I lost my mom, Jude Wendt, in September 2017. She was the light in my world. She was my cheerleader, motivator, confidante and best friend. She loved me unconditionally, as most parents do. She was only diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in late June/early July 2017. She started chemo July 4th 2017 and she passed just 9 weeks after diagnosis. She was only 64 years old. She did everything she was supposed to do and fought through so many health challenges throughout her life. She was so used to being in pain, when no-one should have to live in pain. No one deserves to suffer or be faced with this lethal diagnosis.

I'm a medical social worker by background and have spent over ten years in case management, discharge planning and care coordination management in NJ hospitals. I'm used to helping others during life's most critical times from birth till death and advocating for patients and their families. I've been involved in many end of life conversations and have witnessed the devastating effects of cancer diagnoses and other terminal diseases in many other families, including my own. 

However, one is never prepared to deal with the personal ramifications of losing a loved one. We feel angry and helpless and blame ourselves somehow. I never even got to have an end of life conversation with my mom. We never got to speak about hospice or making her comfortable. She was always a fighter and wanted to live. She was a loving wife and mother. She was a social worker and a teacher. She wanted to travel and be a grandma. She never got the chance to even consult with another specialist for other opinions or review other options. We pleaded with her to but we thought we had more time. There was just not enough time. There were no other options.  

I participated in my first PanCan walk after she died. I felt I needed to do something. Even if it was surrounding myself around others who felt cheated of time with their loved ones or who were currently battling this horrible illness. I wanted to help wage hope. I want to help support the much needed ongoing research for pancreatic cancer. I couldn't save my mom, but maybe one day others might have at least more time with their loved one or have other therapies and options.

Pancreatic cancer does not stop or slow down, and neither can we!

Please join our team, Miles for Mom- Jude Wendt, as a participant, or make a gift of any size to get us one step closer to our fundraising goal and improving more patients’ lives. You can donate to a team member or make a general donation to the team.

Patients and families need us now more than ever.

Thank you for your support.