Jane’s Journey

Scroll to the bottom of this posts for UPDATES on Jane’s journey. ❤️

My cousin Jane is two years older than me, and her sister Julie four years older. . When I was little, I loved to spend the night with Jane and Julie as much as possible. Life was exciting over at their house..much livelier than my house across town. They always seemed to have the newest and best toys, the ones I would see on commercials and dream about. I’ve mentioned this in a prior post, but they even had an Easy Bake Oven! I can remember spending the night at their house making all kinds of concoctions in that thing! My mom thought they were dangerous, so I was never able to get one (although my parents did provide me with a great life and wonderful toys of my own).

Growing Up, Growing Apart

As we grew older, my cousins and I spent less and less time with each other. I have to admit I was envious of Jane, as she seemed to have it all. Not only was she beautiful, but she was a popular cheerleader as well!

Time continued to pass. My family moved away, and I rarely saw my cousins. Weddings and funerals were our times to “catch up”. Say what you will about social media, but I give Facebook all the credit for becoming a part of my extended family’s lives again. I am so grateful for that.

Initial Diagnosis 

In February of 2017, Jane posted about undergoing a colonoscopy to check on a few issues she had been having for quite some time. I thought nothing of it, as those are common procedures.

Jane received news on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2017, that nobody wants to hear.. Cancer.

On February 28th, she posted the following on her personal FB page:

“Just want everyone to know…. Insurance has approved now and treatment is a go…. Travel to GI tomorrow for scan and placement for upcoming radiation therapy. Begin date is Tuesday March 7, 2017. As well as chemotherapy treatment same day… My recent tests of CT scans and MRI, PET scan and obgyn determined cancer to be very rare, fast growing stage 3/4 and in lymph nodes but not to female organs this far. Prayers welcome and needed GREATLY…. “

This was the beginning of her journey, a journey with ups and downs, twists and turns. A page was established in order to keep friends and family updated on Jane.

Speaking of friends and family.. I have never witnessed such love and support as I have with Jane. Of course her children and loving mother Dennie were tremendous supports…but her friends and the entire community in her small Nebraska hometown were beyond belief. As an outside family member looking in, the amazing show of love that they have given and continue to give to Jane brings me to tears.

Remission 

After initial rounds of treatments and several hospital stays, Jane received this wonderful news.
September 7, 2017
“Today was all day testing from Aurora to gi for my head to toe testing and it is now confirmed from inside to outside! The tumor is completely gone and I’m in remission from cancer! ( I say I’m cured)”

After a sigh of relief comes another wave…

A few months later, the rollercoaster of emotions continued.

December 6, 2017
“Saw specialist today and had couple test done (many more to come)This man is a straight shooter and I wouldn’t have it any other way. He gave me a lot of information about what’s to come and I’ve processed it all day now!! Looking at surgery in next few weeks because the tumor is growing fast! It’s the size now of a lime. It’s a rare and aggressive tumor. All that chemo and radiation shrunk it and stunned it but didn’t kill it! Colostomy bag will be PERMANENT as where it is can NOT be fixed after cutting. My bladder and vagina are affected as well but with surgery can be repaired. It will take 3 doctors for this difficult surgery and this specialist (one of the best)says even with surgery I have 5 years tops because of the aggression of the type. Without I’m looking at only months to live!!
I CHOSE LIFE A WEEK AGO AND IM READY TO GIVE MY BEST TO BEAT THIS DAMN THING! no tears only laughter as that is who I am!!! I TRUST in God and BELIEVE in miracles. You will only see me smile”

January 23, 2018

“Saw the pre op then nursing staff for stoma today. This is how it went…. two nurses came in and introduced themselves then opened a book of live stoma pictures, I gasped and swallowed my gum. I was choking so they had to get me a glass of water. I felt sick so I ran for the bathroom and had dry heaves…. Got myself together ( which took a bit ) told myself all the way back to the room…. come on, you can do this !!!!! There are worse things!!!! Stop being a baby….
the nurses were surprised I came back . I asked to see the book again, we looked at the bags too and marked my skin for the surgery. I didn’t cry when back in the room because in my head I kept saying to myself…. “You chose life”
This will take some getting used too for sure. But now that I know what I’m in for I’m going to put my big girl panties on and do the best I can with what I’ve been dealt!
Tell myself what I tell others “ Find the good in the situation, and smile through it “
So Monday 29 th is surgery day and I will be ready… Ready for life!!! Bless all of you who pray!!! I will need it!!!”

After several decent months following  surgery(with ups and downs of course), Jane posted this update:

July 18, 2018
Update
“Got the results back from the MRI. The tumor has grown to the same size as when I had my last surgery. Dr.  L is at a loss and said he is never seen anything like this before.
Dr. is putting me before the board of numerous doctors and once again asking for help, they do not know how to kill this tumor. Tomorrow -Thursday I go for an extensive biopsy. Doctor said they will try numerous things with these tissues to help find something that will work. Chemo and another surgery will then be done.
All I know is that this is all in God’s  hands and what I believe and will continue to believe is that prayer works!!! Without all of your prayer I don’t think I would be here. I appreciate all of you for reading my journey and for praying for me and you have no idea how grateful I am for these prayers!!! God has a plan and I know that he is not finished with me yet so I will fight my ass off to be here (literally lol) .  For those of you who read my journey I hope in someway, somehow it helps you to understand FEAR and giving that fear to God and FAITH in believingthat God will hold you and help you with GRACE, that the Lord Jesus Christ is your savior and he will never forsake  you. But you have to BELIEVE in him and have FAITH in what he can do!!!! This is my HOPE !!!”

In the following months, Jane suffered through many more issues, including kidney issues, fevers, more chemo,and beginning Keytruda treatment. She posted the following upbeat message:

October 23, 2018
“My words of wisdom are
Have fun in everything you do !!! At work, at play, cooking, doing laundry, Groc shopping, cleaning your house no matter what you are doing make it FUN !!!! Life is too short to be upset or frustrated just make things fun. I’ve always been one to laugh and be happy please carry this on and think of me!!!!
Life is worth LIVING!!!”

Two years in..

Jane’s daughter Greta posted this latest update last week:
“Two years ago tomorrow, our journey began. Since then we have experienced numerous highs and lows including two remissions and three cancer diagnoses. We have been through six different forms of treatment not counting her nine surgeries/ procedures. The amount of blessings we have experienced trump ALL of those numbers! Safe to say the last two years have been life altering and eye opening for my entire family. We are all so proud, and so blessed that my mom has continued to fight to be here. Today, I am so happy to share with all of you that scans were done once again checking the size of the tumor. When the results came back we were told the tumor has shrunk. Not just a millimeter or two but “significantly”. Not sure the measurement and we don’t care, that news is enough to make us happy. So unbelievably blessed. Keep sending prayers, we are getting somewhere, FINALLY.”

A Real Superwoman

Jane and I have been visiting for quite some time about featuring her story on my blog. I love my cousin dearly and I didn’t feel that I could come anywhere close to telling it the way that this story deserves to be told.  She smiles and laughs-a laugh so infectious that it’s indescribable, but underneath has been through so much physical and emotional pain. She has good days, but also dark days..

Her body has undergone tremendous changes that Jane has asked me to be open about to the readers. She asked that I include everything in order to understand the depth of this journey. These changes include a colostomy bag, the surgical removal of her vagina, nephrostomy on the left side and an upcoming nephrostomy on the right as well due to the tumor putting a hole in her bladder and jeopardizing it.

However, she told me that God wanted her to reach out to others with her journey. Her church had requested some testimony from her on her faith, and today she sent me the following heartfelt piece to share with all of you as well.

Jane’s Message to You

My journey with an illness,
Valentine’s Day 2017 I was told I have stage III cancer in my rectum and the Cancer is very angry. My life changed that day. I now have many doctors, tests and pain that I never had before.
I could talk about all of that but I’d rather talk about my “faith”. I am a believer in God. I go to church regularly but I’m not a preachy person, nor do I know scripture.
I have many friends and family but no partner to rely on. But if you want to know something about me, I’m quite independent,bossy and yet a very happy and people person. I refuse to let cancer define or change who I am.
I sought refuge in God. I asked him for comfort and guidance in this journey as he is all I needed. If God would be there with me I knew doctors would find best treatment and I could rid myself of this illness. It is now been two years and lots of discouragement, frustration and yes horrible pain on this journey. But I have not wavered in knowing that God is in control. I asked God to be with me and hold me up when I can no longer stand. My every prayer starts with “thank you my gracious God”. If not for him I could not fight this hard, God is who gets me through. I thoroughly believe I am still here because God is guiding the doctors.
I have witnessed so many miracles along my journey. There is so much love, joy and encouragement. You wouldn’t think you would see this beauty along such an ugly path,but I do. When I am hurting and so very weak,I look to God and ask for help and he does. When doctors have given me no hope,again I look to God….and there is hope!!!! People who have been discouraged and what God can do and haven’t been to church and said they haven’t prayed in a long time are now praying and seeking God because of my journey.This is so beautiful to me and I am grateful that God can use me to make believers of HIM.
God‘s presence in my life is what gets me through these hard times. When I don’t feel him,I pray …..and he is stronger than ever. “Be still and know that I am God” All you have to do is believe in him fully and lay your burdens at his feet.
I am not very good at writing my feelings but it is simple, give God your burdens and pray. Ask God what he wants and watch him work. Believe in him for he is the most high power. He loves us he wants what’s best for us.
Glory be to God, Jane Skolaut

Please continue with your thoughts and prayers for Jane, and all others fighting this monster disease or any other battles. Thank you to Jane for sharing her story, and hopefully her positive attitude and fighting spirit can help others as well.

UPDATE :JULY 4th, 2019

From Jane: 

Good morning my sweet friends and family!!!! Saw Dr Crockett and had chemo yesterday although my hemoglobin is at transfusion level I begged not to have it done…. I got chemo anyway and will be checked next week but doctor got tumor makers in lab work and results were not good. Tumor has grown three sizes since we started chemo, it’s not working!!!! We will try to more weeks and he told me to do the things I wanted to do, get some things in order!! ..Only thing left to try is another surgery. I cried!!!! Recovery is so hard! But just saying the words recovery means that I live so I am contemplating,because this girl never gives up! There will be some good that comes out of this like they remove the bladder and I don’t have to wear these pads anymore and hopefully they would fix the nephrostomy tube‘s That would be two tubes removed. Those all sound very nice but I could also die during surgery risks are very high! But I believe my answer is I will at least go out trying!!!! And hopefully they fix the radiation mess they left in the cavity. He said the surgery would be many many hours. I’m not afraid of that I’ve gone 10!!!! Hehehehe
Doing some of the things I want to do that might be a challenge. It’s actually just seeing family and friends and I did get that at my sons wedding!!! What a dream night that was for me!!!! I know God is leading me to the path I need to be on and I am listening hard to what he has to say! Prayers are needed and my love for you all is huge I am at peace and I thank all of you for being on this page and praying with me and commenting to me and helping me in anyway that you can I see it and I love it and I thank you because I am so grateful to God bless each and everyone of you.!!!! Sincerely, Jane