Please Help Aaron Opon Get Critical Cancer Treatment

My name is Kathleen Opon. On Sunday, July 7, my 31-year-old son Aaron Opon went from being a healthy, active young man to being diagnosed with a rare bile duct cancer in the blink of an eye.

Shortly after returning from a solo trip to New York City in June, Aaron began experiencing back pain that got worse and worse, finally resulting in a trip to the ER on July 7. CT Scans came back with indications of cancer so Aaron was admitted to the hospital, where they did more tests.

By the time he was discharged the tentative diagnosis was Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer apparently unusual in younger people. Our whole family (Aaron, me, my husband David and Aaron's brother Chris) felt like we had entered a living nightmare from which we were unable to wake up, overwhelmed not only by the diagnosis, but by the financial implications.

After a couple months of despair created by the cold way this diagnosis was presented to us by the doctor at Silver Cross, Aaron is on a true path of healing. His oncologists at MDAnderson in Houston, Texas and here in Chicago, are extremely positive about his progress in Chemo and Immunotherapy. So if you happen to look up the type of cancer Aaron has, keep in mind that most research has been done on the usual patients, who are in their 70's, not on a healthy 31 year old.

Before his diagnosis, Aaron and his brother were independent, living in an apartment in Chicago. Aaron has been living with us (his parents) since then so we can support him and get him to treatment appointments.

Aaron works at Roosevelt University as a Graduate Admission Counselor, and after having to take a medical leave for several months, in September he returned to work (remotely) and will be (hopefully) moving back to his apartment in early November.

Insurance only pays for so much, and bills continue to accumulate. We have discovered that even "good" insurance doesn't want to pay for very new and innovative diagnostics and treatments. Money is the last thing he should have to be worrying about at this time.

I am asking for financial help to enable Aaron pay for tests and treatments that his insurance won't cover, and to travel to Houston, Texas (airfare, hotel, etc.) several times a year for meetings with a specialist in his particular cancer at MD Anderson Cancer Center. So far we have been able to travel there once, in August, and will be returning in November. GoFundMe has been vital in allowing Aaron to do all these things.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated. All funds go directly into Aaron's bank account.

If you would prefer to send a check, please make it out to Aaron Opon and mail it to his attention at our address:

Opon

14613 S. Arboretum Dr.

Homer Glen, IL 60491

We also ask for prayers, which seem to blanket our whole family in the warmth of love and hope.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.