Benny's Pennies
Donation protected
“We think your son has cancer.” This is the news that was delivered to Rob and Adrienne by phone around 8 pm on Monday, September 25, 2017. Earlier that day Rob went to the doctor for a routine checkup. Over the past few weeks Benny had lost a patch of hair on the top of his head so Rob decided to ask the family physician her thoughts. The doctor ordered blood work to see if there may be some type of infection causing Benny’s hair to fall out. Rob decided to take Benny in to get his blood drawn after school that day. Later that evening the doctor called instructing Rob and Adrienne to bring Benny to the University of Iowa emergency room as quickly as possible. This is when their lives were changed forever.
Benny was an ordinary 8-year-old boy who loved baseball, football, basketball, monster trucks, and video games… things any ordinary 8 year old boy would like. On that Monday in September the Jongquist family found out that Benny was far from ordinary. You will never be prepared for your doctor to tell you your child has cancer, but that is exactly what happened on that day in September. Benny was diagnosed with ALL leukemia and rare gene mutation called “ph-like” at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s hospital. Benny has been brave in his battle against leukemia. The doctors are optimistic, but he will have three to four years of chemotherapy in order to kick this cancer in the butt!
-Our need for funds is ongoing. My wife has had to cut down to only working a few hours per week in order to take care of Benny. I work a commissioned sales job.
-The funds will go to help make up for lost salary, cover medical bills, help pay for gas for the many trips back and forth to the hospital (45 minute trip one way), my wife's vehicle is 10 years old with 190,000 miles so in the near future we will be needing to find something else for her to drive.
-Other ways to help: pray for Benny to be able to take his medication easier, get past the nausea, eat and drink. Just his overall well-being. He keeps talking about how frustrated he is that he can't do the things he used to do.
Benny was an ordinary 8-year-old boy who loved baseball, football, basketball, monster trucks, and video games… things any ordinary 8 year old boy would like. On that Monday in September the Jongquist family found out that Benny was far from ordinary. You will never be prepared for your doctor to tell you your child has cancer, but that is exactly what happened on that day in September. Benny was diagnosed with ALL leukemia and rare gene mutation called “ph-like” at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s hospital. Benny has been brave in his battle against leukemia. The doctors are optimistic, but he will have three to four years of chemotherapy in order to kick this cancer in the butt!
-Our need for funds is ongoing. My wife has had to cut down to only working a few hours per week in order to take care of Benny. I work a commissioned sales job.
-The funds will go to help make up for lost salary, cover medical bills, help pay for gas for the many trips back and forth to the hospital (45 minute trip one way), my wife's vehicle is 10 years old with 190,000 miles so in the near future we will be needing to find something else for her to drive.
-Other ways to help: pray for Benny to be able to take his medication easier, get past the nausea, eat and drink. Just his overall well-being. He keeps talking about how frustrated he is that he can't do the things he used to do.
Organizer and beneficiary
James Craig Tingler
Organizer
Palo, IA
Rob Jongquist
Beneficiary