to be bought. There are still all the normal expenses of maintaining a home, while at the same time we’re trying to manage the additional costs that come with Joanne’s treatment, medical travel, and the months she will need to spend in Boston.

That’s why we’re asking for help.

Funds raised through Joanne’s Journey will help ease some of that financial burden — including gas, tolls, travel and other necessary expenses related to her treatment and time in Boston, as well as helping with everyday expenses back home while Joanne goes through this next stage of treatment.

Our hope is simple: to ease as much of the financial worry as possible so Joanne and our family can focus on what matters most — her treatment, her recovery, and getting her safely back home.

Please know that no donation is too small.

❤️ $1 helps.
❤️ $5 helps.
❤️ $10 helps.

When enough people give just a little, those small acts of kindness can add up to something pretty incredible.

And if donating isn’t possible right now, we completely understand. Sharing Joanne’s fundraiser is also a wonderful way to help. Every share gives her story another chance to reach someone who may be able to contribute.

To everyone who donates, shares, offers encouragement, or simply takes a moment to read Joanne’s story:

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Every donation, every share, and every act of kindness means more to our family than we could ever adequately put into words.

❤️ Thank you for being part of Joanne’s Journey. ❤️