RIP Jessica Hanna - Saintly Mother of 4, who Chose Life Instead of Treatment for Cancer and Found Strength in Jesus, Dies

Jessica Hanna, age 40, a devout Catholic mother of four small children, died on April 6th following her battle with cancer, which she embraced with hope in God. She inspired many on her path to everlasting life. It was her Instagram page (@blessed_by_cancer ) where she encouraged  others to pray and have faith despite obstacles.  She was first diagnosed with breast cancer while expecting her fourth child in 2020.

Heroically, she refused doctors' suggesting she have an abortion. After the birth of her son Thomas Solanus, named after Blessed Solanus Casey, she was discovered to be free from cancer.

Sadly, the cancer returned after a few months. During one of her chemotherapy sessions, she wrote on Instagram, “Offering to God: Shaving my head for chemo- The Lord gives, the Lord takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord!” When asked what her dream last meal would be, she explained that. “For me, it was a no-brainer, my last meal would be the Supper of the Lamb- the Eucharist.”

Her husband, Lamar, wrote:

At 8:02pm on Saturday April 6, my beautiful bride Jessica peacefully went to her eternal reward. She received Extreme Unction and the Apostolic Pardon from Fr Canon Sharpe Thursday. On Saturday she was very peaceful and surrounded by her loving family, she breathed her last. The cancer was just too aggressive. She suffered joyfully, and without fear in her last days. Please keep our family in your prayers.

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A post shared by Jessica Hanna (@blessed_by_cancer)

In 2022, she wrote, on the Yes Catholic Website:

Hello my name is Jessica and I am a 39 year old entrepreneur, pharmacist, and Catholic homeschooling mother of 4. I am a cradle Catholic who grew up in the church, but like most, I had years where my faith took a backseat. Since my early years I had felt called to God in a special way, even in my “worldly” phase…I had always had a pull towards Christ and He seemed to often have His way of calling me back to Him. One of the first big “callings” was when my husband had a fluke life threatening illness in 2014. However, the world had set in once more, and so God had to call me back again when the pandemic hit in March of 2020. Finally, the big curtain call was when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2020 while I was only 14 weeks pregnant. Not knowing how the story would end and abandoning EVERYTHING at the foot of the Cross, I created an Instagram page (@blessed_by_cancer) just 4 days after my initial diagnosis back to allow for others to pray with me, and to take them along for the journey that was being led by Christ. As one could imagine it was a time of intense uncertainty, and the story takes on many twists and turns!

Although it was initially thought to be an early stage cancer, termination of the baby was suggested but I had quickly denied it. After surgery, my cancer was found to actually be late stage with a whopping 13cm tumor and all 43 lymph nodes positive. Needless to say doctors were convinced I was terminal as they instructed myself and my husband to prepare ourselves for an end of life plan. The only option now was aggressive treatment, but I continued to deny termination and also denied the notion that my fate would be determined by anyone, other than God!