Donate to Justin's Fight for Health and Hope

For anyone who knows me, you will know a few core truths about me. I am brutally honest, I protect my family at all costs and I am never without something to say. But this is one of the rare times that I have been at a loss for words. I have been staring at a blank page for a while, trying to muster the courage to be vulnerable enough to bare my soul to the world. A few weeks ago, I was given a phrase that I am holding on to with all I have left. It goes like this: Even if He doesn't... How ever so He does... I know grammatically it may not make perfect sense, but it makes sense to me. We are in the middle of the hardest trial I have ever experienced. I have cried more tears then I thought I could produce. And yet more have come. In the middle of all of my arguments with God, He has told me over and over to trust Him. So I hold onto the line "Even if He doesn't do what I ask, in the way that I ask Him, I will trust. How ever so He goes about His plan, I will trust."

In October 2024, my nephew, Justin, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He is 27 years old. He has been in good health his entire life. He is a driven man who has excelled in his career as a heavy machinery mechanic. He is married to a beautiful soul of a woman who loves all his quirks. And yet, here we are. Twenty-seven years old and diagnosed with stage 3C testicular cancer. This is the latest stage in this particular type of cancer. It has metastasized to his abdominal lymph nodes, lungs, liver and brain.

In May of 2024, Justin took himself to a doctor with a complaint of "discomfort down there, doc." He was told that the swelling and sensitivity of his testicle was probably due to a twist of the testicle or an irritation. He was given antibiotics and told to take them. Justin did what he was told. Low and behold, 2 weeks later the swelling and sensitivity was gone, back to a normal state. Now, before October of 2024, I'll admit, I didn't know much about testicular cancer. I had never met anyone who had it. So I hadn't had a reason to know facts. If you are like me, then let me give you some information. If you have testicular cancer and you do have swelling, antibiotics will not reduce it. Once the testicle swells it stays swollen. So after the reduction, Justin didn't think about it anymore, well, not for at least 6 months. Suddenly, Justin started noticing he was fatigued. Not just normal "I worked a hard day" tiredness. But bone aching fatigue. Take a nap in the middle of the day fatigue. Then came shortness of breath and coughing. Coughing so hard that he couldn't even have a regular conversation without coughing up blood.

Justin headed back to the doctor and was told he probably had bronchitis. More antibiotics, more time passed. The symptoms didn't wane, they grew worse. He struggled to talk without coughing and starting having trouble with his vision. Justin told us it was like looking into a strobe light. That's when he knew he had been misdiagnosed and that antibiotics was not going to help him.

Back in his local ER, Justin answered question after question until someone suggested that he have X-rays done of his chest. Then he waited. Two long hours later Justin and his now wife/then girlfriend Lauren, were told the results. Multiple lesions were found in Justin's lungs. His doctor told him they weren't exactly sure what was going on but that based on the imaging, they suspected cancer. The doctor continued asking Justin questions and learned of his previous visits to the doctor and his medical complaints/symptoms. A CT scan and ultrasound was ordered. Ten hours after walking into the ER, Justin and Lauren learned that he had multiple lesions in his body and would require surgery the next day.

An orchidectomy was performed the following day. Justin was released from the hospital a few days later and was told that he should have the results in three days. A week passed, then two. Still no word. On the third week, Justin finally heard from an oncologist. During the appointment with the doctor, Justin was told his results. Stage 3C, Non-seminoma with Teratoma and Leydig testicular cancer and it was aggressive. His tumor markers were at 390,000 and rising. The normal level is 0-5. He was told to start a VIP chemo treatment as soon as possible. Seven days after his diagnosis, on November 11, 2024 Justin was admitted to the hospital for his first round of chemo. Each round of chemo consisted of staying as an in-patient for a week at a time. Each day he got three different chemo drugs through a port in his chest. Then he was sent home for two weeks to recover before starting another week. Justin did this for a total of four sessions.

Justin was finally done with his VIP regimen in January 2025. He got to ring that famous bell, signaling his treatment completion. Hope soared through us all. His tumor markers had dropped to 30 and then to 14, from the previous 390,000 number. But Justin's oncologist was worried that there was a residual disease. He suggested getting a specialist involved. The case was transferred to a specialty hospital. A consultation was done and the team at the oncology center told Justin that a RPLND surgery-where they remove lymph nodes around the abdominal lining, and removing parts of his liver was the best course of action.

So once again, Justin had to wait. During the time it would take to get a surgery date, the tumor marker numbers started to rise. A little at first and then jumping from 220 to 2100. In May 2025 Justin was told he would need to go through more chemo before he could have surgery. He started his round of TIP chemo, where he once again is admitted to the hospital for a week of treatment at a time. When this round of chemo is complete, Justin will have to travel to the second hospital for a High Dose chemo with Stem-cell transplant treatment. This is a process that takes at least three months. Justin will have to cover possible hospital stays, lodging before and after treatments, food and travel expenses. As if that wasn't enough, since he was not been able to work since being diagnosed, Justin will now have to cover his own medical insurance. We all know how expensive that can be. After going through multiple rounds of intensive regimens of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and now a very intensive high dose of chemo with stem cell regimen, Justin and Lauren are asking for any and all help that may slightly lighten the load for them. This amazing couple has had some rough days, but they have also found joyous days. Justin proposed to Lauren on Christmas morning, while on break between chemo rounds. In April, these crazy kids got married. In the middle of the toughest times, they have clung to hope and to each other. All I ask is that you say a prayer for them and if you are able to help financially support them, that you do. Justin is the very best parts of all of us. And while my heart aches over all that he is going through, I am holding on to "Even if, and How ever so." We humbly ask, will you be a part of our how ever so?