Help Justin Fight His Toughest Battle Yet

Hi everyone, this is Justin’s sister. Many of you followed and supported Justin’s journey over the last ten months when he was first diagnosed with an aggressive form of tongue cancer. Your kindness, generosity, and prayers carried him through major surgery, grueling treatment, and months of recovery. Every dollar, every message, and every share made a real difference — and we are deeply grateful.

Today, I’m reaching out again because Justin’s cancer has returned. And this fight is even tougher than before.

A Difficult Road After the First Surgery

After his first surgery, in which doctors removed a third of his tongue and reconstructed it using skin from his leg, Justin received news no one wants to hear: the pathology report showed cancer in the margins. He had to undergo a second surgery to clear them, followed by intense chemo and radiation.

The treatment took a heavy toll — Justin went from 220 pounds to 145. But in true Justin fashion, he faced it with quiet strength. By summer, he was starting to feel a bit better. He even traveled to our cousin’s wedding in August with his girlfriend, Nathalya, hiking and exploring each day.

The Cancer Came Back

Before that trip, Justin noticed his ear pain getting worse and a lump on the same side of his neck as his original surgery. Follow-up scans and an MRI confirmed our worst fear: the cancer had returned, in the same area, showing it’s resistance to the chemo and radiation. Immunotherapy was tested on his cancer cells in the lab, but was found to also be unresponsive. Surgery was his most important option.

On October 1st, Justin underwent another extremely complex surgery. The surgeons removed the tumor and surrounding tissue, including part of his jugular vein, to clear cancer off the carotid artery. They also removed tissue from his food pipe - leaving a temporary hole - and part of his jawbone to achieve clean margins. Several nerves — including those controlling movement on the right side of his tongue and lower lip — had to be sacrificed.

Because they had to operate around his windpipe and on his food pipe, Justin required a tracheotomy to ensure he could breathe safely so he is just starting to speak again. Surgeons used a pectoral muscle flap from his chest to cover and protect critical structures like the carotid artery after surgery, leaving him with a bulge on his chest. This was an extraordinary and invasive surgery, but doctors are confident that they removed all detectable cancer.

Justin currently has a feeding tube in place while his food pipe heals. A swallow test will determine whether he’ll be able to eat on his own again or – in the worst case scenario -need a permanent feeding tube.

What Comes Next

We are waiting on the pathology report to determine next steps. Clinical trials are being explored, but nothing is certain. What is certain is that Justin faces a long, difficult recovery with an already weakened body. This cancer has recurred twice in a short time — something his doctor shared has only occurred in two of his current 100 patients with this type of cancer.

Right now, Justin’s “job” is to heal — to give his body the best chance to regain strength and fight off whatever comes next.

How You Can Help

We know how much everyone has already done, and asking again is humbling. But the truth is, we need your help to relieve some of the financial burden this has been placed on Justin and our family.

Funds raised will go toward:

No amount is too small. Every donation, every share, every kind word helps lift a bit of the weight.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.