How did everyone know to wear pink?

A girl named Megan sent a message on Facebook asking everyone to wear PINK to church this past Sunday. This simple request spread all over the country. Friends in Missouri,Michigan, Utah and even Puerto Rico wore pink yesterday for our dear friend Jamie. What is so sweet about Megan is that she is in High School and should be living up summer vacation. Instead she is thinking of our JJ. The church we go to teaches all of us to Love One Another. This simple phrase has spread through our congregation like wild fire. Not everyone knows Jamie as well as some of us, but all of us LOVE her as the daughter of God she is. Jamie had her first round of Chemo on Thursday. It has left her feeling awful and tired and sore and just yuck. BUT, she still has her smile and her amazing family right next to her. Jamie we knew you wouldn't be able to be at church on Sunday but we wanted you to know that we are here and we love you! Now GO FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!

My family is wicked supportive!

So, now that I have some uninterrupted time on my hands, (uh, say about 6 or seven hours while I sitting here dong chemo...see next post) I wanted to take a minute to sing the praises of my family. To start out the sappy-mushy-family-love post let's talk about Landon. My husband is just wonderful. I keep looking at him like I suppose a scientist or doctor would, looking for signs of Post Traumatic Shock Disorder or cracks in his armour. He is so supportive, kind and caring. He is taking such good care of me and kids. I am so blessed.

Then we go on to Mom. My mother came out here to help us for two weeks during the bone biopsy, subsequent result and first chemo treatment. She has been a huge support to me. I have asked for a positive environment at home. I am not breaking down in front of the kids. I asked this of my mom too. Anyone who knows her, knows she has a very huge, and sensitive heart and I knew while this would be hard for her, it was imperative for for my mental well being. And she has rocked it!!!! She has been such a great help to me both mentally and physically, by helping me kick my totally messy-cluttered-laundry-overloaded house into shape. Thanks mom!

When we found out the results of my biopsy and that the cancer had spread and it was stage four, my dad, sister, brother and sister-in-law jumped in my dad's truck and high-tailed it from Missouri to Virginia (16.5) hours to just be here four me. Both my brother and sister have little children that they had to make arrangements for and they still came out...just to be there for me. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! We laughed, made fun of each other (that is what we do), went wig shopping for me (I got an awesome, cute, sassy, short one) ate out, played with my kids. My family is good for my soul. They made such a horrible weekend, wonderful. I will need my family fix every 8 weeks or so!

Even though I can't see my extended family on both sides I truly have been brought to tears by the amount of love and support I have. My mother-in-law, counsin, sister-in-laws and aunts have all talked about coming out in rotation to help me out, others have offered up SO many prayers. And you know what, I can't feel my Heavenly Father and Jesus lifting me up. I am not a preacher type believer. My faith is strong. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) and I will totally openly talk about anything you ask me, but I don't go screaming from the rooftops. But I will type out my testimony here. Prayer is strong. Prayer works. I am sitting her typing during chemo and I can feel my Heavenly Father's arms around me, comforting me. I can feel my Savior's love for me. I have an ARMY if fighters prayer for me, and their prayers are being heard, and I have so much gratitude in my heart for my family, friends, and followers.

Love,
JJ

And now...a belated Dr. update

Ok, so I am behind on doctor updates. I would much rather just have all the fun pink party posts on my blog then this stuff but it helps me to keep everything up to date and organized and it helps to keep all of you informed and in the know. :) I think that for the most part I will be a little behind because it seems to take me a bit to process the info before I am able to sit down to the computer and write about it. I have had a couple more doctors appointments since my last post:

1. July1st, I found out the results of my PET scan. They told us that the PET scan showed a few spots on the bone in the pelvis that we needed to get biopsied to confirm if they were cancer or not. Our doctor was unsure if it was cancer or not because there was not cancer in the lymph nodes at all which is usually the next place breast cancer travels too. The news made me very nervous, I was really hoping for a much clearing path from here on out. "PET scan just shows cancer in breast, so you are Stage 2, we will proceed with chemo as planned." That is what I was really HOPING to hear!
2. July 5th, I went for my bone biopsy. I was extremely nervous, but it really wasn't that bad, especially compared to the breast biopsy. The big game changer? SEDATION!!! I got to have this lovely "Twilight Sedation" that made me drowsy but not fully asleep. I don't really remember the procedure. Once it was over we went home and began the waiting game. On Thursday we would find out of we were at Stage 2, or Stage 4 breast cancer.
3. July7th, My hubby (who is amazing by the way) and I went to chemo class. We spent two hours learning all about chemo, the side effects, what to expect and how to cope with everything. It was a bit overwhelming. What I remember from chemo class: I CANNOT HAVE PEDICURES DURING CHEMO, I can't clean our fish tank anymore (uh, I am not very good at that now, but now I have a real excuse), my taste is going to change, and I CAN'T WEAR PERFUME. I really did listen to all the real stuff but that is the real life stuff that stuck out to me.
4. After we had chemo class we met with our doctor to find out the results of the bone biopsy. I am going to be very short and to the point here and maybe later after I have had more time to deal and reflect, come back and expand on this. But, he told us that the biopsy showed that the cancer was in the bone, which put us at Stage 4 breast cancer, which means that it is no curable, just treatable. The average is 3-4 years to live, but he has had patients live much longer than that and my outcome is brighter than that especially since it isn't in any organs or lymph nodes. The goal is that the chemo (six months now) will shrink everything down in breast and get rid of what is in my bone for now. Then I will have surgery, then reconstruction, then radiation. Then hopefully a long period of dormancy, but they will always be monitoring and scanning to check for a reoccurrence of cancer anywhere and then we repeat.
5. July 8th, To prepare for chemo I had a medi-port placed in out-patient surgery. If I was keeping track, WHICH I AM...that was the worst thing by far!! I was again under the sedation, but I think that this procedure was more painful so I was much more aware. They placed this plastic port which is a small device used to carry medicine, my chemo, to your bloodstream. It sits under my skin just a bit below my collar bone on my left side, it has a catheter that runs to a major vein so that they don't have to try to get an IV started in my arm all the time. I am already hooked up with my port. I was supersore after getting it put in and am STILL sore today several days later. I think it will take a while to get used to having something foreign in my body all the time. I feel like a robot, every time I turn my neck I can feel it. Weird.
6. July 11th, ONE MORE TEST before chemo...jeez! I had to get a MUGA scan which is a scan of my heart to make sure it is strong enough for chemo. So they drew blood, mixed it with radioactive stuff, then re-injected it into my bloodstream then took scans. I am happy to say that most people's left ventricles perform somewhere between 50-80% and mine was pumping at 74% so it was kicking some butt. At least one test came back with good news right?! Oh, I forgot to mention that they tried to start a reg IV on me, failed, and decided to use my Medi-port, let me just say that since it was still new and tender, I felt like I was being skewered by a harpoon instead of stuck with a needle. NOT FUN. Hopefully it become easier as we go along. I did get numbing cream for my chemo on Thursday. Landon and I wondered, hmmm...shouldn't everyone with a mediport have numbing cream in their back pocket?  Why did I have to ask for a script for that??? :)

Thanks to everyone following me on this journey, it really does help to type out my thoughts on this blog and know that there are so many who care! xoxoxoxo
JJ

First...a big thank you!

So seriously, do I have the best friends in the whole wide world or what? I really have been overwhelmed with the show of support, genuine concern and love that I have felt so far through this cancer process. I have had my husband, children, and family pull together as a force to be reckoned with, so many people offer up prayers in my behalf, an entire congregation show that we are all fighting this together, little children from my primary class draw me pictures and make me bracelets, there is a message quilt being made so that when I am at chemo I will always have warm wishes to keep me company, and last night over 30 of my amazing friends went pink in my honor. I hope their hubbys are ok with it, because it was all I could do to keep it together last night, looking out over all that pink. It was pure love. I would be there for anyone of them, and it warmed my heart to see that they felt the same way for me. I sure am lucky in friendship.

Pictures from the Pink Party!

Here is the first of many more pictures to come. We had such a fun time putting pink in our hair. Lots of pink in the room betweeen food, decorations, clothes and hair. The love and support for Jamie and her family is so strong. Thank you to everyone for coming and showing their love. A HUGE shout out to Cathy Squires...the one with curly blonde hair in the black apron and Nicolette Gelvin the other blonde with pig tail braids. They stayed on their feet the whole night pinking hair. AMAZING!!
We love you JAMIE!
P.S. I will add more photos as they come in!!

PINK PARTY!

I am another friend of the amazing JJ! We became tight the moment we both heard TWILIGHT come out of our mouths!!!
If you want to rock pink hair like these crazy kids. Come to my house Tuesday July 12Th 8pmish. We are doing this to pump up Jamie's spirits and show her we love her fun and wild style. If you don't want some pink but still want to come and show love. We would love it. If you live far away feel free to host your own pink party. PLEASE send me a picture and I will gather them all up and share them here too. Please email me if you need directions my email is 3foxgirls@gmail.com
We love your fighting spirit Jamie and we are ready to FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!!!
Love you,
Lisa Fox

What You Should Know...

Hi All...
My name is Cathy Squires. JJ has been one of my dearest friends since we both found ourselves transplanted here to Virginia. She is my rockin' concert buddy, my Girl's Night Out Coordinator, all around good time planner as well as my dear friend. From time to time I will update the blog for Jamie with basics when she needs a break and she will come back to add her beautiful amazing writer touches to it! Thanks for hanging out and loving and caring for her!

Things to remember when visiting Jamie Jensen

Please remember that Jamie is beginning Chemotherapy, her health and well being are of the utmost importance. Jamie loves to have visitors! Please consider calling rather than just dropping by. She will have family in town often, they may be in and out with Doctors appointments, she may be resting or they may just need family time. We all have the best intentions but need to remember to be considerate.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR SNIFFLES YOUR SNIFFLES!
Jamie's immune system will be highly sensitive. There will be a sanitizing station in the foyer as soon as you enter. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is that you take the moment to utilize what is available to be germ free upon entering the home. Even if you think it's just a minor thing such as allergies, or maybe you've been in contact with someone else who has been sick. Wait to come by until all is well.

When visiting, always be positive no matter the topic of discussion. Even the slightest Debbie Downer moment can change one's mindset. Positivity is crucial to not only Jamie's but her family's well being. Don't come in if you can't be POSITIVE! Again this goes to your health as well as attitude. Keep communication open but be a good listener. The best medicine..verbalize your love and support for them. Be creative, write it, say it, or show it by your actions.

How Can I help?
Flowers are not the best. Patient's immune systems may be compromised and living plants, flowers and Spanish moss are not allowed. Look for alternative ways to say you care.

Losing hair is a hard thing...no doubt about it! Consider having a hat party and inviting everyone to wear a hat, party hardy, and leave the hat for her. Hats should be practical as well as fun!

Keeping in touch is important. Send cards, notes, banners, kids drawings, or any message of hope to show you care. Receiving "get well" cards with the message "while you recover" can be very important to her healing.

Form a "Relay for Life" team. This can show great team support while giving Jamie something fun to look forward to!

Remember the family with food and treats.

Gift certificates to area fast food/restaurants surrounding her Chemotherapy (Lake Manassas in Gainesville) or hospital (Prince William) are very helpful.

Pretty new P.J.'s with front opening for IV access is essential. Throw in a pair of fuzzy slippers for added fun!

Themed gift boxes or baskets for the family are a great idea. For example: a movie basket filled with videos, video coupons, candy, popcorn, etc. is always fun.

Arrange to help with laundry and housecleaning. Her job right now is to heal, not be overwhelmed by day-to-day chores.

Short visits can take the family's mind off of stress. Share laughs and make wonderful memories, just remember to call first.

Stay connected. Say "I'm here and I care" is better than nothing at all.

This Wednesday July 13th
The Jensen's church family as well as all friends and loved ones are invited to participate in a fasting. Please keep this good family in your prayers that the medical treatments may be successful and that through faith, fasting, prayer and through the power of the priesthood her body may be made whole and well. Please pray for the comfort and sustaining strength of Jamie as well as her family as they endure this process.

With Love,
Cathy