Jason's Road to Recovery

Jason had his last immunotherapy infusion in late January and rang the bell at the oncologist's office!

Jason has good news for the New Year. All of the scans that he had several weeks ago came back normal. The MRI of his brain, the PET scan of his torso, and the ultrasound of his lymph nodes, show no signs of cancerous growths. He has been receiving immunotherapy infusions every month, with the goal of destroying the cancer cells that may be present, but too small to be detected by the scans. He has tolerated the immunotherapy well, and has experienced few side-effects beyond noticeable fatigue for several days after each treatment. He should finish immunotherapy by early spring. He will continue to be monitored by his oncology team for the next five years via examinations from his dermatologist, PET scans, MRI and ultrasound screening.

Jason and his entire extended family are so very grateful for the emotional, spiritual and financial support that has been given by so many. Your love and generosity continue to help us weather this storm.

Most of you know our beloved Jason, the loving son, brother, uncle and friend who has an infectious smile and a personality bigger than life itself. Anyone who knows Jason has most certainly witnessed his ability to entertain with his stories of his questionable adventures (which led to the phrase "Jason, if it looks like fun, don't do it!"), and now we are sharing a story on his behalf (which sadly, is not entertaining but needs to be told). Jason has recently been diagnosed with cancer. This diagnosis came after an initial examination revealing melanoma that he has already had surgery to remove, followed by further biopsies/lab work, MRIs, a PET scan and multiple doctor's appointments during which he learned that the cancer has spread to his lymphatic system. Jason took the news head on, and is prepared to do everything he can to fight the fight for life. In sharing his diagnosis with his family, he has been able to keep his joyful sense of humor, while also facing the reality of the long road ahead of him. Jason lives and works in Texas, but is coordinating his care between doctors in Texas and North Carolina, where he is able to be with his family in his time off that he gets from his demanding job. While Jason is employed, he doesn’t currently have insurance, and won't be eligible to apply for insurance through his company until sometime in 2022. He may not have insurance, but he does have an amazing group of family & friends who love him, and want to show their love and support but may not be able to or know how to do this in a tangible way. Because of this he has (begrudgingly) accepted our offer to start a gofundme for him to help navigate his way through doctor's bills, travel expenses, and any future needs he may encounter while he undergoes his extensive treatment. If you can, please join us in donating to Jason's recovery fund, forward his gofundme page by email and post to social media to share his story in hopes of continuing to solicit support.