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Subject: Jordan's Journey & His Race to Fight for Life- My 14th yr old Nephew.
Our precious nephew, and Bernie's Godson, Jordan Gavadza, is fighting a battle that no child should have to fight - the fight against cancer. Jordan is 14 years old and is supposed to be starting Grade 9 in a couple of weeks. Jordan has been a physically active boy throughout his entire life. His passion in life is Lacrosse, he helped coach his first team of 5-6 year olds this past May 2016.
On Friday August 13th, Jordan came home from swimming at the Beach complaining about a "gross" lump on his shoulder. When he arrived home showed his Dad Ryan. He immediately took him to a doctor, and the doctor then told them to go to Sick Kids emergency right away. Doctors at Sick Kids told them it could be Lymphoma if the lump was not an injury. They worked quick to get Jordan an ultrasound & chest X-ray. It was then that they discovered a large mass in Jordans chest. A biopsy was booked for the next day. After a large number of tests and doctors working way TOO FAST for this to be insignificant and in looking for answers, Jordan and the entire family had to wait for the answers to come in now. So, Jordan was actually given the option to go home the day after the biopsy (Sunday) and have his parents Kelly and Ryan monitor his situation and be in touch with the hospital daily about his conditions as all the results would trickle in.
On Monday August 16th, Jordan had a cough that had been getting progressively worse over the night, and he was extremely tired throughout that morning. He had blood worked booked for Tuesday morning. When the Doctor came to take his blood, she noticed he was getting more tired just by him sitting in the waiting room. His mom informed her that he was getting worse with coughing and fatigue by the hour. His oncologist Dr Punnet, informed Jordan that she needed him to stay in the hospital because things were moving very quickly and decided they needed to get the ball rolling. They're at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. They did some tests on his chest and diagnosed that the cancerous tumor in his chest was now growing at an alarming rate brushing against his windpipe causing the coughing fits, and resting on the left part of his heart, causing his fatigue. His stay at the hospital was now guaranteed for the the next few days at a minimum as the family waited for more answers.
As my brother Ryan and sister-in-law learned of new information daily and sharing the news with their family members that they will be in hospital for a few days, and as his Uncle, I decided Tuesday was a day to visit this future high schooler and Lacrosse Player and show my support and see to it this kid had the strength and support to listen to the doctors share their information about what they found. I didn't know that I'd be walking into the hospital room and hear the doctor's first words be to explained to Jordan and to his Mother, and Uncle and his Aunt that he has Stage 3 cancer and in the next few hours it was imperative they will be doing a bone marrow and a spinal tap in addition a chemotherapy injection with the same needle to further get clarity and rule out Stage 4! These doctors, Working WAY TOO FAST, meant this has become our new reality, his new reality.
Minutes later the Nurse explains that a fertility sample is Jordan's only hope essentially to foster kids in future and they asked him for permission so they could freeze and run the sample across the street at Princess Margaret Hospital to store for his future. The 14 year old's answer was a brave and courageous "no thank you". Both parents agreed they would help talk to Jordan about the importance of this and the essential timing to do it before the chemo begins within hours.
Well, When the second nurse came in, twenty minutes later!, to get his final answer, the realization that time is of the essence became alarmingly relevant. Conversation from talking about the RIO Olympics to fertility ensued. Gut check for all, needing an answer now from a child, and the resounding "no Thank You" again, truly didn't come as a surprise from this 14 year old! One last ditch effort from his Uncle about child bearing opportunities was inevitable, so I proceeded without permission and my blunt and honest way of sharing my thoughts in a one on one conversation with him took place immediately as we were running out of time. His answer "Thanks man" and a continued stance on "no thank you" to just proceed with chemo became his new and unscripted future.
Jordan is taking all of this like a brave and passionate child who loves his sports. When he asked, "will I still be able to play lacrosse when I feel better", and the doctor finding a way to explain his chances are zero because of his future inevitable state of his immune system, the tears flowed like a Firehose. His lacrosse coach Johnny, happened to be in the room at this time (a 23 year old brave coach) who said he needed an Assitant coach next year and the job is his, if he wanted it. The smile on this kids face and the stopping of the tears was so abrupt, that I know, that it was THIS idea of being able to still be a part of the sport he loves so much, is what gives him hope and inspiration and to believe that he can fight and beat this cancer. So Thanks coach!
The next day in anticipation, The results from the spinal tap and bone marrow showed he did not have stage 4 and he has T Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Stage 3 Disease with 80-85% survival rate. There are many more tests ahead and they're in and out of the the hospital for an undetermined amount of time over the next year or two.
We have started this Go Fund Me account to ease the burden of his parents, Ryan and Kelly. Kelly has taken an unpaid leave of absence to watch over Jordan and her 8 year old daughter Jolee and Ryan will continue his self-employed residential contracting business to make ends meet.
Over the next days, weeks, and months ahead they will need to be at countless doctor appointments, hospital stays and surgeries. As you can imagine the normal costs of every day living...such as rent, food, gas, car, etc...the medical costs can be astronomical here in Toronto.
This will enable them to be able to concentrate on Jordan getting well and fighting this terribly wicked disease called cancer.
From the bottom of our hearts we humbly ask that you share this link with friends and family and if possible in giving (any amount will surely help).
We thank you for your support and God bless each and every one of you and your loved ones!! Go Give everyone you love dearly a hug tonight.
Jason And Bernie Gavadza - a.k.a Uncle JG and Auntie Bernie
Our precious nephew, and Bernie's Godson, Jordan Gavadza, is fighting a battle that no child should have to fight - the fight against cancer. Jordan is 14 years old and is supposed to be starting Grade 9 in a couple of weeks. Jordan has been a physically active boy throughout his entire life. His passion in life is Lacrosse, he helped coach his first team of 5-6 year olds this past May 2016.
On Friday August 13th, Jordan came home from swimming at the Beach complaining about a "gross" lump on his shoulder. When he arrived home showed his Dad Ryan. He immediately took him to a doctor, and the doctor then told them to go to Sick Kids emergency right away. Doctors at Sick Kids told them it could be Lymphoma if the lump was not an injury. They worked quick to get Jordan an ultrasound & chest X-ray. It was then that they discovered a large mass in Jordans chest. A biopsy was booked for the next day. After a large number of tests and doctors working way TOO FAST for this to be insignificant and in looking for answers, Jordan and the entire family had to wait for the answers to come in now. So, Jordan was actually given the option to go home the day after the biopsy (Sunday) and have his parents Kelly and Ryan monitor his situation and be in touch with the hospital daily about his conditions as all the results would trickle in.
On Monday August 16th, Jordan had a cough that had been getting progressively worse over the night, and he was extremely tired throughout that morning. He had blood worked booked for Tuesday morning. When the Doctor came to take his blood, she noticed he was getting more tired just by him sitting in the waiting room. His mom informed her that he was getting worse with coughing and fatigue by the hour. His oncologist Dr Punnet, informed Jordan that she needed him to stay in the hospital because things were moving very quickly and decided they needed to get the ball rolling. They're at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. They did some tests on his chest and diagnosed that the cancerous tumor in his chest was now growing at an alarming rate brushing against his windpipe causing the coughing fits, and resting on the left part of his heart, causing his fatigue. His stay at the hospital was now guaranteed for the the next few days at a minimum as the family waited for more answers.
As my brother Ryan and sister-in-law learned of new information daily and sharing the news with their family members that they will be in hospital for a few days, and as his Uncle, I decided Tuesday was a day to visit this future high schooler and Lacrosse Player and show my support and see to it this kid had the strength and support to listen to the doctors share their information about what they found. I didn't know that I'd be walking into the hospital room and hear the doctor's first words be to explained to Jordan and to his Mother, and Uncle and his Aunt that he has Stage 3 cancer and in the next few hours it was imperative they will be doing a bone marrow and a spinal tap in addition a chemotherapy injection with the same needle to further get clarity and rule out Stage 4! These doctors, Working WAY TOO FAST, meant this has become our new reality, his new reality.
Minutes later the Nurse explains that a fertility sample is Jordan's only hope essentially to foster kids in future and they asked him for permission so they could freeze and run the sample across the street at Princess Margaret Hospital to store for his future. The 14 year old's answer was a brave and courageous "no thank you". Both parents agreed they would help talk to Jordan about the importance of this and the essential timing to do it before the chemo begins within hours.
Well, When the second nurse came in, twenty minutes later!, to get his final answer, the realization that time is of the essence became alarmingly relevant. Conversation from talking about the RIO Olympics to fertility ensued. Gut check for all, needing an answer now from a child, and the resounding "no Thank You" again, truly didn't come as a surprise from this 14 year old! One last ditch effort from his Uncle about child bearing opportunities was inevitable, so I proceeded without permission and my blunt and honest way of sharing my thoughts in a one on one conversation with him took place immediately as we were running out of time. His answer "Thanks man" and a continued stance on "no thank you" to just proceed with chemo became his new and unscripted future.
Jordan is taking all of this like a brave and passionate child who loves his sports. When he asked, "will I still be able to play lacrosse when I feel better", and the doctor finding a way to explain his chances are zero because of his future inevitable state of his immune system, the tears flowed like a Firehose. His lacrosse coach Johnny, happened to be in the room at this time (a 23 year old brave coach) who said he needed an Assitant coach next year and the job is his, if he wanted it. The smile on this kids face and the stopping of the tears was so abrupt, that I know, that it was THIS idea of being able to still be a part of the sport he loves so much, is what gives him hope and inspiration and to believe that he can fight and beat this cancer. So Thanks coach!
The next day in anticipation, The results from the spinal tap and bone marrow showed he did not have stage 4 and he has T Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Stage 3 Disease with 80-85% survival rate. There are many more tests ahead and they're in and out of the the hospital for an undetermined amount of time over the next year or two.
We have started this Go Fund Me account to ease the burden of his parents, Ryan and Kelly. Kelly has taken an unpaid leave of absence to watch over Jordan and her 8 year old daughter Jolee and Ryan will continue his self-employed residential contracting business to make ends meet.
Over the next days, weeks, and months ahead they will need to be at countless doctor appointments, hospital stays and surgeries. As you can imagine the normal costs of every day living...such as rent, food, gas, car, etc...the medical costs can be astronomical here in Toronto.
This will enable them to be able to concentrate on Jordan getting well and fighting this terribly wicked disease called cancer.
From the bottom of our hearts we humbly ask that you share this link with friends and family and if possible in giving (any amount will surely help).
We thank you for your support and God bless each and every one of you and your loved ones!! Go Give everyone you love dearly a hug tonight.
Jason And Bernie Gavadza - a.k.a Uncle JG and Auntie Bernie