Best friends, cousins & cancer survivors: Jennifer’s journey

Cousins Jennifer Zink and Brandi Blanchfield have an unbreakable bond. Born almost 10 years to the day apart, the dynamic duo have a lot in common — their love of being on the water, their passion for giving back to their South Sound community and their sense of humor.

Last year, Zink and Blanchfield were connected in a new way when they were diagnosed with cancer within just eight months of each other.

Zink’s journey began on Jan. 28, 2021, when imaging tests detected enlarged lymph nodes and several masses on her ovaries. A week later, she went in for surgery. On Feb. 9, the then 46-year-old received a diagnosis — stage III ovarian cancer.

“It was really hard to process,” Zink recalls. “You’re hearing everything, and they’re talking about you, but it doesn’t feel real to you yet.”

While navigating the whirlwind of emotions that comes with an unexpected diagnosis, Zink was referred to medical oncologist Blair Irwin, MD, and gynecologic oncologist Wafic Massry, MD, FACOG, at MultiCare Regional Cancer Center.

Supported by community generosity through the MultiCare Health Foundation, the cancer center helps South Sound cancer patients access high-quality care close to home, including cancer research, clinical trials and innovative treatments.

During the first consultation with her care team, Zink found reassurance amid the uncertainty.

“I just remember looking into Dr. Massry’s eyes; during COVID, that was the only view we had,” she says. “His eyes said, ‘I’m going to take care of you no matter what.’ I didn’t know what was about to happen, but I knew I was in good hands and that was huge.”

A second family at the cancer center

As Zink began a personalized treatment plan that included several rounds of chemotherapy, her care team became a beacon of hope. She immediately connected with nurse navigators Maranatha Anderson, RN; Becky Aurand, RN, MSN, BS; and Barbara Hackney, RN, OCN, who served as her guides through treatment.

At MultiCare, navigators like this empower cancer patients on their healing journeys, connecting individuals with information and support services to eliminate potential barriers to care. For Zink, this involved explaining how treatments work, assisting with paperwork, answering questions and, most important, reminding her she had a second family at the cancer center.

Zink remembers one above-and-beyond moment with Anderson after she was admitted to the hospital following surgery.

“Maranatha came to visit me,” she shares. “She didn’t need to come see me, but she did to let me know I wasn’t alone and that I had a friend up on the fourth floor.”

Because of moments like these, Zink and her sister coined the expression “Everybody needs a Maranatha” — a reminder of the importance of nurse navigators in helping patients and their families get through one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Celebrating major milestones

Looking back on her experience nearly a year and a half later, Zink is grateful for the community at the cancer center that lifted her up throughout her experience.

“Dr. Massry and Dr. Irwin are remarkable human beings to do this work and to do it in a way that gives you so much compassion and hope,” she shares. “And my nurse navigators — Maranatha, Barb and Becky. They’re my lifeline and my favorite phone-a-friends. They just go above and beyond to take care of me.”

Although the journey has been long, Zink has reached a new milestone — she shows no evidence of disease and is officially cancer-free. She’s getting back to her happy places, spending time outside with her family, finding the best new hiking trails and celebrating her son’s many accomplishments.

“I got to watch my son graduate from high school,” she says. “I got to watch him enlist in the military. I’m here, and I’m getting to experience these things and that’s because of this team.”

Donor support is essential in ensuring South Sound cancer patients have access to vital cancer programs and services close to home. Many who need this care face barriers, such as financial concerns, lack of transportation and medical illiteracy. Yet MultiCare Regional Cancer Center, powered by donations through the MultiCare Health Foundation, strives to provide access for all.

Your gifts to MultiCare Health Foundation will help cancer patients in the South Puget Sound receive compassionate care and support, regardless of their financial situation. Learn more at give.multicare.org/impact-areas/oncology-support/.