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TeamLacieJae is a 501C3. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
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Lacie's Story
On September 24th, 2019 Jordeana (Lacie) had her first visit to Memorial Sloan Kettering(MSK). The bottom fell out from under us when we were told she was diagnosed with epithelioid Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer and it was stage IV. Epithelioid Sarcoma affects the soft tissue and accounts for 1% of all soft tissue sarcomas. This was a devastating diagnosis; but in true form, after the initial shock, Jordeana was ready to fight. Through all of this, many tears were shed but in the end Lacie’s resolve to fight was always there. The doctor recommended immediate and aggressive chemotherapy treatment administered locally and supervised by her oncologist.
Lacie was admitted to Vassar Brothers Medical Center and started her first round of chemotherapy on October 12th, 2019. During this stay, the principal and staff of St. Peters School presented the idea to host a spaghetti dinner to raise funds to alleviate medical expenses. Nadine, Jordeana’s mother, had said to wait as there was no real need for it at that time. Lacie however, responded by suggesting they have a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to someone in a similar situation that needed it. That day, the idea for a fundraising team was born, but not brought to action, as Lacie’s condition became more complex. During that stay, a complication had developed. A blood clot formed at the primary location of the cancer and Lacie lost movement in her left leg. Although she had to get around on crutches, this did not diminish her positive outlook, and she continued to make plans for the future.
As positivity remained a facet throughout Lacie’s treatment, it was also during this hospitalization, that the ideology of how meaningful volunteerism and assistance was realized. Our neighbor tried to get us an uber into the city. Instead, a relative of theirs (and now our friend) volunteered to take us to the appointment. He became our regular ride to appointments at MSK. Additionally, Jordeana’s best friend and her family got her college Alumni on board. A GoFundMe campaign was launched which provided funds for ambulance service to the city. Whether a meal prepared for the family, gift cards, care packages, running errands or keeping an eye on her younger brother, these gestures were not lost on Lacie. She acknowledged and marveled at the generosity she was shown. This further cemented the idea of finding a way to give back to others who had to worry about being there for their loved ones instead of how they will afford to do so.
We were fortunate to be blessed with many generous friends and even caring strangers, all contributing towards making a very difficult time much more bearable. Jordeana was always grateful for the love, support, and generosity we were shown by all. This organization is to honor her memory and to carry on her legacy, a legacy of warmth and caring, of doing for others as you would have them doing for you. #TeamLacieJae will seek to ease the load families carry as they care for their loved ones. If this organization even helps one family then Jordeana’s vision will truly have been a success.