Join Jon's Fight Against Rare GIST Cancer

JONATHAN'S JOURNEY - A GoFundMe Plea

My name is Sean Bowler. I am posting this GoFundMe on behalf of my dearest friend Jonathan Dennis and his extraordinary family. His wife Stefanie - a breast cancer survivor herself - and sons Sam (23 years old) & Kole (20 years old) are the best of the best, exemplifying lives of generosity and gratitude. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that you simply could not meet four more loving people, all under one roof! Getting to know each of them through the last few years has been a gift to me and now, an inspiration.

I - all of us - are imploring you to join this cause and to travel this journey with Jon.

In January of 2021 tragedy befell this wonderful family when Jon was diagnosed with GIST, a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. GIST is a rare form of gastrointestinal cancer, a type of sarcoma. The tumor was wrapped around one kidney and an urgent and complicated surgery took place in February 2021. Jon's right kidney, gallbladder, and the surrounding mass were removed and so began the long, grueling road of recovery and cancer immunotherapy. Initially, Jon responded well to the treatment. But as is often the case with his rare condition, this insidious cancer becomes resistant to one therapy and then yet another. As I write this, Jon’s cancer has now resisted 3 out of the 4 immunotherapy treatment drugs currently available. He has undergone two more surgeries to remove tumors, the last one being on February 1, 2024. Thus far each surgery has required additional follow up hospital stays due to recovery complications which has taken a toll on his body. In just 8 weeks since the last surgery his latest scan showed additional tumors growing and evidence of metastasis to his liver and possibly his right lung. Jon just started a phase 1 expansion of a clinical trial drug on March 28th to hopefully slow or reduce the progression of this wretched disease. Jon, and his whole family, are in a fight for his life. Thoughts and prayers are always deeply appreciated, and miracles do indeed happen! It's those very prayers that give Jon hope.

The purpose of this GoFundMe is to maximize that hope and assist the family with the ongoing medical and health related costs associated with his treatment. While Jon has comprehensive health insurance, the out-of-pocket expenses are substantial. Most of his treatment takes place at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in NYC, which requires several trips a month to NYC from his home in Connecticut which is approximately a 2-hour drive. Tolls, gas, NYC parking, meals, etc., add up quickly. Jon requires many overnights in NYC for early morning appointments and procedures. On top of his commuting expenses, there are extra costs for Stef and the boys to travel to MSK to be with him, so extra food, and lodging (very little lodging thanks to the generosity of a good family friend), and of course lost time (and income) from work for both Jon and Stef. There are additional out of pocket costs for uncovered family therapy, medical co-pays, and other health related and palliative care expenses. While the Dennis' have always lived a modest life, savings (especially with 2 kids in college) have dwindled. And Jon, like so many of us, never anticipated a cancer diagnosis in his 50's. Who does? Funding through this effort would also enable Jon to seek additional out-of-state medical opinions and/or other clinical trials or treatments not offered at MSK.

Jonathan and Stefanie are conflicted about asking for help, but the strain of this financial hardship has added significantly to the family’s overwhelming stress and difficulty in coping with the progression of his disease. Therefore, I have put together this GoFundMe site to help them and hope you will join me. Jon has established a separate bank account to receive these donations that will assist with his extra health related travel expenses, medical, and palliative care costs, and those additional expenses yet to come. Please help fund this account for this very worthy cause that once again begs the question, why do bad things happen to good people? Please help this family in the greatest battle they may ever face. Thank you so very much. Please pray, and please give generously. Any amount, large or small will make an impact.

God Bless You Jon