Funeral Costs for Jason Armstrong

This GoFundMe is created to help cover funeral costs and ease the financial burden placed upon Tania Armstrong, widow of Jason Armstrong.

Many family and friends have been following Jason's journey, but for those unaware, Jason was diagnosed with Stage 4 Kidney Cancer on April 4th. His symptoms began early this year, suffering from nausea and fatigue. We assumed it was from stress caused by work and family issues in trying to take care of our father who had a manic episode beginning in October of last year. When the symptoms worsened, he got a few blood tests done and then a CT scan at the nearby Kaiser hospital in Modesto. He was taking a walk around his neighborhood to ease his troubled mind when he got the call. It was Earth-shattering. He called me (his brother) right afterward, telling me his doctors' exact words which were "Jason there is no easy way of telling you this, but you have cancer in your liver and it has spread throughout your body". I took the next day off work, but he insisted he went one final time. He got through the workday teaching the students to the best of his abilities and informed his principal of his diagnosis. She had been diagnosed with cancer before as well and was very reassuring and supportive and has continued to be throughout this entire ordeal.

After the initial diagnosis, he was in and out of the hospital. I convinced him to go the day after he had just worked because he was beginning to retain a lot of fluid and was in constant pain. They prescribed a few medications that could help mask the pain but that was only just the start of our fight. He returned home later that day, and his wife Tania ensured he took his prescriptions. She took him to his initial biopsy a few days later which was to discover what type of cancer he had and where it originated from. Unfortunately, the biopsy results took over a week and by that time Jason was back in the hospital due to an array of symptoms. The doctors and nurses were amazing but told us they were merely treating the side effects of the cancer and not the cancer itself. Another biopsy had needed be done. He was still staying at the Kaiser hospital at the time, and I was able to accompany him to the procedure. The surgeon was very thorough and seemed determined to get a live sample of Jason's cancer from the liver. He also had several other tests done at the hospital, including an MRI. After this was done, he was released within a day or two and we were put in contact with an oncologist. We wanted treatment options as soon as possible as the cancer was still spreading and it had been weeks since the initial diagnosis. Jason was to be on a slew of medications while at home, but luckily his amazing wife made him a great nurse.

After many sleepless nights, the biopsy results were in and they determined it to have originated in the kidneys, though the liver was covered in cancer and it had also spread to his lungs. By this time, some of Jason's symptoms included: fatigue, jaundice, confusion at times, and roughly 10-20lbs of fluid built up in his abdomen. We had a video call with his oncologist, who spoke with Tania, Jason, and I for over an hour about starting him on a type of therapy that would slowly combat the cancer by beginning with a small dose and moving towards upping it as to not overload his already severely taxed liver. After the initial call, we were hopeful. Until he called back approximately a half hour later to explain that he had miscalculated the condition of Jason's liver. After some questioning, he gave Jason an ultimatum: receive no treatment and his life expectancy was a few months, or chance it with immunotherapy which could work a miracle but if the miracle doesn't happen it will shorten his life to just a few weeks. Jason needed some time. He asked if we could meet with the oncologist, and two days later we did. That gave us enough time to make the tough call which was to take the chance. Jason agreed and began his first treatment Friday, April 14th. It was an IV administered for 2 hours that would be given every 3 weeks as well as a blood test scheduled the day before each visit.

Unfortunately, Jason's symptoms only got worse. It wasn't before long that he was suffering from insomnia, more fatigue, and eventually bloody noses due to the jaundice and being on a blood thinner. We took him back to the emergency room a 4th time thursday to get the bleeding to stop and then one final time the next day. It took some time to admit him, but once they did that was where he stayed until the end. Tania and I could no longer care for him the way the nurses could, and he wanted to go so that the nose bleeds would stop. He received many visitors Sunday, and a plethora of love, support, and prayers poured in that we were all very grateful for. His last bit of time in this world was spent reminiscing the good times with family and the hospital care workers briefed Tania and I about what was to come. He had very labored breathing since checking in which only worsened until the call had to be made to begin an IV morphine drip. This would make him more comfortable, and part of the comfort care was to remove him from all things deemed unnecessary. Once the IV started, he was no longer as coherent as before, but it was something he asked for. He drifted off throughout the night and eventually stopped breathing by approximately 7:30 AM Monday on 4/24/2023.

It is with a heavy heart that I write all of this. We did not have much time to plan what we were to do after his passing just because we held out so much hope up until the very last day or two. Jason was able to write a somewhat legible Will yesterday but beyond that and a few conversations we do not have much to go off of. His wishes were to be cremated and ashes scattered around his property in Waterford. We are asking for donations to help this cause as well as cover any medical expenses/copays and to fund a Celebration of Life which will be Friday May 19th, 4-7pm and to be held at:

Franklin & Downs Funeral Home McHenry Chapel

1050 McHenry Ave

Modesto, CA 95350

If there is one thing I want all family and friends to know is that despite all odds, Jason made a heroic effort to fight and handled every decision with grace and dignity. Thank you all for your continued love and support.