Revenge of the Cancer

In the midst of recovery from stage 3 malignant metastisized melanoma cancer (full story below), Jamie has been admitted to the James Cancer Center. He was complaining of headaches, blurry vision, fuzziness; he knew something was right. A scan proved him right, the Doctors found a 3cm metastatic tumor on the left side of his brain with bleeding and swelling. Obviously urgent, he is scheduled for surgery almost immediately (Thursday). Asking for prayers and support, we have been bombarded with a desire to help so we have reopened Jamie's GoFund me page.

Fortunately, I am able to return to Ohio and help my family for the next few weeks. Unfortunately, the next few weeks are going to be quite costly. My brother is the main financial provider and he will be out of work.
During his first bout of cancer, your kindness kept my brother and his family from drowning in financial debt. Even though finances are the least of his worries this time, any support you can offer will go directly to the Johnson family.

Autumn is just over 8 months old and still thriving. She has reached 10 pounds. As tiny as this little Skittle is, she's meeting developmental milestones appropriately. She smiles and babbles, can almost sit up by herself, and bounce on her legs. She's a doll.
And I know she will be Jamie's fight.  

Full story:

This is my brother, Jamie.
And this is his beautiful brand new daughter, Autumn. At 32 weeks, she had only developed to 26 weeks and had to be taken from her momma's belly to live. Just over 1 pound, my brother and his wife were terrified they were going to lose their sweet angel that they struggled to conceive in the first place. Autumn has been in NICU since birth, fighting and hanging on to life. She has not even reached 4 pounds. The doctors took out her feeding tube, she's gaining weight consistently though, and we are all counting down the days until she can go home. She's healthy and fighting strong.


In the meantime, my 39 year old brother discovered a lump under his arm. A doctors visit revealed the worst, it's cancer. Our hearts stopped. When I got the news, I couldn't even breathe. Jamie isn't allowed to have cancer, he has a new baby to father!

Jamie has been diagnosed with stage 3 malignant metastisized melanoma cancer. The scary(est) part right now, they can't find a single spot of melanoma cancer on his body, which means, it's coming from somewhere else. But we don't know where. We are awaiting results from the full body scan. Right now, doctors are hopeful that a year of radiation/chemo is the appropriate course of action. This could change once we get results.
No matter the nature of the beast, the beast has stricken our family.

I'm so scared for my brother. I know how sick this is going to make him, how devestating it's going to be for his family to watch him suffer, and how bad financially this is going to affect them. My brother and his wife work full time for a living. They don't live above their means nor spend frivalously. Like most of us, they struggle monthly and worry until the next paycheck. Jamie thinks he'll be able to work. I love his optimism, but also know the pain and illness that will come with his treatment. His wife will continue to work but with a brand new baby in the house... I'm sick with worry. I know he's even sicker.

And I can't even think about losing my brother...

He has so much to live for. I heard him cry for the first time, "I don't want to die."
nothing has ever hurt my soul more.
He said, "I want to grow old and have grandbabies and be a legacy to my family."
You will my brother, you will, I cried back.
And my mom (holding back tears). Her only son. My body aches for my family, my heart so wrenched. We are scared.

With so many out of pocket expenses already incurred for Autumn's months in NICU and preparing their home and lives for a premie, I just want my brother to not worry about anything except fighting cancer to be the father that he so wants (and deserves) to be.
I can't bear to watch my brother struggle through cancer treatment AND worry about finances for his family. My brother is a kind-hearted, hard-working, SELFLESS man. He adopted his wife's daughter last year and she too needs her daddy; his girls need him to fight.



I'm reaching out and asking you to help my brother fight for his life. All money raised will go directly to paying mortgage, electric, gas, and utility bills, medical co-pays, groceries, and baby care. I am also collecting gift cards. Gas, Walmart, groceries, anything and everything will help...cooked meals, transportation assistance. And every single dollar, if only a $1 will help.

There are no words to adequately express how much your thoughts, prayers, and donations will mean to my brother and his family. Thank you for the love and support. 


Thank you again for your kind support.