Hi! This is Joni, Jon's wife, and we decided to start a GoFundMe because we had several people reach out to offer support during this time, and figured this would be the easiest way.

A few weeks ago, after several visits to the ER for what he thought was diverticulitis, it was discovered that his spleen was twice the size it should be. A hospital stay, and many, many tests, including a bone marrow biopsy were preformed.

We also recieved a 2nd opinion from Northwestern Hospital, and they concurred.

Jon has been diagnosed with an extremely rare case of Hepatosplenic Gamma Delta T-cell Lymphoma. It is a very aggressive blood cancer that is located in his spleen, liver and bone marrow.

There are only a few 100 documented cases of this type of cancer. Because of the severity, and fast growing nature this is considered an advanced stage(lll-lV) cancer.

He will need to undergo an aggressive chemo called ICE, which is a chemo usually used for patients who have been in remission, and their cancer has returned more aggressively. This is his frontline chemo. It is going to be extremely hard on him and his body. And it is possible his cancer will become resistant to it. The toll it will take on his body as it kills the cancer will overwhelm his organs. There is great possibility for neurotoxicity, liver toxicity, kidney damage, bladder damage, as his organs try to rid the body of the cancer and the chemo.

He will go thru at least 3 cycles of treatment starting very soon. He will spend 3 days in the hospital to receive each dose and 3 weeks at home in between. After the cancer cells have been killed off a sufficient amount, he will immediately need a bone marrow transplant. He will be at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago for 4 to 6 weeks to receive and recover from the procedure, or until they feel it is safe enough to come home. He will then have to return weekly to be monitored. Recovery time from the transplant can take a year. During this time it's very possible to develop graft vs host disease. And he has a greater chance of developing another cancer after all this.

During this time of chemo and transplant he will need 24 hour care. And there will be many 2 hour trips each way to the hospital.

I will be the primary caretaker of our 4 homeschooled children(ages 5, 10, 11 and 15), as well as my husband's primary caretaker.

Jon has not been able to work since he started getting sick in mid April, and of course will not be able to work for several years.

The lost wages incurred during times like these can really put a strain on any family, but the added stress of figuring out how to pay home bills as we fight this disease is overwhelming.

Any little bit will help Jon and our family during this extremely difficult and frightening time. Thank you with all our hearts❤