JA'HIR'S FIGHT WITH SKIN CANCER (DFSP)

Hello! My name is Vaughnay Thomas. My 5-year-old son Ja’hir has recently been diagnosed with a very rare skin cancer called Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberan, or DFSP for short. As stated, it is already a rare cancer, it is also extremely rare for someone his age.

As with most cancers, this was a complete surprise for us. With this comes constant travel to Philadelphia, very extensive medical bills present and future and I am unable to return to work at this time to care for Ja'hir and need assistance with personal bills and expenses. We have set the goal at $20000 to help as much as possible. We know this doesn’t cover all, but it will help. If you are willing to donate, we are extremely grateful. If you can’t but wouldn’t mind sharing, it will be a big help. We will keep everyone updated as this journey goes on. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for helping. His surgery is set for November 21, 2023. He will be unable to walk for several months, and he will be in a wheelchair as well as have a boot, he has to learn how to walk again when that time comes, and he has to get a skin graft two weeks after the surgery (which is being taken from his thigh), he will lose feeling in his foot, and there is a possibility that he can lose his foot if it has spread, and he will have to get an MRI every 3 months as well as doctor visits due to a high return rate and so many more things.

Here's a little back story to how we learned. He started with this growth on his left foot a few years back. It seems as if it was a burn mark. He was seen by several physicians and specialists in NJ. We were given a complete run-around for the past couple of years! As he grew it grew, if he were to hit his foot, he would be unable to walk for a while or wear shoes, as he would be in tears! It just began to grow so much that it was so hard to look at it. I took him to another specialist, and he told me to take him to CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) after 1 visit there was no question that Ja’hir needed a biopsy. Two weeks later we got the diagnosis. It saddens me that he has to go through all of this when it could have been caught sooner. I feel like we were overlooked, and physicians made assumptions about what could have possibly happened to his foot and sent us on our way. But I thank god as his mom I didn’t give up.

The funds we raise will directly cover the costs of the upcoming surgery, including necessary post-operative laboratory workups and post-operative care. Every dollar will also help mitigate the financial burden of ongoing medical expenses and provide some relief from the daily costs of travel to and from the hospital, ensuring that financial strain doesn't add to an already overwhelming emotional and physical battle.

We thank you in Advance, with so much love!

The Thomas Family!

UPDATE: NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Unfortunately, due to the severity of the cancer, it has spread deep to where his foot was completely skeletal not being able to save much/no tissue and tendons. November 28, 2023 during his second surgery an amputation was performed. He now only has partial of his foot. It has already been a long road and now that plans have shift it's been a bit more difficult and will be a must longer road for him. We will get through this and We thank you all for the love, prayers, support and donations. Please continue to share nothing is too small. We appreciate you. With so much love.

UPDATE: JANUARY 3, 2024

Ja'hir had his last surgery (God Willing) on December 28, 2023. He got a full thickness skin graft from his lower abdomen to cover the exposed area of his partial foot. We are still on the wound VAC hopefully having it removed January 4, 2024. We hope to make a full recovery. He is not yet cleared to bare any weight just yet. He has his appointments for physical therapy and occupational therapy and the department of Limb Specialists at the end of February. We continue to thank you all for your prayers, shares and donations and will continue to update you all along the way.

UPDATE: FEBRUARY 3, 2024

We forgot to mention that Ja'hir has celebrated his 6th birthday in December. Jahir is still on the road to recovery. Jahir is now in a boot an is moving around as much as he can. As we approach the dates for him to see is physicians the last three weeks of February which are, Routine ONCO visit, Post-op Ortho visit, Limb Differences, OT, PT and is 2nd Post-op visit with Plastic Sx. He is in great spirits and he is so resilient he surprises everyday how strong he is. We continue to thank you all, we love you all and are so appreciative.

UPDATE: August 13, 2024

Ja’hir still is attending physical therapy on weekly basis trying to strengthen his ROM. His foot is in a certain direction and they don’t want it to get stuck so therapy has been pretty intense. He still has his routine checks ups out in PA with Oncology, Limb differences, Dermatology. He’s been cleared with Ortho.

With so much love,

The Thomas Family!