Help Phillip Jaros fight cancer

Phillip Jaros

My dad was born into the blue-collar family of John and Mary Jaros in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He lived there until 8 years of age, then their family moved to Brooklyn Park, Maryland, just south of Baltimore. He played lacrosse at Brooklyn Park High. During his senior year and after graduating, my dad worked at Maryland Drydock shipyard as a rigger. He assured his mother that he was only working there to buy a car and save money to go off to college. He followed his brother Jeff to Searcy, Arkansas and attended Harding University. To continue to pay for school, he worked double shifts through each summer back at the shipyard in Baltimore. At Harding he majored in biology and was a member of Kappa Sigma social club where he made lifelong friends that he is still very close to today. He met our mom, Cupie Henriksen, at Harding and they have been married for 37 years. They then moved to Memphis and my dad attended Southern College of Optometry where he graduated in 1989. They went to Knoxville, Tennessee where my older brother, Blake, was born. They then moved back to Little Rock where they had me, Hunter, and then Madison their baby girl. My parents raised us in Little Rock and still reside there. My dad has been practicing optometry in Arkansas since 1991. He had a downtown pratice for 32 years where he mainly saw under privileged kids from all over central Arkansas. He has always told me that he enjoyed taking care of and mentoring those kids more than anything. In general, he is a kindhearted person that loves taking care of all his patients. He truly treats his staff and patients like family. He continues to practice in Conway, Arkansas to support his staff and family and take care of his patients. He has always been there for his family and will do anything for anybody.

Medical Condition

My dad is about to start another journey in his life which could end his life way too soon. Two years ago, my dad went to a dermatologist to have a couple moles removed. Well one mole on his scalp was a deep invasive melanoma and was sent to oncology. There he had surgery and a skin graft. Luckily, his lymph nodes were clear. His doctor decided to give him a round of an immune modulator just to make sure. Every six months he was going to his oncologist for a pet scan. Unfortunately, 2 years after his initial diagnoses, he had a positive pet scan. He has 2 metastatic melanoma tumors in his lungs. This is a deadly cancer; however, there are some promising treatments available. His best chance of survival is TIL (Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes) immunotherapy. This is a proven therapy that is available at some NIH approved cancer research centers. Unfortunately, it is very expensive and not covered by insurance at this time. This is so difficult for him because throughout his life he has always tried to do everything on his own. He would much rather help someone than ask for it himself. God has always been number one in his life and he knows he is saved only by the sacrifice of God's only son, Jesus, on the cross.

We love our dad so much. Our family is heartbroken that this is happening to him. Thank you so much for your help with his fight. Phil is 64 and has always taken great care of his body. He is not on any medicine and has never smoked. With this treatment he would have a great chance for remission. Please donate whatever you can, any amount is helpful. It’s equally important to share this fundraiser with whoever and wherever you can. Thank you!!

PRAY

Our father believes that there is more power in prayer than anything. He taught us that when we were very young. He would pray with us before we went to bed. He believes that is the most important thing for someone to do for someone else. Talk to your Heavenly Father in prayer. Please also pray for our mom, Cupie and her dad Art.

She not only has to deal with what is going on with dad , but her dad, our papaw, has recently had a traumatic brain injury from an accident at the hospital. After, basically, being in a coma for 2 weeks he is making small gains; however, he is still incapacitated. He has a long way to go. My mom will be taking care of him on our home soon.

God bless you and thank you for your prayers.