Jon Downing Needs Your Help

Jon Downing is an incredible father and husband battling a terrible cancer--multiple myeloma. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. He is only 35 years old with 2 young children: Arianna, who is 6 years old and Samuel, 2. We ignorantly think cancer will not rear it's ugly head to those close to us, but reluctantly, we've had to accept this terrible affliction has struck an intensively loved individual, precious beyond words. He spends his days providing for his family and spending quality time with his children during the evenings and weekends. 

On May 26, 2010, Jon was admitted to OSF St. Francis Medical Center after collapsing at home in severe back pain. CT and MRI revealed a spinal lesion and destruction of a thoracic vertebra. He underwent surgery to remove the tumor and stabilize the spine. He returned to work after a 6 week recovery.  The tumor was malignant. Close monitoring would include labs and MRI and follow up with Illinois Cancer Center. We would look forward to him reaching the 'five year mark' which meant the chances of a return of cancer would be very low. 

Jon did very well with no sign of new tumors until he experienced an episode of severe back pain again in October, 2015. Labs and MRI indicated multiple spinal lesions in region of the pelvis. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Chemotherapy was recommended and a back brace. 

Since the initiation of chemotherapy which required weekly visits to the oncologist and frequent diagnostic testing, Jon has had to miss 1 to 2 days of work per week. 

Jon is scheduled for a stem cell transplant in Chicago in March. He will undergo a procedure to collect the stem cells in February, and then return in 1 week for 3 days of high dose chemotherapy, followed by a stem cell transplant. He is expected to be in the hospital for 18 days, released to a local 'medical apartment' for 2 weeks before returning home. He has been told to expect to be off work between 2 to 6 months. He is hopeful to achieve remission for multiple myeloma. 

Although Jon and his family are very thankful for good medical and disability insurance, medical expenses and loss of income will be substantial. We understand it's  an unrealistic goal to ask the community to relieve him of the total cost of his treatment, any contribution would be graciously accepted. There is no donation too small.