Help Jason Conquer Cancer!
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Hello everyone, my name is Jason Colón. I am a 41-year-old dedicated and loving single parent of two children, Larissa and Jayton. Unfortunately, in July of 2019 my world was turned upside down. Out of nowhere, I was experiencing severe stomach pain. I was admitted into St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic for 2 days with a small bowel obstruction. I was discharged after the obstruction opened up and I then had a colonoscopy, cat-scan, and an MRI scheduled. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer and also with a cancerous tumor in my small intestine.
As I was waiting for my scheduled consultation with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I had another emergency small bowel obstruction that caused me to be hospitalized in Hackensack University Medical Center for 6 days. I became gravely ill and without the ability to eat for the next 21 days. Over the next 3 weeks, my weight would eventually drop down to 120lbs. from my normal weight of 150lbs. I had to have an NG tube inserted through my nostril down to my stomach to drain built up fluid for 5 days. I then had a minor bowel movement, which was enough to get discharged from HUMC in order for me to get to MSKCC.
On July 30th with the grace of God I was finally able to get to the consultation appointment with an incredible surgeon/oncologist Dr. Emmanouil Pappou at MSKCC. Due to my condition, I was immediately admitted into MSKCC Urgent Care in NYC on that same day. I had to be on IV nutrition for 1 week before surgery. Again I had to wear the NG tube for the next 11 days. On August 2nd, an MRI image confirmed a blood clot near my left lung and an ultrasound revealed blood clots in the calves of both of my legs. I had immediate surgery to insert an IVC filter to prevent the leg blood clots from going to my lungs during the surgery I had scheduled to remove the tumors. Finally, on August 8th I had my surgery and the cancerous tumors were removed. I was left with a reversible ileostomy. After a total of 21 days at MSKCC, I was finally discharged on August 19th.
I still have a long road ahead as I am currently in my 2nd month of 6 months of chemotherapy treatments. After the chemo, surgery for the reversible ileostomy must be performed. The healing process will cause me to be in recovery for another 2 months. I am also waiting for genetic testing results to tell if I have a specific disease. I am currently under the care of Dr. Pappou, Dr. Ping Gu, and the MSKCC Team throughout NY and NJ. And they are great!
I have already accumulated over $15,000 in medical bills (after my insurance paid out) and medical expenses are still in the making. I am asking for donations in order to offset my now and future medical care and living expenses as I have and will continue to be out of work for the next several months. As a United States Postal Service employee, I have already used up over 1,000 hours of sick leave time I had accumulated as I have been out of work for the last 5 months with pay. But now I have no sick leave left and I am currently out of work on “leave without pay”, possibly for another 6 more months. As a federal employee, I am unable to collect any State of NJ disability. I greatly appreciate and thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for any donations and prayers for me during this difficult time. Thank you and God Bless.
As I was waiting for my scheduled consultation with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I had another emergency small bowel obstruction that caused me to be hospitalized in Hackensack University Medical Center for 6 days. I became gravely ill and without the ability to eat for the next 21 days. Over the next 3 weeks, my weight would eventually drop down to 120lbs. from my normal weight of 150lbs. I had to have an NG tube inserted through my nostril down to my stomach to drain built up fluid for 5 days. I then had a minor bowel movement, which was enough to get discharged from HUMC in order for me to get to MSKCC.
On July 30th with the grace of God I was finally able to get to the consultation appointment with an incredible surgeon/oncologist Dr. Emmanouil Pappou at MSKCC. Due to my condition, I was immediately admitted into MSKCC Urgent Care in NYC on that same day. I had to be on IV nutrition for 1 week before surgery. Again I had to wear the NG tube for the next 11 days. On August 2nd, an MRI image confirmed a blood clot near my left lung and an ultrasound revealed blood clots in the calves of both of my legs. I had immediate surgery to insert an IVC filter to prevent the leg blood clots from going to my lungs during the surgery I had scheduled to remove the tumors. Finally, on August 8th I had my surgery and the cancerous tumors were removed. I was left with a reversible ileostomy. After a total of 21 days at MSKCC, I was finally discharged on August 19th.
I still have a long road ahead as I am currently in my 2nd month of 6 months of chemotherapy treatments. After the chemo, surgery for the reversible ileostomy must be performed. The healing process will cause me to be in recovery for another 2 months. I am also waiting for genetic testing results to tell if I have a specific disease. I am currently under the care of Dr. Pappou, Dr. Ping Gu, and the MSKCC Team throughout NY and NJ. And they are great!
I have already accumulated over $15,000 in medical bills (after my insurance paid out) and medical expenses are still in the making. I am asking for donations in order to offset my now and future medical care and living expenses as I have and will continue to be out of work for the next several months. As a United States Postal Service employee, I have already used up over 1,000 hours of sick leave time I had accumulated as I have been out of work for the last 5 months with pay. But now I have no sick leave left and I am currently out of work on “leave without pay”, possibly for another 6 more months. As a federal employee, I am unable to collect any State of NJ disability. I greatly appreciate and thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for any donations and prayers for me during this difficult time. Thank you and God Bless.
Organizer
Jason Colón
Organizer
Clifton, NJ
