CALLICOON – Longtime columnist for the Sullivan County Democrat, Ramona Jan, was diagnosed with stage three cervical cancer this past Friday after fending it off once before in 2018. In light of this, family, friends, and community members have started up a GoFundMe to alleviate some of the treatment’s financial burden.

The fund drive was started by Jan’s daughter, Lucille Jan-Turan, who said that her mother’s cervical cancer “has a propensity to come back and hers did with a vengeance as it has now spread to other areas of her body. She is currently at an advanced inoperable stage. The situation is urgent.”

The goal is $72,000 to assist in covering a vast array of expenses, including travel, initial doctor and hospital visits and follow-ups, necessary at-home care apparatuses, and eventually - aftercare.

So far, the community has already rallied around Ramona with $22,326.

“No treatment should be denied because of cost. My mom needs a miracle, and you are the miracle she needs,” Jan-Turan said. “Thank you for standing with us.”

Jan’s staple column, titled Ramona’s Ramblings, comes out in the paper every Tuesday edition. Jan hopes to still put out new content for readers to enjoy, even through her treatments.

“Writing Ramona’s Ramblings is the best job I’ve ever had and I’ve had a slew of interesting jobs including audio engineer, private detective, inner-city school teacher and more,” Jan said. “Of course, I feel scared, but also hopeful that I can be well again.”

Jan has written more than a hundred columns for the Democrat over her tenure with the paper. She recalls fondly the memories of strangers and friends alike wishing her success on her column when it all first began.

“I want everyone who reads my column to know how much you’ve impacted my life,” Jan said. “I hope we can continue the collaboration. Me, rambling on in writing and you, either confused by it, or amused by it.”

The GoFundMe can be found on the website, www.gofundme.com/f/ramona-jan-needs-a-miracle.