Stand With Jon: Help Him Face This New Health Battle

I'm going to tell you a story, but first let me tell you who I am.

I am Jon Fontana's older sister. Some of you know me. For those who don't, we are 4 1/2 years apart but are probably nearly as close as twins. We grew up moving every 2-4 years (our Dad was in the military) so there were very few people we could count on being in our lives forever. Being there for every memory, milestone or mishap. No matter where we were at in our lives, or in our relationship, I knew I could count on him for anything and everything. And he knew he could count on me.

Now he needs me, and all of you.

Four weeks ago I received an unexpected call from Jon. He was in the ER with a broken shoulder and now they were telling him he might have cancer. He wanted to know how quickly I could get there.

I was in a state of shock! All I kept thinking was they must be wrong. He’s young(ish) and in excellent health. They must have somehow misread his chart and ordered the wrong test. An hour later we received confirmation. It was Stage 4 Renal (Kidney) cancer that had metastasized to his left + right humerus along with his left + right femur. We barely had time to process that information before orthopedic surgeons came in to tell us that he needed surgery immediately to repair the broken shoulder and stabilize the other bones.

Over the following three days, surgeons performed three procedures to repair and stabilize the bones. Through all of this, Jon was in significant pain while also trying to process and wrap his head around the diagnosis. I was crawling out of my skin, beside myself at the thought of what he was going through and what he had to face, he navigated every obstacle with a level of resiliency I have never seen before. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever witnessed.

Even with everything happening to him, all the pain, surgeries and life altering news, Jon was more interested in getting to know the people who were caring for him, from the orderlies to the surgeons. If you know Jon, you know he has the gift of gab and it was only natural that he knew everything about every person who stepped foot into his room. Yes, this served as a great distraction, but it also served as an excellent source of medicine. That human connection, and his humor, is what propped him up that very first week. It’s what planted the seeds of determination to fight this like he’s never fought for anything before.

Jon is an athlete, and this discipline and conditioning will serve him well throughout this journey. He told his oncologist that he doesn’t want to know his prognosis, he just wants to focus on the plan. He wants her to be the coach and call the plays she needs him to make.

We are playing the long game. This type of cancer isn’t something that you can battle to the ground with chemo, and he has reached a stage where they are using words like “not curable,” but possibly “treatable”. If you’re like most people you’ve probably googled this type of cancer while reading this letter and you know the odds aren’t great. But if you know Jon, you know that he is a fighter and has never fumbled a play. He is supported by a wide, and ever-growing group of people who are fighting this with him. Willing him to beat the odds. And you know what, I’ll take that bet! I’ll be fighting it with him every step of the way. As I said to the Mayo Clinic when I filled out their form that very first night, this is my little brother, and I refuse to imagine a world without him in it.

What he needs from you….

First and foremost, emotional support and encouragement. Even if you drop him a note just to say “keep your chin up,” it would mean the world to him. Knowing that so many people are rooting for him is what will get him through the bad days. I know we’re all extremely busy, so whether it’s a daily motivational text or a message through social media reminiscing about old stories, it all has an impact. We plan to lean HEAVILY into humor as we fight this, so the funnier the story the better!

Financial Support, which is hard for me to ask for. If you know me, you know I’m a stubborn Swede who almost never asks for help. But this is for my brother, and I’m putting my pride aside. Jon is currently unable to drive, let alone work, and unfortunately his employer did not provide STD/LTD coverage. He is also the primary caregiver for our mom, who is disabled and cannot care for herself. We are exploring all avenues available to us, but if you are able and willing to donate to his treatment fund so we can fully focus on his recovery and not the financial burdens, I will be forever grateful.

I want to send a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us already over the past four weeks providing meals, helping on the home front, and just checking in with phone calls of encouragement. Every bit of it has helped more than you’ll ever know.

Love,

Kerstin