Keeping her kids top of mind, Jill’s unwavering positive attitude helped her forge ahead to find a smaller, more affordable home in a nearby neighborhood. In the midst of coping with her divorce and the economic loss of her home, Jill was notified by her company of 15 years that she no longer had a job. To say she was devastated would be an understatement. During this time, Jill’s physical and mental anxiety started to take a toll on her. She was engulfed with emotions and began to experience heart palpitations and sleepless nights. “I felt alone and abandoned,” Jill shared. “I was crying all the time; I lost my appetite and my strength to take on the weight of the stress.” Soon, Jill found a new job at Roush Industries as a senior engineer. While her salary was significantly lower than her previous job, she was very grateful for the employment.
JILL PENNA Finding Strength in Her Own Words
real inspiration By Robbyn Moore Photos by Jermaine Buie with Perfect Light, LLC
28 • January 2021
@realproducers
The saying “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have” is more than just words; it’s a mentality that underscores an occasion where there are no other options. Jill Penna lived those words.
realproducersmag.com
In 2008, Jill’s life took an extremely unexpected turn when her husband of nearly 10 years blindsided her with his decision to leave her. The abruptness of the divorce announcement left Jill reeling in a disoriented fog. Overnight, Jill became a single mother of two children, aged 4 and 6. She was left with a house that she could no longer afford, which forced her to sell her home during the housing recession. Jill lost $75,000.
Two years into her new job, Jill felt a lump in her right breast. Her mammogram showed some inconclusive results, therefore requiring a biopsy. The anxiety and uncertainty left Jill petrified and overwhelmed; she asked herself, “How much more can I take?” On September 20, 2013, Jill’s doctor informed her that she had stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer. Jill was flooded with worry. “Nothing can prepare you for that call,” Jill said. “I was in disbelief, shock. I thought, ‘I cannot have cancer; I have small kids. I can’t do this. How am I going to do this?’” Jill felt defeated, confused and scared. “I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do. I did know, however, that I had to do something to get my mind on the right path to fight this disease and beat it!” Within two months of hearing her diagnosis, Jill had a double mastectomy, 15 lymph nodes removed and drain tubes attached to her chest. Wayne County Real Producers • 29
