If you know my brother-in-law Jason Cain, you know he's very self-sufficient and always wants to take care of other people — not the other way around.
If you don't know Jason, he lives in Phoenix, is a Navy veteran, loves his kids, and really, really believes in hard work. For many years, he held down two jobs to support his four children, only cutting back to one so that he could spend more time with them after a divorce. Even after suffering two heart attacks — one in 2013, and another in 2015 — Jason was back at work within days each time, working mostly overnight shifts as a security guard so that he could be with the kids before and after school, sleeping while they were in class. His entire focus has been on them and their futures.
But in September of 2020, he started having chest pains and went to a cardiologist, who put him through cardiac stress tests, EKGs, and other diagnostics before concluding that his heart was fine. So, Jason's primary care doctor sent him for an endoscopy.
On December 9, Jason got the results: He had esophageal cancer.
This was devastating for all of us. Jason is only 47 years old, his kids are 21, 19, 15, and 13. And they are such a tight-knit family that we know this is scary for all of them.
Through the winter, Jason endured a number of tests and doctor visits. A CT scan showed blood clots in his left leg and right lung, which meant blood thinners. But after still more tests, the cardiologist said it was safe to begin treating the cancer, and Jason started chemotherapy at the end of January.
Being Jason, of course, he kept working through all the pain and the tests, but after two weeks of chemotherapy, the side effects were just too much. He had to leave his job on February 15, taking unpaid leave. His last paycheck arrived on February 22 and now, for the first time in his adult life, he has no income.
What's more, it turns out the cancer has spread into his stomach and his adrenal glands, so he will probably be in treatment for at least a year.
This is how you can help
Jason can't get unemployment benefits because he is on FMLA, and he won't qualify for Social Security disability benefits until at least August 1. While his medical treatments are mostly covered, he still has to pay his living expenses. He cashed out his vacation and sick time to get through the first few weeks and is relying on his savings, but that won't last long.
Although Jason wants to get back to work, he's currently getting chemo multiple times a week. He's a strong guy, but he's lost 82 pounds and is so weak that just getting out of a chair is exhausting.
Through all this, he is still mostly concerned about Zachary, Hannah, Jacob, and Luke. He's worried about how this affecting them, and how he can continue to provide for them.
Although Jason doesn't normally ask for help (that's a huge understatement, trust me), he also knows that his family needs it right now. So this is our chance to support him for once, by pitching in to cover his living expenses until at least August, when we hope disability benefits will give him some support.
If you are in a position to contribute, we would really appreciate it. Jason is a good guy with a big heart and will bend over backwards to help anyone. If he says he'll be there for you, you can count on it. Now we want to be there for him.
Thank you for anything you can do to help.
If you don't know Jason, he lives in Phoenix, is a Navy veteran, loves his kids, and really, really believes in hard work. For many years, he held down two jobs to support his four children, only cutting back to one so that he could spend more time with them after a divorce. Even after suffering two heart attacks — one in 2013, and another in 2015 — Jason was back at work within days each time, working mostly overnight shifts as a security guard so that he could be with the kids before and after school, sleeping while they were in class. His entire focus has been on them and their futures.
But in September of 2020, he started having chest pains and went to a cardiologist, who put him through cardiac stress tests, EKGs, and other diagnostics before concluding that his heart was fine. So, Jason's primary care doctor sent him for an endoscopy.
On December 9, Jason got the results: He had esophageal cancer.
This was devastating for all of us. Jason is only 47 years old, his kids are 21, 19, 15, and 13. And they are such a tight-knit family that we know this is scary for all of them.
Through the winter, Jason endured a number of tests and doctor visits. A CT scan showed blood clots in his left leg and right lung, which meant blood thinners. But after still more tests, the cardiologist said it was safe to begin treating the cancer, and Jason started chemotherapy at the end of January.
Being Jason, of course, he kept working through all the pain and the tests, but after two weeks of chemotherapy, the side effects were just too much. He had to leave his job on February 15, taking unpaid leave. His last paycheck arrived on February 22 and now, for the first time in his adult life, he has no income.
What's more, it turns out the cancer has spread into his stomach and his adrenal glands, so he will probably be in treatment for at least a year.
This is how you can help
Jason can't get unemployment benefits because he is on FMLA, and he won't qualify for Social Security disability benefits until at least August 1. While his medical treatments are mostly covered, he still has to pay his living expenses. He cashed out his vacation and sick time to get through the first few weeks and is relying on his savings, but that won't last long.
Although Jason wants to get back to work, he's currently getting chemo multiple times a week. He's a strong guy, but he's lost 82 pounds and is so weak that just getting out of a chair is exhausting.
Through all this, he is still mostly concerned about Zachary, Hannah, Jacob, and Luke. He's worried about how this affecting them, and how he can continue to provide for them.
Although Jason doesn't normally ask for help (that's a huge understatement, trust me), he also knows that his family needs it right now. So this is our chance to support him for once, by pitching in to cover his living expenses until at least August, when we hope disability benefits will give him some support.
If you are in a position to contribute, we would really appreciate it. Jason is a good guy with a big heart and will bend over backwards to help anyone. If he says he'll be there for you, you can count on it. Now we want to be there for him.
Thank you for anything you can do to help.
Organizer and beneficiary
Paul Fasshauer
Organizer
Goodyear, AZ
Jason Cain
Beneficiary