Jill’s Story

Site created on May 2, 2021

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History:  As most of you know, the lower lobe of my right lung was removed and I had chemo treatments in 2009.

In December of 2019, a routine CT scan showed a nodule in my left lung and a needle biopsy confirmed it was cancerous,  although a different type from 2009.

Since the whole lobe could not be removed without reducing pulmonary functionality too much, a "tumor conference"  of doctors decided the best thing to do was to do a wedge section surgery.

I  had the wedge section surgery using a scope in Feb 2020.   My last appointment with the surgeon was about a week before the pandemic.  I  asked him why I was still in so much pain and he said it was nerve damage from forcing the scope between my ribs and could take up to a year to heal.

The nerve pain seemed to get a little better over the summer in quarantine, but in the fall it got worse and by November it became excruciating. My primary care doc scheduled a CT scan.

She called me immediately when she got the results.  Apparently the surgeon had "leaked" cancer cells into my chest wall and it was in the process of growing and destroying 2 ribs.

My PCP made me an appointment with a different surgeon and although he had a PET scan and a brain MRI done, he said he needed to make sure there wasn't any cancer in the chest cavity and also whether the mass was stuck to the outside of the lung wall.  I had the exploratory surgeon in Jan 2021 and ended up with a collapsed lung the morning after I was released and had a ride back to UT in an ambulance. 


In mid Feb thru late Mar I had 25 radiation treatments and 6 chemo treatments. 

Newest Update

Journal entry by Carol Mahler

Rest in peace sweet Jill.....
Obituary
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Jill Irene McManigal, age 71, of Rockford, Tennessee passed away on Saturday, August 13, 2022. Jill was a member of Alcoa First United Methodist Church. She was a graduate of Alcoa High School Class of 1969 and the University of Tennessee where she received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees. Jill worked as a Computer Analyst at ALCOA and the City of Knoxville. She was a loving and giving person. She loved to meet new people and made friends easily. Jill was a member of the Rare Aire Harmonica Group that performed at many local venues, including the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville. Her other interests were swimming and dancing as well as sightseeing in the Smoky Mountains. She loved to get out and enjoy her many friends and family. Jill was a kind and generous lady who will be greatly missed. Jill was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Irene McManigal. She is survived by her soul mate, David Ross; step-daughter, Jennifer Ross; grandchildren, Dalton and Sylas; brother, Jim McManigal; niece, Carrie Canales; nephew, Dan McManigal and wife Haley; great niece and nephew, Laney and Lukas as well as many other friends and family. Jill's family will receive friends on Saturday, August 20, 2022 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm with a funeral service and interment to follow at Sherwood Chapel and Memorial Gardens, 3176 Alcoa Hwy, Alcoa, TN 37701. In lieu of flowers donations should be made to the charity of your choice in memory of Jill. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sherwoodchapel.com for the McManigal and Ross family.

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