In Memory of Jerry Widawski

For the benefit of the OHSU Foundation and CMH Arm-in-Arm Fund

Jerry Widawski, a loving husband, father, and friend, passed away on March 17, 2023. Jerry began a tough battle with a rare form of cancer called cholangiocarcinoma in March 2018. He was initially given only a year to live, but thanks to the amazing treatment he received at the OHSU Knight Cancer Center/CMH Collaborative and plan led by surgical oncologist, Dr. Skye Mayo, he was given 4 additional years to be with his friends and family. Jerry’s course of treatment was far from ordinary and largely uncharted. But he wanted to explore every option available to extend his life and undergo the treatment if it meant it would advance medical research.

Inspired by the successful results of Jerry’s treatment, Dr. Mayo developed and opened a phase 2 clinical trial (the HELIX-ICC study), which enrolls people with liver cholangiocarcinoma that is considered inoperable. You can read more about Jerry’s contributions and the clinical trial here: https://news.ohsu.edu/2022/06/15/new-treatment-strategy-aims-to-stop-rare-liver-cancer

While Jerry passed due to ongoing complications, he was cancer-free. And that would not have been possible without his extraordinary medical team.

Because of this, we are collecting donations for the benefit of the OHSU Foundation (a fund will be set up specifically in Jerry’s name), which will go directly to helping fund Dr. Mayo’s upcoming trials to help further research for treating cholangiocarcinoma. You can read more about the OHSU Foundation here: https://ohsufoundation.org/about-the-foundation/

We would also like to collect donations for the benefit of the Columbia Memorial Hospital Foundation in Astoria, Oregon where Jerry received his initial chemo treatments. While Jerry was lucky to have support systems in place, he knew that many cancer patients do not. He was a supporter of the Arm-in-Arm Fund and we would like to continue that support in his honor. The Arm-in-Arm Fund reaches beyond traditional caregiving by helping patients cover gas, utility, medication, transportation and other expenses during a financially challenging time. You can read more about the Arm-in-Arm Fund here: https://www.columbiamemorial.org/giving/cmh-foundation/giving-priorities/

We will collect donations and split them between both of these important funds.

Thank you very much for your support,

Susan and Taylor Widawski