Johnathon's Cancer Recovery & Back to School Fund

As most of our close friends and family know, my son, Johnathon was diagnosed with cancer in October of 2023. As a parent it is not something you are prepared to hear. As a family, me and my wife continue to support Johnathon throughout this journey. Many have asked what they can do, and we have responded with please send prayers and support St. Jude. We have tried to respect John’s privacy in dealing with this and know how hard it is for him to ask for help. He has been overwhelmed by the gifts and support already shown to him. His journey is not over, and he faces this battle ahead both boldly, and courageously. His goal to regain independence and continue making future plans has prompted him to reach out humbly, to ask for help. Please read his story below:

" My name is Johnathon Kraus, I'm 21, and as of October 7th, 2023, I began a difficult battle with B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia. This cancer accounts for less than 1/2% of all cancers in the US, and unfortunately I drew the short end of the stick. This has honestly been the most daunting and scary experience of my life, and if it weren't for my incredible care team at St. Jude, I would not be able to talk to you today.

Before I was diagnosed, I lived on my own and had a full-time job as I weighed my options for returning to school. While I graduated in 2021, my dreams have always been to study abroad full time, an unfortunately due to COVID and other factors I couldn't realize that dream for a Fall '21 admission. Thus I decided to take a few gap years to gain work and life experience, and as of October of 2022, learn to live on my own (on a very tight budget). Just as I was finally starting to become comfortable working full-time to support myself and looking forward to my educational future, I got sick.

On the date of my diagnosis, I was told that had I not come in when I did, I would have been dead within 3 months. Over the course of my treatment, I have had multiple extended stays at the hospital due to complications. One such example of this came in January, when I had a case of acute pancreatitis. My blood was the consistency of maple syrup, and I was on an insulin pump for over a week while I fought to stay alive. Each regiment of chemotherapy presented new challenges, and even though it was working, I felt like I was falling apart. I have been doing my best to 'take it on the chin', but trust me when I say that this approach is not effective against intensive chemotherapy.

My final day of treatment is in January of 2026, and until then I will be staying at home, continuing my treatment with St. Jude. Despite their best efforts to reduce my side effects, the physical and mental toll that cancer wrought upon me has been immense. I'd like to think that my experience with cancer has been storied, but abhorrent is a much more fitting descriptor. Frankly, I have no idea when I will be strong enough to return to work, and unfortunately due to my condition my immune system has been severely compromised and limits my ability to work. Thus in the interim I'd like to prioritize my recovery and higher education.

If you have spent any amount of time around me, you know that asking for help is not one of my strong suits. I would be remiss to simply expect a donation just because of an illness; it's just not how I was raised. With that being said, if you feel compelled to contribute in any way please know your kindness will be focused towards my redoubled efforts to an associates degree from ICC starting this fall on August 18th. Being under the care of St. Jude has been an invaluable asset in my fight to live, but my condition has left my financial situation in an uneasy state of limbo. Not only will your generosity allow me to fully focus on school and recovery, it will also help me achieve as much independence as I can with my condition. I know that making any form of contribution in this economy is difficult, however something as simple as a share works just as well if you still wish to help.

Again, I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read a little about me, and wish you health and wealth to come.

With gratitude eternal,

Johnathon Kraus "