Honoring Lucas’ courageous fight

On Friday, September 15, 2023, Lucas passed away from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), with his parents and family by his side. After six months of setbacks, Lucas was finally able to undergo the Car-T infusion that would help catch and kill the cancer that had been wreaking havoc on his body for three years. However, Lucas developed fluid in his right lung not long after his infusion that left him intubated and he was not able to recuperate. Most of us have been following Lucas and his family since he was first diagnosed with ALL in August 2020. For two years, Lucas went through chemotherapy treatment at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi and was days away from a full remission when his cancer relapsed in December 2022. From then on, Lucas was transferred to MD Anderson in Houston with the hopes of a bone marrow transplant to save his life. Lucas began outpatient chemo at MD Anderson in March 2023. This meant he was able to leave the hospital for a few days at a time with a “chemo backpack.” He loved it! He was able to go home to Corpus and spend time with his family; he finally felt like a real kid. Unfortunately, at the end of March, he was back in the hospital with severe headaches caused by a blood clot in his brain. They stopped chemo treatments and put him on blood thinners to give him some relief. Then a month later, Lucas’s doctors found multiple masses growing in his chest, with the largest one right by his heart and lungs. The bone marrow transplant was put on hold until the masses could be treated with radiation. However, in June, they found another mass in his pelvic area, and he had to undergo more radiation. Through it all, Lucas fought. He remained hopeful and patient and he fought through the pain, through the procedures, and through the tears. Soon, the doctors had some good news for the Jones family. After three months at MD Anderson, the doctors suggested a Car-T infusion procedure. The Car-T infusion was supposed to remove his healthy cells and infuse them back into his body to fight the leukemia. All seemed well! Lucas’ body was responding the way it was supposed to and hope flared again. He even got downgraded from the ICU to a regular hospital room. A week later, though, the Jones family found themselves back in the ICU. Lucas had developed fluid in his lungs and was not able to breath. He had to be intubated. After that, Lucas’s body was not able to recover. The doctors told his family there was not any more they could do for him. At 11:40am on Friday, September 15, Lucas left this earth. Lucas was brave. He never gave up hope. His last four years of life was filled with medicine and needles and pain, but he was more courageous and had more strength than many of us will ever experience. He fought for almost four years until his very last breath, and he will be with us forever. He reminds us to continue to hope. To continue to love one another, to be brave, and to continue to smile and laugh through life as he did. The Jones family would like to extend their sincere thanks to everyone who have followed and prayed for their journey these last four years. The amount of support and prayers they received truly helped them all endure and continue to hope for Lucas. If you would like to offer support at this time and in lieu of flowers, please consider donating below to help with funeral costs. Visitation will be held from 5pm to 8:30pm on Thursday September 21st at seaside funeral home. A rosary will be recited at 7pm that same evening. Funeral services will be held at SS Cyril and Methodius at 11:30am on Friday September 22nd entombment to follow at seaside memorial.