Jared recovering from the fight of his life

Hi, my name is Lee. My nephew Jared, 26 at the time, was diagnosed this year with a form of cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. We thought going in that it was stage 2 but after his surgery found that it was actually stage 4. He had surgery to remove the cancer which involved them removing about half of his tongue. They removed a chunk of his forearm from wrist to elbow to rebuild a “tongue”. That left a gap in his arm that had to be covered with a skin graft from his thigh. He has been through a lot these last 5 and a half months. He had to have a trach during the surgery but we are happy they were able to remove it within a week. They gave him an NG tube so he could eat, and have since switched to a regular G tube, he is maintaining his weight but still cannot swallow, making him rely on protein shakes. When Jared left his job in late June for the surgery he thought he would be back to work quickly. He even wanted to work at the little Wendy’s that they have in Shands hospital! Obviously that wasn’t going to work. Here we are now at the end of the year. He wants to go back soon but radiation fatigue is no joke and it’s tough.

this year cancer robbed Jared of his taste, his energy, his ability to communicate without worrying that people won’t understand him, (he does better than he thinks he does though), but it’s on his mind. It also robbed him of three years of savings, that’s why I’m doing this. I know it’s the holidays but if you find it on your heart to donate literally anything helps. In a world where people do what they can to get out of work Jared just wants to get back to normal. He has emptied his accounts paying for foods, deductibles, otc medications, not to mention the gas going from their home in south GA to Shands hospital in Gainesville, FL where he had been blessed to have received treatment. With the new year coming I thought it would be a nice thing for us to try and raise a little to get him ready for next years new deductibles and out of pocket expenses. Thank you either way, if you are able to give, thank you, if you can’t thanks just the same for reading

Side note, Jared and my Jarrett were very close. Jared got his diagnosis just 2 weeks after Jarrett’s passing. Anyone getting a diagnosis like this would have many emotions, Jared has had to mourn losing Jarrett as he was trying to get himself ready to fight. I know Jarrett is pulling for Jared to heal and do well, I want to do this for them both.