Missy’s Walk & Puetz Jeghers Awareness Benefit

Melissa Bester suffers from Puetz Jeghers Syndrome.  Puetz Jeghers Syndrome, or PJS, is an incurable disorder often passed down through families in which the person develops intestinal polyps and is at a significantly higher risk of developing certain cancers.  Studies show PJS patients have a 92% chance of developing a cancer by the age of 40-45. 

In 2005 Missy was taken into emergency surgery removing a large part of her bowel due to a blockage caused by a 4.5cm polyp.  That day is the day her life was changed forever.  She was diagnosed with Puetz Jeghers Syndrome.  Since her first surgery in 2005 she has had four additional intestinal surgeries along with numerous “day surgeries” removing countless polyps from her upper and lower GI.  Missy was recently hospitalized for over three weeks due to complications with her PJS, resulting in 3 of her 5 surgeries.  Missy’s intestines developed so much scar tissue from her “day surgeries” that six and a half feet of her intestines had completely closed, resulting in a life threatening situation, making the surgery necessary.  

Afterwards, her intestines began to swell causing a complete blockage and resulting in another surgery.  During this second surgery her intestine developed a small hole which caused internal bleeding.  The doctors put Missy in the ICU where she remained for days on life support while they treated a newly developed blood infection.  As she started to heal she was removed from life support but she remained in the ICU to finish the treatment for the blood infection.  As the days passed, Missy began to heal much more quickly.  Thanksgiving came and went and the days dragged on, beginning to feel longer and longer for her.  Three and a half weeks went by and the doctors finally decided that it was now safe to send her home to heal with her loving family by her side.  At this time she was still required to do treatments daily through her PIC line. Missy had her last treatment in the beginning of December.  She is now on the road to recovery from this last stint in the hospital.

We will be hosting a benefit January 26th, 2013 for Melissa to help her with her medical bills.  This benefit is also being used to educate and raise awareness for this very rare syndrome.  The benefit will include a 5K in the morning, hosted in Shabbona, IL.  A ticketed dinner from 5:30-6:30, hosted at the Duke Ellington Ballroom at NIU in DeKalb, IL.  Following dinner we will be having cocktails and a special performance by DeKalb County’s hottest country band, Back Country Roads!  Please come show your support for Missy and please help us raise awareness!

If you would like to help but cannot make the event, donations can be sent to:

Missy’s Walk

PO Box 56

Waterman, IL 60556

Any further questions can be emailed to Samantha Hunt at [email protected] or 
(630) 418-1229.

We are also taking donation items for a silent auction.  If you would like to donate, please use the contact information provided above.

Here is the facebook link to the event  https://www.facebook.com/events/1274345959372439/

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