In fall 2025, Jeanne was diagnosed by specialists at Doylestown Hospital and subsequentially by specialists at Penn Medicine Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) with JAK2-positive Polycythemia Vera, Budd-Chiari syndrome, Portal Vein Thrombosis, and Liver Cirrhosis.
Her blood clotting disorder is currently being managed with blood thinners and therapeutic phlebotomies as needed. However, she has a complete blockage of her portal vein caused by a blood clot that cannot be resolved without surgical intervention.
The portal vein carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver. Because the clot completely blocks this vessel, blood flow is obstructed, causing pressure to build in surrounding veins and contributing to progressive liver damage.
Over time, the portal vein thrombosis led to cirrhosis of the liver. Jeanne also developed Ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen), which eventually spread to her right lung, causing pleural effusion. To manage this, she currently undergoes thoracentesis procedures twice a week at Doylestown Hospital to remove fluid.