Jennifer Leigh Turner - Obituary

Jennifer Leigh Turner, age 41, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2019, with family by her side, at the T. Boone Pickens Center of Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas, Texas, following a brief but fierce fight against cancer.  She was born on October 15, 1977, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Terry and Carolyn Turner. 

Jennifer was raised on the family rice farm near DeWitt, Arkansas.  She graduated in 1996 from DeWitt High School.  Like her parents and brother, she went on to study at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, serving actively in Chi Omega and earning her B.A. in Journalism in 1999.

After college, Jennifer worked as a journalist for community newspapers in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bentonville, Arkansas.  In 2007, looking for adventure, she moved to Costa Rica to teach English in a public school in the small, rural town of Potrero Grande.  It was there that Jennifer found her true passion in life – teaching.

In 2009, Jennifer moved to Dallas, Texas, and earned her teaching certificate.  She became a 5th Grade Science Teacher at DISD’s John Q. Adams Elementary School in Pleasant Grove in South Dallas.  In 2013, Jennifer was accepted to a program with Teaching Trust, a Dallas-based non-profit whose purpose is to transform education by improving schools.

In conjunction with Teaching Trust, and while still working full-time as a teacher, Jennifer earned her M.Ed. in Education Leadership with Specialization in Urban Schools from Southern Methodist University in 2015. 

Also during that period, she and 3 other inspired female educators developed a proposal for an innovative school model.  Impressed by the proposal, the Dallas ISD Board invested to bring the school to life.  In 2016, the Solar Preparatory School for Girls, an all-girls public school with a focus on science, technology, arts, engineering, and math, opened on Henderson Avenue in Dallas with Jennifer serving as Assistant Principal. 

Because of its passionate staff and students and its ground-breaking approach to social-and-emotional learning, Solar Prep quickly became a success and earned a national reputation.  Jennifer played critical roles in all aspects of the school’s development.  She was adored by her students, appreciated by parents, and respected by her colleagues.  Known for her work ethic, encouragement, and hugs, Jennifer epitomized what it means to be a Solar Fierce Female.

Jennifer is survived by her parents who reside in DeWitt, Arkansas; by her brother Chris Turner, sister-in-law and close friend Suzanne, and adoring nephew Whit and niece Emory, of Dallas, Texas; and by beloved extended family. Also playing tremendous roles in her life were the 51 staff, 455 girls, and numerous parents and supporters of Solar Prep; and her cherished friends, classmates, and former colleagues around the globe.

A graveside service for family only will be held at Cedarcrest Memorial Park in DeWitt, Arkansas, on Wednesday, May 22, at 1:30pm, followed by a public reception from 3:00-5:00pm at the Community Room of the Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas in DeWitt.  A Celebration of Life event open to all friends, family, colleagues, and others who were touched by Jennifer will be held at the Solar Preparatory School for Girls in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, May 25, at 2:00pm.

The family has designated the Jennifer Turner Scholarship Fund of the non-profit Friends of Solar Prep for memorial contributions (www.friendsofsolarprep.org/jennifer-turner-scholarship-fund).

Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away

Well, that bright morning has come.  Jenn passed away peacefully early this morning with family by her side and fully feeling the love that you were sending her way.

When she last posted, she was racing with all her might to beat her cancer.  She even seemed to be gaining ground as she had her most promising MD Anderson visit just last week.  But, it’s now clear the cancer had been given too much of a head start.  As is sometimes the case in life, this wasn’t a fair race – had it been, the cancer wouldn’t have stood a chance.

The time for farewells and final to-dos came faster than our hopeful minds had ever expected.  Thankfully, although bittersweet, the most important things got done.  Well, except for one – Jenn never got around to writing her last blog post.  As a family, we wanted to share a final installment, so here it goes.

Jenn had so many friends and family that she adored, including many of you reading this.  Your relationships were forged in places from DeWitt to Dallas, Fayetteville to Nashville, Potrero Grande to Pleasant Grove, SMU to Solar, and all points in between.  So many of you shared your love and well-wishes with Jenn and our family through calls, texts, emails, posts, videos, visits, acts of support, and prayers.  Jenn was deeply touched by each one and loved each of you.

With her Solar Prep family, including staff, students, parents, and supporters, Jenn kept loving and leading until the end.  You were her pride and joy.  You have collectively created a school and a model for education that is life-changing for all involved.  You are each so talented and passionate – you have what it takes to use Solar as a springboard to change the world.  Jenn’s expectation for you is to do nothing short of just that.  Thanks to you all for expressing your love and appreciation to Jenn – she was honored and humbled by your outpouring.

For our family, as hard as this journey has been, we will cherish the memories.  Mom and Dad are so proud of Jenn and love her without limit.  They have been there for her through thick and thin, from birth to death.  They took care of their baby so well in this battle.  My wife, Suzanne, was like a rock for Jenn – when none of us knew what to do or how to do it, Suzanne took control.  Finally, my children, Whit and Emory, have been so brave – they’re losing not only their aunt, but their best friend.  Yet, their hugs, laughter, and adoration never stopped – they were fuel for Jenn’s engine.

We’ll have time at upcoming celebrations to appreciate Jenn’s impact and to reminisce about good times with her.  So, I won’t write about that here.  Instead, I’ll close by sharing a little bit of Jenn with you.  On her last day of lucidity, she gave me three books to give to Whit and Emory.  Jenn had a passion for the written word, and these were Jenn’s favorite books from her childhood.  Jenn hoped that by sharing them with my kids, they will have a connection that lasts forever.  Below is one quote from each book.  In combination, they sum up for me who Jenn was and how she would want us to think about her farewell.  Rest in peace, Jenn.

“When you come on something that is good, first thing to do is share with whoever you can find; that way the good spreads out to where no telling it will go” 

The Education of Little Tree, Forrest Carter

“How can the dead be truly dead when they still live in the souls of those who are left behind?”

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers

“We’ll leave now, so that this moment will remain a perfect memory… let it be our song and think of me every time you hear it.”

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith

With love,
Chris Turner

Overdue Update

The thought of sitting down to write a blog post has made me feel sick for the past few weeks. The thought of doing much of anything has made me sick, but this blog post in particular has been unusually daunting. Before, this whole cancer thing was sort of an abstract concept, but the increasing symptoms of the cancer plus the effects of chemo have made it all very real very quickly. Nothing about my body is working quite right, including the writing part of my brain.

I actually got a break from chemotherapy this week, which has been a huge gift. I worked all week with relatively little discomfort, and this morning I felt just almost normal. I started taking the immunotherapy drug again on Tuesday, and so far I haven’t had the kind of pain that sent me to the hospital last time. I can see tiny improvements here and there, and if they didn’t involve the most personal aspects of my bodily functions, I would celebrate them with you here.

Tomorrow night I will fly back to Houston for another round of chemo. I know this will put me back at the starting line as far as how I am feeling, but as I long as chemo is punching back this tumor, I am fine with that. Hopefully, it will also punch back this writer’s block, and I will be back to updating regularly again soon.

Update

The last time I wrote, I was out of the hospital and unsure of what would happen next. I returned to Houston late Monday night and met with the doctor and his team on Tuesday morning. They decided to have me continue with chemotherapy but hold the immunotherapy drug for a week. I received chemotherapy Tuesday and returned home Tuesday night, thanks to my sister-in-law, Suzanne, who planted her feet in the doorway of the plane and refused to move until I got there. I recovered all day Wednesday with just the regular effects of chemotherapy and tried to return to work on Thursday. I only made it a few hours and spent the rest of the day sound asleep on my couch. As of last night, I am finally starting to understand how to use the pain and nausea medicine to my advantage. I think I will soon be able to tolerate the chemo a little better. I came back to work today and told all of the students in Sisterhood Circle that I am sick and that we can only exchange air hugs in the hallway from now on. I went home for a nap mid-morning but returned for lunch duty. If I can handle Kindergarten and 1^st Grade lunch duty, I can handle anything. So, I’m finishing up the day, looking forward to resting through the weekend and heading back to Houston early next week for more chemotherapy fun.

Square One

I think (maybe? I hope?) the most tumultuous time of this cancer journey is over for now. I have a plan and a schedule and am working on settling into a routine. Now I just relax and let science do its work.

I knew I was going to regret this statement when I wrote it at the end of my last post, hence the parenthetical admission of doubt. The most tumultuous time of this cancer journey  definitely came Friday when I went to the ER with severe liver pain. My liver levels had skyrocketed, but the CT scan didn’t show anything out of the ordinary (other than the massive tumor). Doctors decided the reaction was probably from the chemo and immunotherapy drug; they were just too much for my liver. I had finally, over the span of six weeks, brought my liver levels down to an acceptable level so that I would be eligible for the trial. It looks like I may not be eligible anymore. I see my doctor in Houston tomorrow morning, and we will reassess the situation.

The good news amidst all of this is that my genetic testing results came back, and I am positive for the FGFR2 gene mutation. Only about 15% of cholangiocarcinoma patients have this gene mutation. The only real treatment that has been proven to work in cholangio cases has been seen to work only with patients with this specific gene mutation. A drug has already been through the clinical trial process and has been proven to work. Unfortunately, it has yet to be approved by the FDA. I expect the doctor in Houston to talk to me tomorrow about my options as far as continuing with the clinical trial (if I am eligible) as well as possibilities of somehow gaining access to the FGFR2 drug.

I busted out of the hospital on Saturday, just in time to spend a lovely Easter with my family. Today I have an appointment with my palliative care doctor, and tonight I’ll catch a late flight to Houston. Thanks, as always, for all of the love and support. Please continue to send some positive vibes my way this week as I find out what is next in this very tumultuous journey.

Science is Real

When I was a science teacher, the first song my students and I would sing together every year was Science is Real by They Might Be Giants. The second was Put It to the Test. I’ve been thinking about both songs today throughout my first day of treatment at MD Anderson. I got into the trial and am a part of real science!

People have been in and out all day taking so much blood and doing EKGs and checking my blood pressure (while lying down, while sitting up, while standing…). I receive the treatment in the Clinical and Translational Research Center, and everything is very regimented, with tests administered and samples collected at exact intervals. I have received two chemo drugs and one immunotherapy drug today. I will continue to take the immunotherapy drug in pill form twice a day at home.

I will also continue to receive chemo on a three-week rotation for the next six months. I’ll come to Houston for treatment Week 1 and Week 2 and take Week 3 off – except for the first cycle, in which I will come all three weeks. This particular combination of chemo drugs is supposed to be very tolerable. I won’t lose my hair, and I will likely only feel bad sort of bad for a couple of days after treatment.

Chemo Selfie

It has been a busy few days leading up to treatment. I’ve done lab work, EKGs, another CT scan, and another biopsy. During the biopsy, the front of my right shoulder started to hurt really badly. It has been hurting in this spot for a couple of weeks, with pain spreading up my neck and down my arm. I thought I had just slept wrong or something. During the biopsy, I started sobbing over the extreme shoulder pain, but they were in the middle of sticking a hollow needle into my liver, so there wasn’t much to be done. The doctor told me (and another doctor later confirmed) that sometimes liver pain can be felt in the shoulder. So strange.

My sister-in-law, Suzanne, is with me in Houston today. She has fetched food for me and even gives me shoulder-to-arm massages. I’m feeling a little spoiled, but I am so grateful to her for dropping everything to be with me here.

I think (maybe? I hope?) the most tumultuous time of this cancer journey is over for now. I have a plan and a schedule and am working on settling into a routine. Now I just relax and let science do its work.