Jonathan Butler & Family Support Fund
Donation protected
As many of you are aware, Jonathan has actively fought against a very aggressive brain tumor called Glioblastoma since November of 2018. Jonathan overcame so many obstacles in this fight and did it all with nothing but positivity and strength, always prioritizing his family. Unfortunately, the unrelenting disease took him from us far too soon.
Through his fight, he always vocalized his tremendous gratitude for the support he and his family received from loved ones and even from strangers. As that support system, we invite you to participate in this GoFundMe by posting a comment to share your favorite Jonathan memory or by generously donating any amount that you’re able to give to support the Butler family. Scarlett, Jonathan & Beth’s 2 year old daughter, was his priority from the moment she was born and continued to be throughout his fight. Following Jonathan’s wishes, this fund will directly contribute to her future.
The full story of Jonathan’s spirit and fight is below.
_____________________________
Jonathan Butler was a loving husband, father, son, nephew, cousin and friend – simply put, Jonathan was the greatest person you would ever meet. Ask anyone who knows Jonathan and they will tell you he had the biggest heart and most genuine soul. His smile lit up a room and he always made you feel like you were the most important person. There was not a more selfless person in the world.
Jonathan was many things, but most importantly, he was a family man. Jonathan met his beautiful wife Bethany at the University of Pittsburgh. Following graduation, their relationship continued to blossom and they eventually moved together from the Steel City down to Baltimore to be closer to family. Knowing a great thing when he saw one, Jonathan proposed to Bethany in the Fall of 2015 and they got married on April 28th, 2017, in front of their families and all their friends – no one had ever seen Jonathan so happy. That is, until he became a dad to his beautiful daughter Scarlett Ann on March 25th, 2018. Jonathan always had many dreams and many goals, but being a dad was number 1. From reading books, to singing lullabies, to changing diapers, to nighttime wake ups and soothing rocking, to walks outside, to doing anything and everything to make Scarlett smile, Jonathan was always in his glory being a dad and he was perfect at it.
Jonathan and his family’s fairy-tale life came to a screeching halt on Wednesday, November 21st, 2018, a day before Thanksgiving. Jonathan suffered a seizure that day and was brought to a local hospital. Brain imaging demonstrated a large mass, concerning for cancer, and he was then transferred to the University of Maryland Medical Center. After several days of receiving anti-seizure medication and intravenous steroids to reduce swelling in his brain, he underwent an extensive operation to remove as much tumor as possible and surgical specimens were sent to pathology for further testing. The surgery overall went well and Jonathan spent the next several days recovering and processing what just happened – but he remained positive through it all while waiting for the pathology results. On the day of discharge, he was informed that pathology showed he had Grade IV Glioblastoma – a very aggressive and terminal brain tumor (the median survival time is around 16 months).
In the face of this result and prognosis, Jonathan attacked it like he did everything in his life – with positivity, strength and faith. He completed chemotherapy and brain radiation. Follow-up brain MRI did show tumor growth and he enrolled in a clinical trial at Duke University using immunotherapy. Jonathan was determined to fight because he had so much to fight for. As the months passed, despite continuing infusions and trips down to Duke, he continued to be a dad to Scarlett. Baltimore Aquarium, Baltimore Zoo, Port Discovery Children’s Museum and gymnastic classes were just a few things on a long list of activities Scarlett did with her dad during these months. Jonathan, Bethany and Scarlett were even selected by the For Pete’s Sake Foundation for an all-expenses paid trip down to Walt Disney World for a week-long respite vacation in October 2019.
In April 2020, Jonathan began having increasingly more frequent and severe headaches and went to the hospital. Lumbar puncture was performed and showed he had increased intracranial pressure and he subsequently underwent surgery to place a VP shunt in his brain to help prevent pressure buildup – he was discharged home on his wedding anniversary, April 28th. The following week, Jonathan had a spine MRI because he had been experiencing back pain for some time and it demonstrated numerous spinal cord tumors – although extremely rare, Jonathan’s brain cancer had spread. Continuing his valiant fight for his wife and daughter, he began spine and whole brain radiation.
Despite Jonathan’s courage, strength and perseverance, his condition rapidly declined over the next several weeks as the Glioblastoma showed its unforgiving and unmerciful nature. With the love and support of his family, Jonathan began home hospice services on June 1st, 2020, so that he could enjoy and cherish the remaining days and weeks of his life at home with his loved ones.
One month later, in the mid-afternoon on July 1st, 2020, Jonathan died peacefully surrounded by family.
Through it all, Jonathan’s main job as Scarlett’s dad never stopped and his only concern over the last 18 months was Scarlett’s well-being and future, not his own. With this in mind, we have started this GoFundMe fundraiser for Scarlett in honor of Jonathan’s unwavering and unconditional love for his daughter. All of the money raised will go directly to Scarlett’s care and college tuition as directed by Jonathan’s wife Bethany.
Jonathan always gave to the people in his life – he gave his time, his heart, his soul, his smile, his laugh, his advice, his jokes, his tears – and he NEVER asked for anything in return. Let us all now show our gratitude to Jonathan and help support his daughter Scarlett’s bright future.
Through his fight, he always vocalized his tremendous gratitude for the support he and his family received from loved ones and even from strangers. As that support system, we invite you to participate in this GoFundMe by posting a comment to share your favorite Jonathan memory or by generously donating any amount that you’re able to give to support the Butler family. Scarlett, Jonathan & Beth’s 2 year old daughter, was his priority from the moment she was born and continued to be throughout his fight. Following Jonathan’s wishes, this fund will directly contribute to her future.
The full story of Jonathan’s spirit and fight is below.
_____________________________
Jonathan Butler was a loving husband, father, son, nephew, cousin and friend – simply put, Jonathan was the greatest person you would ever meet. Ask anyone who knows Jonathan and they will tell you he had the biggest heart and most genuine soul. His smile lit up a room and he always made you feel like you were the most important person. There was not a more selfless person in the world.
Jonathan was many things, but most importantly, he was a family man. Jonathan met his beautiful wife Bethany at the University of Pittsburgh. Following graduation, their relationship continued to blossom and they eventually moved together from the Steel City down to Baltimore to be closer to family. Knowing a great thing when he saw one, Jonathan proposed to Bethany in the Fall of 2015 and they got married on April 28th, 2017, in front of their families and all their friends – no one had ever seen Jonathan so happy. That is, until he became a dad to his beautiful daughter Scarlett Ann on March 25th, 2018. Jonathan always had many dreams and many goals, but being a dad was number 1. From reading books, to singing lullabies, to changing diapers, to nighttime wake ups and soothing rocking, to walks outside, to doing anything and everything to make Scarlett smile, Jonathan was always in his glory being a dad and he was perfect at it.
Jonathan and his family’s fairy-tale life came to a screeching halt on Wednesday, November 21st, 2018, a day before Thanksgiving. Jonathan suffered a seizure that day and was brought to a local hospital. Brain imaging demonstrated a large mass, concerning for cancer, and he was then transferred to the University of Maryland Medical Center. After several days of receiving anti-seizure medication and intravenous steroids to reduce swelling in his brain, he underwent an extensive operation to remove as much tumor as possible and surgical specimens were sent to pathology for further testing. The surgery overall went well and Jonathan spent the next several days recovering and processing what just happened – but he remained positive through it all while waiting for the pathology results. On the day of discharge, he was informed that pathology showed he had Grade IV Glioblastoma – a very aggressive and terminal brain tumor (the median survival time is around 16 months).
In the face of this result and prognosis, Jonathan attacked it like he did everything in his life – with positivity, strength and faith. He completed chemotherapy and brain radiation. Follow-up brain MRI did show tumor growth and he enrolled in a clinical trial at Duke University using immunotherapy. Jonathan was determined to fight because he had so much to fight for. As the months passed, despite continuing infusions and trips down to Duke, he continued to be a dad to Scarlett. Baltimore Aquarium, Baltimore Zoo, Port Discovery Children’s Museum and gymnastic classes were just a few things on a long list of activities Scarlett did with her dad during these months. Jonathan, Bethany and Scarlett were even selected by the For Pete’s Sake Foundation for an all-expenses paid trip down to Walt Disney World for a week-long respite vacation in October 2019.
In April 2020, Jonathan began having increasingly more frequent and severe headaches and went to the hospital. Lumbar puncture was performed and showed he had increased intracranial pressure and he subsequently underwent surgery to place a VP shunt in his brain to help prevent pressure buildup – he was discharged home on his wedding anniversary, April 28th. The following week, Jonathan had a spine MRI because he had been experiencing back pain for some time and it demonstrated numerous spinal cord tumors – although extremely rare, Jonathan’s brain cancer had spread. Continuing his valiant fight for his wife and daughter, he began spine and whole brain radiation.
Despite Jonathan’s courage, strength and perseverance, his condition rapidly declined over the next several weeks as the Glioblastoma showed its unforgiving and unmerciful nature. With the love and support of his family, Jonathan began home hospice services on June 1st, 2020, so that he could enjoy and cherish the remaining days and weeks of his life at home with his loved ones.
One month later, in the mid-afternoon on July 1st, 2020, Jonathan died peacefully surrounded by family.
Through it all, Jonathan’s main job as Scarlett’s dad never stopped and his only concern over the last 18 months was Scarlett’s well-being and future, not his own. With this in mind, we have started this GoFundMe fundraiser for Scarlett in honor of Jonathan’s unwavering and unconditional love for his daughter. All of the money raised will go directly to Scarlett’s care and college tuition as directed by Jonathan’s wife Bethany.
Jonathan always gave to the people in his life – he gave his time, his heart, his soul, his smile, his laugh, his advice, his jokes, his tears – and he NEVER asked for anything in return. Let us all now show our gratitude to Jonathan and help support his daughter Scarlett’s bright future.
Organizer and beneficiary
James Kogut
Organizer
Hummelstown, PA
Bethany Butler
Beneficiary