A GoFundMe has been set up to support the family of a Santa Clarita pregnant mother of two who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

A mother of two young boys, Jessica Pierson, who is currently 24 weeks pregnant, is described as having a “kind heart, bright smile and contagious laugh.”

Six weeks ago, Pierson began to experience “unusual symptoms,” including headaches and minor memory loss.

“Everyone was just saying ‘it’s pregnancy brain’ and when she was checked we didn’t see a tumor at first, we were so relieved, thinking that all of these other possibilities are treatable,” said Tom Clemente, Jessica’s older brother.

However, Pierson’s symptoms only became worse as the weeks wore on, and she began to be unable to remember the words for everyday items. She chose to consult a neurologist near her work, and received alarming news. A new scan revealed a brain tumor, and upon comparison to the previous scan from only three weeks before, specialists noted that the tumor had in fact been visible originally, and had doubled in size.

“It had grown from 15 millimeters to 30 millimeters in less than three weeks,” said Clemente. “She had to undergo brain surgery for them to biopsy it.”

After hospitalizations, testing and the biopsy surgery, Pierson and her family received a devastating diagnosis of Glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of brain cancer.

Pierson now suffers from multiple neurological symptoms, such as extreme fatigue, extreme muscle weakness including facial drooping, loss of function of her right arm and hand as well as progressive weakness in her right leg making it difficult to walk, according to the GoFundMe.

“It was a very quick downturn, literally one moment she’s writing in beautiful penmanship and it just suddenly turned to scribbles,” said her brother.

Pierson is reportedly also experiencing challenges in communicating associated with Aphasia, which affects a person’s ability to express and understand written and spoken language.

Pierson’s family has rallied around her, with her parents and siblings stepping up to help care for her older children, or organizing fundraisers to support pierson and her husband in their time of need.

“Her boys definitely know that something is wrong, her whole family moved in with my parents, because she needs help with everything,” said Clemente. “My mom is taking care of the boys, my dad is driving her and her husband to all her appointments.”

Pierson started radiation treatment in the second week of August, and her doctors are recommending that she deliver the baby in the next few weeks, so that she can begin chemotherapy and other treatments, according to Clemente.

Unfortunately, this means that the baby will most likely be less than 26 gestational weeks and will require NICU care for several months. Clemente shared that the infant would likely stay in NICU long after it’s “real” birthday would have been due to premature delivery, but that early birth would be required to offer the best chance of survival for both mother and child.

“We are asking that you please support Jessica as she is facing an uncertain future and mounting medical bills for her care and the care of her soon-to-be born child. Funds will be used to pay medical bills, living expenses, and care for herself and her children,” read the GoFundMe. “Your generosity and support means the world to her family as they try to cope with the shock of this unimaginable illness.”

The GoFundMe has raised over $22,200 as of Tuesday morning, to donate visit here.

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