A New Normal for the Torres Family
Patient StoriesJacob Torres is a loving, animated boy, who his mom Jessica describes as beating to the sound of his own drum. He loves sports, he loves to be...
A New Normal for the Torres Family
Astraea’s Journey of Strength and Resilience
Patient StoriesSeven-year-old Astraea is a bright and bubbly girl who loves swimming and feeling the sun on her face. Born with a rare genetic mutation of the STXBP1...
When Support Goes Beyond the Application
Patient StoriesAt just 11 months old, Everly was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic disorder that can cause tumors to develop along nerves. For...
Turning a Cancer Journey into a Mission of Giving Back
Patient StoriesAlexandra Clithero is a teacher living in Southern Maine with her husband Brandon, their 10-year-old son Austin, and two black labs. In 2021, Alex was...
Facing Cancer’s Emotional and Financial Strain: Cathy’s Story
Patient StoriesCathy Grybos is generally an active person, and it was while working out one day that she noticed pain in her ribs. She thought maybe she had pulled a...
A Young Mother’s Cancer Journey—and the Support That Helped Her Family Hold On
Patient StoriesRenee Malloy’s story is a reminder that a cancer diagnosis can strike anyone at any time, and at any age. It also highlights the struggles that are...
More Than a Diagnosis: The ripple effects of cancer—and the caregiver who carried them all
Patient StoriesShantae Holmes and her husband, Marquis, live with their blended family of four kids. Shantae is proud of her active role in the community and has started...
Introduced to JAF when It Was Needed Most
Patient StoriesCharlie Schmidt calls himself the anomaly. He did not have any stomach pain, did not have any notable stomach issues. But he’s very thankful for his...
Back on the Road to Cancer Recovery, Thanks to JAF
Patient StoriesAlba Pena wasn't experiencing any noticeable symptoms when she underwent a routine three-year colonoscopy. A few weeks after her appointment, however,...
The Road is Long, But So is Andrea’s Strength
Patient StoriesAndrea D’Amato and her husband left Massachusetts in 2019 and nestled in the small, scenic community of Pembroke, Maine, a town with fewer than 800...