| Gloria Glickman from Clifton, New Jersey remembers | | | | get rid of it. Gloria got off the phone and felt |
| the day in 2000 when her 28-year-old daughter, | | | | paralyzed. She remembers sobbing. Again. |
| Jennifer called her on the telephone to tell her she | | | | BACK TO LIVING |
| felt a lump in her left breast. | | | | That same year, Jennifer was planning to climb Mt. |
| YOU'LL BE FINE | | | | Whitney in California to put up a banner flag for |
| Gloria's first reaction was to tell her not to worry | | | | cancer and she did it in between radiation treatments. |
| about it, that she was sure it was fine, but to still be | | | | Her new job was going well. She never missed a day |
| sure to get it checked by a doctor. Her daughter | | | | of work. She got promoted and was thriving |
| took her mother's advice. But like most people | | | | professionally. Greg was as courageous as Jennifer. |
| waiting for results of a biopsy, she worried. | | | | His sense of humor helped. Jennifer felt supported, |
| When she called her mom about her anxiety, Gloria | | | | happy, in love and that she could conquer the world. |
| recalls reminding her daughter that she herself had | | | | Jennifer started writing a blog in December of 2007 |
| once had a cyst and it turned out to be nothing, so | | | | called, where she gave a day by day description of |
| she reassured her daughter that everything would be | | | | her experience. So many people wrote on it when |
| okay. | | | | she passed away in 2009. Jennifer came up with the |
| MOM, IT'S MALIGNANT | | | | name for the blog because that was her motto: |
| One week later, Gloria was at home with her | | | | "Time to lace up my gloves and keep fighting" when |
| husband, Don and heard the words from her | | | | she got diagnosed. |
| daughter that a mother never imagines she'll hear in | | | | Again, Jennifer surprised her mother by announcing |
| her lifetime. Her athletic, healthy, beautiful, full of | | | | that in April 2008 she and Greg planned to go to |
| energy daughter, Jennifer calling to say, "Mom it's | | | | Sante Fe and marry in a Chapel there. Just the two |
| malignant. I have breast cancer." | | | | of them. Gloria supported her decision, even though |
| DISBELIEF | | | | she would have loved to have been there. |
| Jennifer was athletic and ate well and was in very | | | | Jennifer had MRI's every three months. In November |
| good shape. This was more of a genetic | | | | 2008, she would learn that the breast cancer had |
| predisposition to breast cancer than anything else. | | | | gone to her brain. She had to have radiation. Jennifer |
| The only reason she even went in to have a | | | | told her mother they would zap it. Gloria couldn't |
| mammogram was because of the lump she felt in | | | | believe the news once again. Jennifer had the |
| her left breast. She otherwise wouldn't have given it | | | | radiation and went for another MRI in the beginning |
| a second thought. Even with a family history, she | | | | of 2009 and she was told they got most of the |
| never thought it would affect her. Jennifer's | | | | cancer by zapping it with the radiation. |
| grandmother on her father's side had breast cancer, | | | | Gloria remembers going from New Jersey to Phoenix, |
| as well as several aunts. But she still saw breast | | | | Arizona to see her daughter in February 2009. She |
| cancer as something far removed from her own life. | | | | just wanted to hug her daughter and be with her in |
| She was healthy. She never once imagined it would | | | | person. Gloria saw that her daughter was fine on the |
| strike her, especially not in her twenties. She was too | | | | surface, but also knew that Jennifer was good at |
| young. She was too active. She was too fit. She | | | | hiding any weakness. At this time, Jennifer only |
| took good care of herself and took pride in eating | | | | confided in her husband and didn't want her mom to |
| right and exercising regularly. | | | | worry, so she put up a brave front during her visit. |
| Gloria could barely hold the telephone in her hand. She | | | | Gloria saw a vibrant daughter and returned to New |
| remembers wanting to run as far away as she could | | | | Jersey feeling good about her daughter's health and |
| from what the voice on the other end of the | | | | future. |
| telephone, but her body was frozen in time. Her | | | | SHOCK |
| heart seemed to stop. | | | | Two months later, on the evening of Friday, April 10, |
| COURAGE | | | | 2009, Gloria would get a call from Greg saying that it |
| Gloria held her breathe and fought back the tears | | | | was urgent that she and Don come to Phoenix |
| while listening to her daughter's courageous words: | | | | because Jennifer was in the hospital. Gloria, and her |
| "Mom, I want you to be brave because I'm going to | | | | husband, Don dropped everything and flew to |
| fight this." Gloria could hardly believe how calm her | | | | Phoenix, as did Jennifer's siblings, Howard and Jennifer |
| daughter was at this moment. Their roles were | | | | and their significant others. There were no flights |
| suddenly reversed. Instead of a mother offering | | | | going west that same night due to the lateness of |
| solace to a child, it was the other way around. | | | | the hour and Gloria was so frustrated that she |
| Jennifer was comforting her mother. Jennifer | | | | couldn't teleport herself there. When Gloria arrived at |
| reminded her mother that she was a fighter and she | | | | the hospital, she saw her daughter hooked up to a |
| wouldn't allow anything change her optimistic outlook | | | | lot of machines and on painkiller drugs. Jennifer asked |
| on life. She intended to live a long and happy life. | | | | her mom why she was there and that she was going |
| LIFE GOES ON | | | | to be okay and didn't know why her mother had |
| That life included being engaged to be married just | | | | traveled there. |
| three months after her diagnosis. This meant she | | | | Jennifer's oncologist told Jennifer and her husband |
| was faced with not only telling her mother, but telling | | | | Greg that there was not much they could do. |
| her fiance about the news. How do you tell your | | | | Jennifer's response was that she wasn't ready to slip |
| prospective husband that you may die. That | | | | on the banana peel just yet, and she would be alright. |
| question, that life -- that future flashed before | | | | Jennifer didn't want to hear anything negative. The |
| Gloria's eyes as she hung up the phone. Her hands | | | | doctor spoke to Jennifer in front of the whole family. |
| shook uncontrollably and shared the news with her | | | | The doctors wanted to do a spinal tap to see if |
| husband, Don who knew from the look on her face | | | | there was cancer there, but it was risky and against |
| that something was terribly wrong. Her husband was | | | | odds. They tried it, but they didn't find what they |
| supportive and told her, "We'll get through this | | | | were looking for. They wanted to do it again, but |
| together." | | | | then Greg, Gloria and Don made the decision that |
| Next, Gloria called her own mother, who was in her | | | | there was nothing to be gained to do it again. |
| seventies to say, "Mom I just got a call from Jen and | | | | Gloria believed in her daughter and that she would live |
| we have to be strong and support her." Gloria's mom, | | | | a long time. Gloria never said goodbye. Instead, she |
| Ann Tausk, a Holocaust survivor was used to | | | | told her daughter, "I am so blessed to be your |
| surviving the worst in life without letting it affect her | | | | mother. You have shown so much courage and |
| spirit. This time, she didn't know if she had it in her to | | | | inspired so many people. Thank God I have a |
| fight. Her own mother told Gloria she didn't know if | | | | daughter like you." |
| she could handle it. | | | | Her daughter told her the past five years had been |
| Meanwhile, Jennifer was faced with telling her fiance. | | | | her best ever. She said she had such a wonderful, |
| Upon being told, he reaffirmed his soon-to-be wife | | | | blessed life. Gloria said, "I love you, Jen." and Jennifer |
| and was extremely supportive and offered to take | | | | replied, "I love you too, Mom." |
| care of her. Gloria thought he could have ran and said | | | | That was the last conversation they had. |
| he didn't want anything to do with her, but he | | | | STRENGTH |
| stayed by her daughter's side. | | | | The day before, Don called Gloria's sisters to tell |
| DECISIONS | | | | them to tell Jennifer's grandmother that Jennifer was |
| Back at the hospital, the doctors wanted to remove | | | | in the hospital and the prognosis was not good. Gloria |
| lymph nodes to find out if the breast cancer had | | | | asked her sisters and her mother to come to |
| spread. | | | | Phoenix to see Jennifer. At 82-years-old, Gloria's |
| They were relieved to learn the cancer was just | | | | mother arrived and told Jennifer, "We're survivors in |
| contained in her one breast. After careful | | | | our family. You have to be strong." |
| consideration, Jennifer then decided to have a | | | | Four days later, Greg in consultation with Gloria and |
| mastectomy and have the breast removed. She also | | | | Don agreed that allowing Jennifer her dignity was |
| reduced the other breast, so it would not be that | | | | paramount at this time and they made the decision |
| drastically noticeable. Jennifer wanted to remove the | | | | to stop aggressive treatment and transfer Jennifer |
| cancerous breast and had the most aggressive | | | | to a hospice. |
| chemotherapy to get it out of her body. She was | | | | Once they brought her to hospice, Jennifer was in a |
| told she would lose her hair, but she desperately | | | | coma. Even though she wasn't conscious, Gloria felt |
| wanted the disease out of her body. Jennifer had a | | | | her daughter knew she was there sleeping by her |
| full head of long, curly hair down to the middle of her | | | | side 24/7 every night. Gloria whispered to her that it |
| back. She knew chemotherapy would mean sacrificing | | | | was okay to let go. The last day, the hospice nurse |
| a part of her external looks at a time when she | | | | said she could tell by Jennifer's labored breathing that |
| wanted to look her best -- her wedding day. | | | | it would be 24-hours before she would pass away. |
| Gloria remembers asking her daughter when she | | | | Jennifer had her entire family there. Jennifer's family |
| would take her wedding photos knowing she would | | | | and Jennifer's husband's family were there when she |
| lose her hair. Jennifer didn't care. She said she'd make | | | | passed away. |
| a turban since she would be completely bald. Jennifer | | | | Greg stood by the bed and Jennifer tightened his |
| did just that. Even though she was completely bald | | | | hand, kicked her foot and then she was gone. Gloria |
| on her wedding day, she was a radiant, beautiful | | | | feels so blessed that her daughter allowed her to be |
| bride. So beautiful that she was featured in the | | | | in the room for her last breath. Her love of her life |
| January 2001 issue of MAMM Magazine, Women | | | | was there. April 21, 2009 next week is the one year |
| Cancer and Community. The title of the article was | | | | anniversary of her passing. |
| fitting. It was called, "Bald is Beautiful" and it featured | | | | JENNIFER'S LEGACY |
| many women | | | | Today, Gloria continues to keep her daughter's |
| IN HER OWN WORDS | | | | memory alive. Jennifer's husband, Greg is a crusader |
| In the magazine, Jennifer was quoted saying, "On | | | | for cancer and started the Desert Cancer Foundation |
| March 30, 2000 at age twenty-eight, I was diagnosed | | | | of Arizona, which raises money for The Banner |
| with infiltrating ductal carcinoma. My fiance and I had | | | | Desert Medical Center and Mobile On-Site |
| been planning our wedding for nearly a year. People | | | | Mammography, a mobile way for women to get their |
| were traveling from all over the country and as far | | | | mammograms. The On-Site Mobile Mammography is |
| away as Australia and I was going to be in the middle | | | | funded by The Jennifer Hoffmann Memorial, the |
| of chemotherapy. My hair started to fall out a month | | | | charity set up by Jennifer's parents, husband, friends |
| before the wedding. After trying wig after wig, I | | | | and family specifically for women who can not afford |
| gave up. I was afraid that without hair, I'd be an ugly | | | | mammograms. |
| bride. But I looked and felt beautiful. With the love of | | | | On April 10, 2009, they had a screening and 45 |
| the people around me and the strength I had inside, | | | | women who signed up were given free |
| we went through with the wedding." | | | | mammograms. These are women who do not have |
| Jennifer was in the middle of her chemotherapy, and | | | | medical insurance. |
| took a few weeks break from it so she wouldn't feel | | | | Jennifer wanted to be cremated and have her ashes |
| nauseas during the wedding. | | | | scattered at the Grand Canyon because she loved |
| She got married and finished her chemotherapy two | | | | going there to hike with her husband, who followed |
| months following the wedding. And then she | | | | her wishes. He did so alone. |
| continued doing what she had to following doctor's | | | | Her husband, Greg Hoffmann is going there on |
| orders. She was on tamoxofin, her hair grew back | | | | Wednesday, April 21, to commemorate Jennifer's |
| and she kept it short. Yet, her hair wasn't the only | | | | passing. |
| thing that would be short. Her new marriage did not | | | | He plans to continue Jennifer's fight for a cure. |
| survive. Relatives and friends noticed Jennifer was | | | | Greg is now on the board of the Foundation. Each |
| nervous and unhappy. They didn't know if it was the | | | | November, his team, THRIVR, walks in the Three |
| cancer or the marriage. Jennifer seemed irritable. | | | | Day Walk for Susan G. Komen Walk for Cancer, as |
| Everyone assumed she wasn't happy because of the | | | | do other members of Jennifer's family. |
| illness. | | | | JENNIFER'S SPIRIT |
| FIVE YEARS LATER | | | | Despite her diagnosis, Jennifer went on with her life. |
| In 2005, when she passed her five year milestone of | | | | A life that meant divorce, marriage, work, family, |
| being "clean"...it was called NED...No Evidence of | | | | friends. She continued to live. The message she gives |
| Disease...a common term within the cancer | | | | is that illness does not have to prevent someone |
| community, Gloria received another call that made her | | | | from living as if they would live forever. |
| heart skip a beat. Jennifer called to say, "I just | | | | After Jennifer passed away, Gloria received so many |
| reached my five year milestone AND my marriage | | | | letters telling her what an inspiration Jennifer was to |
| isn't working. I'm getting divorced" | | | | them during this time. |
| She was married five years and had been | | | | Jennifer's friend is a photographer named Jill Stafford |
| cancer-free for five years. Jennifer told her mom | | | | in California has made an exhibit with Jennifer's |
| that she needed to move on. Since she had begun | | | | sayings from her blog and she gifted the photograph |
| therapy at this time, she realized that she was | | | | with the saying to Gloria. The saying reads: |
| unhappy in the marriage. Jennifer felt she would live | | | | "...and then we go on with the business of living |
| another fifty years and she wanted them to be | | | | whether or not the scenery has changed. We have |
| happy and healthy. She went through marriage | | | | no choice in what we are dealt, but we have a |
| counseling, but had the courage to leave a marriage | | | | choice in how we deal with it." |
| that wasn't right for her despite everything else she | | | | That saying keeps Gloria going. It also keeps |
| had gone through. Gloria, her husband Don, and the | | | | Jennifer's husband going. He wrote the following |
| family, including her step-siblings Howard and Jennifer | | | | tribute. |
| all supported her in her decision. Her daughter also | | | | In memory of Jen... |
| decided to change jobs. She switched careers and | | | | On April 21, 2009, the world lost one of the good |
| went from computer graphics for another engineering | | | | ones to breast cancer. My wife, Jen Hoffmann, after |
| firm to work in marketing for an engineering firm | | | | a 9-year battle with the beast, elegantly unlaced her |
| instead. She said she would rather be alone than not | | | | gloves and did what all of us should aspire to do -- |
| be happy within the marriage. Gloria wasn't a stranger | | | | she left the world a better place. |
| to divorce since she had been divorced from | | | | Much more than just a survivor, I called her my |
| Jennifer's father when Jennifer was four- years- old. | | | | "thriver." Literally and figuratively, she climbed |
| Soon after her divorce, Jennifer met Greg Hoffmann | | | | mountains, and while doing so, she inspired thousands, |
| who was to be her second husband. Jennifer also | | | | courageously fighting a disease that just wouldn't let |
| decided to get active in the Susan G. Komen for the | | | | go, reminding us all what a precious gift it is just to |
| Cure Foundation. She met her future husband | | | | be alive. Never a woman dying of cancer, she was |
| through participating in this foundation, and he would | | | | always a woman living with cancer -- and oh how she |
| become the love of her life. They fell in love and | | | | lived. |
| Jennifer was happier than she had ever been. | | | | She was a five-time participant in the Arizona Breast |
| THE CANCER RETURNS | | | | Cancer 3-Day, and the team she founded, Team |
| Two years later, in 2007, Gloria received another | | | | THRIVR, will once again hit the pavement in |
| dreaded call. Gloria was in the South Pacific with her | | | | November 2009, determined more than ever to raise |
| husband and she hadn't spoken to her daughter for | | | | money to find the cure. We'll walk with heavy hearts, |
| three weeks because they had been vacationing on | | | | and we'll walk with the sweetest memories of a life |
| a freighter. Jennifer said she wanted to wait to tell | | | | well-lived. We'll walk, because everyone deserves a |
| Gloria the latest news until she got home, but | | | | lifetime -- and because far too often, not everyone |
| couldn't. The breast cancer was back but this time in | | | | gets one. |
| the liver and ovaries. Gloria wanted to die. Jennifer | | | | Godspeed, beautiful girl. Thrive on. |
| told her not to worry, they were going to zap it and | | | | |