John Rolewicz Medical Expense Fund

Thank you to all of you who have read, donated and shared John’s Midline/NUT Carcinoma Fund. John was so grateful for and in awe of your contributions.

While we all grieve and try to process the injustice of this loss please keep your thoughts and prayers with the Rolewicz family and John’s wife, Emily.

Those of you who have followed this tumultuous battle know there were many treatments that were not covered by insurance due to the lack of proven treatment plans based on the rarity and severity of John’s cancer. During these difficult financial times we appreciate any size donation you are able to make to help with the residual medical expenses. Sharing this post is also a huge helpbecause it allows your friends and family the opportunity to share and/or donate. 

Any message added to a donation will be shared with the families.

Thank you all so much.

#TeamJohn



Original post:

John and Emily Rolewicz celebrated their first wedding anniversary this past September.  John had begun having a dry cough in October and was diagnosed with walking pneumonia.  By November things had taken a more severe turn and cancer was brought up for the first time.  They were shocked.  John exercises daily, is active in baseball and has never been sickly.  How could this be happening? 

John has been diagnosed with a very rare and very aggressive cancer, NUT Carcinoma, formerly referred to as Midline Carcinoma. "A rare type of cancer that forms in the respiratory tract and other places along the middle of the body, from the head to the abdomen. This includes the thymus, the area between the lungs, and the pancreas, liver, and bladder. NUT midline carcinoma is caused when a piece of chromosome 15 containing the NUT gene breaks off and attaches to another chromosome. It is usually aggressive (fast-growing) and [has no standardized treatment plan]. NUT midline carcinoma usually occurs in children and young adults. Also called NMC." https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/nut-midline-carcinoma. 

Needless to say this has been a crushing blow to them at the beginning of their lives together. 

If you know John, Christmas is his favorite holiday.  One of the many things his wife Emily first fell in love with was that he wears a Christmas tie on the 25th of EVERY month.  This Christmas will be the most difficult they have ever experienced.  The harsh reality is that with little to no known treatments for this cancer, clinical trials are the only option.  Unfortunately, clinical trials are associated with a lot of pocket expenses that would be challenging for anyone, much less newlyweds. 

To show our support as John and his new wife Emily as they undergo clinical trials we are seeking ANY donation you can provide.  Please also share the flyer below on social media so we can gain attention from any subject matter experts who can volunteer their knowledge!