Jono & Emma's Cancer Support Fund

UPDATE:

On the 28 August 2024, Jono lost his battle with cancer after a multiyear fight.

In keeping with the original intent of this drive, all money raised will continue to go towards funeral and associated costs and supporting his wife Emma through this time.

................

In August 2023 during routine scans, Jono's oncologist identified a number of new growths. Further scans and tests have now identified that the cancer has returned and the harsh reality is that there is no cure.

With the support of Emma, his family and close friends Jono is undergoing a number of treatments, including further chemotherapy, which are all aimed at prolonging his time with us.

This news has taken an incredible toll on Jono and Emma once again throwing their lives into a sad chaos. One joyful moment was their wedding, which was brought forward to allow chemotherapy to commence as soon as possible - not how newly weds should begin their lives together as husband and wife.

We are once again fundraising to raise money to help support Jono and Emma with whatever they need to ease their journey. Jono has been unable to work for nearly 3 years and Emma has had to make many sacrifices to her work and career to be able to care and support Jono and herself.

Everyone's continual and ongoing support means the world to Jono and Emma - the phone calls, messages and support have been invaluable.

..............................................

Jono Ooi is one of a kind! A true friend!

Jono has always been our good vibes guy! He lifts us all up, looks on the bright side and is fiercely loyal. Even when battling for his life, Jono is the first person to offer a helping hand.

Over the past three years, he has proven himself a warrior! For the better part of the last three years, cancer has turned Jono and Emma’s (Jono’s fiancé) lives upside down.

In the back half of 2020, a general check up with Jono’s GP, led to a blood test, hospitalisation and a diagnosis that Jono had Stage 4 bowel cancer that had already spread through his liver and lymph nodes. The diagnosis was bleak.

Life outside of treatment was put on hold. Jono and Emma’s daily lives became a mix of hospital visits, tests, high-risk surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, cannula’s. Heightened covid fears, isolation, constant nausea, pain, weight and hair loss, all mixed with constant waiting and fear.

After a long road, Jono received the all-clear from his doctors – he had defied the odds and was now cancer free.

But less than eight weeks later the cancer was back. The blow was numbing - the entire process had to start again.

At the end of 2022 and after months of treatment Jono had once again defied the odds and was cancer for the second time! Jono then entered the monitoring stage which involves quarterly scans for the next five years before he can be in remission.

Once again Jono and Emma began to prepare to rebuild their lives, they got engaged and focussed on their future together. But they weren’t out of the woods yet. Within months Jono was back in hospital undergoing major surgery due to complications following the previous surgeries.

Again, defying the odds, Jono battled through this latest surgery. But he is at the beginning of the long process of yet another recovery, both physically and mentally.

It is likely to be sometime before Jono can return to any form of normalcy. Aside from the mental and physical impacts, Jono and Emma have had their lives placed on hold for the past 3 years, impacting their careers, lifestyles, and future life plans.

All money donated will allow Jono and Emma to make the most of their time together, remove financial stress (Jono is unable to work and Emma's career and ability to work has been severely impacted by both the news and the schedule of the treatments) and allow them to try and make the best of this situation.

Whilst always the first person to offer help and support to everyone else, those close to Jono would know that accepting help and support from others isn’t one of Jono’s strongest traits.

So, I want to make it clear that after a prolonged period of consideration (Jono’s close friends have been wanting to set this up since day one), both Jono and Emma have given their blessing for this fundraiser.

Jono and Emma also want to thank everyone for their ongoing support - the phone calls, messages, gifts, lego, puzzles and support have been invaluable.