TEAM JEREMY AND MEGAN: CANCER FUND
Donation protected
Celebration of Life info: Hi, all: we can't believe it's been almost 5 months since Jeremy left us. To those wishing to pay their respects to the Hartings in person, there will be a celebration of life for Jeremy on Saturday, June 11 at New Song Lutheran Church in Henderson, NV (1291 Cornet St., Henderson, NV). The service will be at 11:00AM, and there will be a reception and music festival afterwards.
Jeremy's obituary can be found HERE .
Thank you for all your love and support of Megan, Leo, and Jeremy's family and friends during this difficult time.
Update, 12/16/21: As many of you may have learned already, Jeremy passed away at 1:30am PST on Tuesday, December 14. Earlier that day, he had been released from Cedars-Sinai to go to an appointment at UCLA about his eligibility for a clinical trial. After the appointment, he and Megan, along with Megan's dad, went to stay at a house provided by the hospital. They had a nice dinner, and he got to go to sleep in a real bed. He passed away very quickly and without much warning in the middle of the night - and with Megan by his side. Everyone is still processing this great loss, and the family is making plans for a celebration of life at a later date.
There are so many costs and tasks that come up when a loved one dies. They still have not received their bills from both his long hospital stays, and will have many other costs in the coming days and months. Please consider helping the Harting family in this difficult time.
Update, 11/30/21: This update will be basically free of medical details because those change day-to-day, but I wanted to let everyone know what has been going on the last few weeks. Not long after we wrote our last update in mid-November, Jeremy was admitted to the hospital in Las Vegas to deal with several complications arising from both the cancer and his previous treatments. On the day after Thanksgiving, he and Megan drove from Las Vegas to Los Angeles to Cedars-Sinai Hospital for additional care - they are one of the most highly-rated hospitals in the country. Right now, the main goal is to treat these complications and get him strong enough to receive the new strong chemo we spoke of in our last post.
So, here is their need: hospital stays are *very* expensive, and Jeremy has also undergone many, many tests, procedures, and imaging - all of which are pricey, too. Cedars-Sinai is a large, private hospital, and patients pay a lot to get treatment there. Lastly, Megan is having to pay for her own housing around Beverly Hills, which, as you can imagine, is not easy.
Please keep in mind that the amount of money raised shown here is the total of 3 years of fundraising done since Jeremy was diagnosed three years ago (October 2018). Well over half of this amount has been expended on his care and related costs over the years. These new challenges of long hospital stays and housing will likely take up the additional amount we've raised. So, we still need your help. Please share with friends and family. And as always, keep the Hartings in your thoughts and prayers.
**UPDATE, November 14, 2021**
After several weeks of worsening pain, Jeremy had a PET scan last week, and the results were not positive. In just five weeks, his lung cancer has rapidly progressed, and there is a large tumor on his spine - which is the cause of his severe pain. The cancer is again in his lungs, and still in other bones throughout his body. Megan and Jeremy consulted with both his oncologist in Las Vegas and with an oncologist at the University of Colorado - who is an expert in Jeremy's type of lung cancer. Both doctors agree that the best plan going forward is to blast the cancer with a very strong form of chemo and hope for tumor shrinkage and pain relief. Additionally, he has been referred to get some palliative pain treatment - as the pain is the most pressing thing to treat at this point. Jeremy starts chemo this coming Wednesday, and we are hoping that it rids his body of this tumor, and that the side effects are manageable. This is, unfortunately, one of the last treatments available for Jeremy at this time.
Obviously, this is completely devastating news to Megan, Jeremy, and Leo - and their family and friends. This will be Jeremy's fourth type of treatment for this cancer. Once again, they find themselves juggling appointments, insurance phone calls, paperwork, and having to take time away from work. They are not sure, at this point, how much time away they'll need, if he'll qualify for disability, and if Megan has enough sick days to spare at work. They're also hoping for some home health care for pain relief, and their insurance does not cover it.
So, we are again humbly asking for your help. This time around, any funds raised will go directly to covering ongoing and mounting medical bills, home health care, time lost from work, and just general day-to-day expenses that pile up when a loved one is sick. Please consider giving to help the Hartings, but most importantly, they can use all of your prayers and good thoughts.
**UPDATE, May 31, 2020**
After 18 months of successful treatment and clean scans, we found out on May 26, 2020 that Jeremy’s cancer has returned to his bones (hip and upper spine). A lot has happened since we last updated, not the least of which is the birth of Jeremy and Megan’s son, Leo Robert Harting, on April 26, 2020! As you can imagine, to find out about this setback is especially heartbreaking.
Right now, Jeremy’s team of doctors are doing tests to determine the plan forward. They are exploring several options. Drug treatment will (again) be very, very expensive. Megan and Jeremy plan to consult with a doctor at the City of Hope cancer hospital in Los Angeles, a visit that will not be covered by insurance, not to mention travel and housing costs. Another option for now or for the future will be to head to the University of Colorado in order to participate in new treatments and/or clinical trials. There is also a good chance that both Jeremy and Megan will need significant time away from work on unpaid leave to make all of this possible. They are facing this challenge with determination and hope, but things are especially difficult with a newborn at home.
So, we are once again asking for your help. We are all so thankful for the generosity of our friends and family when Jeremy faced cancer the first time. Those funds (the amount listed here) were used up in full to cover his treatment and all related expenses (hospital stays, travel costs, etc.). Most importantly, they took a huge burden off of Megan and Jeremy so that they could focus solely on getting Jeremy the best care possible. We understand that these are difficult times for everyone, and know that this is a lot to ask. Any support you can offer is appreciated. Even if you are unable to donate at this time, please share this page with your friends, family, and community, and keep the Harting family in your thoughts and prayers. We are so full of hope, and will update you again very soon.
OUR STORY:
Jeremy and Megan Harting seem to be a typical young married couple in their 30s. They are both dedicated teachers and proud doggie parents of Oliver, a French Bulldog/Boston Terrier mix. But there is nothing typical about them. They are some of the hardest workers around, and selflessly devote themselves to their students, their work, their families, and their many friends. Jeremy has a doctorate in guitar, and Megan is a certified Montessori educator. They uprooted their lives and moved to Las Vegas from Philadelphia in the summer of 2017 in order for Jeremy to teach in the prestigious guitar program of the Clark County School District. Megan teaches Kindergarten in the Las Vegas school district, and no one is better at teaching young children than she is!
The world as they knew it changed in late September 2018 when Jeremy went to the doctor for a persistent cough, and, after weeks of testing and procedures, was diagnosed with stage 4 non small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma). The cancer has spread to his bones and liver. He is 37 years old, otherwise healthy, and is a nonsmoker. This devastating news has left his family and friends heartbroken, and has left Megan with the unimaginable and overwhelming tasks of arranging care, managing treatment schedules, and figuring out how to pay for it all.
They plan to fight this cancer aggressively, and will do whatever it takes to get Jeremy the best care in the country, with or without the support of their health insurance. But they need your help to make this possible. Please, give what you can to help this special couple. The funds will go toward: medical expenses, travel expenses (if they need to travel outside of Las Vegas for state-of-the-art treatments), and general day-to-day expenses that will become difficult to manage while both of them are on unpaid leave from their jobs. Megan and Jeremy were hoping to start a family soon, so funds will also go toward possible fertility treatments – which are not usually covered by insurance – if their options become limited as a result of his treatments.
Our goal may seem steep, but even this amount will most likely not begin to cover medical expenses alone. Thank you for your support!
Jeremy's obituary can be found HERE .
Thank you for all your love and support of Megan, Leo, and Jeremy's family and friends during this difficult time.
Update, 12/16/21: As many of you may have learned already, Jeremy passed away at 1:30am PST on Tuesday, December 14. Earlier that day, he had been released from Cedars-Sinai to go to an appointment at UCLA about his eligibility for a clinical trial. After the appointment, he and Megan, along with Megan's dad, went to stay at a house provided by the hospital. They had a nice dinner, and he got to go to sleep in a real bed. He passed away very quickly and without much warning in the middle of the night - and with Megan by his side. Everyone is still processing this great loss, and the family is making plans for a celebration of life at a later date.
There are so many costs and tasks that come up when a loved one dies. They still have not received their bills from both his long hospital stays, and will have many other costs in the coming days and months. Please consider helping the Harting family in this difficult time.
Update, 11/30/21: This update will be basically free of medical details because those change day-to-day, but I wanted to let everyone know what has been going on the last few weeks. Not long after we wrote our last update in mid-November, Jeremy was admitted to the hospital in Las Vegas to deal with several complications arising from both the cancer and his previous treatments. On the day after Thanksgiving, he and Megan drove from Las Vegas to Los Angeles to Cedars-Sinai Hospital for additional care - they are one of the most highly-rated hospitals in the country. Right now, the main goal is to treat these complications and get him strong enough to receive the new strong chemo we spoke of in our last post.
So, here is their need: hospital stays are *very* expensive, and Jeremy has also undergone many, many tests, procedures, and imaging - all of which are pricey, too. Cedars-Sinai is a large, private hospital, and patients pay a lot to get treatment there. Lastly, Megan is having to pay for her own housing around Beverly Hills, which, as you can imagine, is not easy.
Please keep in mind that the amount of money raised shown here is the total of 3 years of fundraising done since Jeremy was diagnosed three years ago (October 2018). Well over half of this amount has been expended on his care and related costs over the years. These new challenges of long hospital stays and housing will likely take up the additional amount we've raised. So, we still need your help. Please share with friends and family. And as always, keep the Hartings in your thoughts and prayers.
**UPDATE, November 14, 2021**
After several weeks of worsening pain, Jeremy had a PET scan last week, and the results were not positive. In just five weeks, his lung cancer has rapidly progressed, and there is a large tumor on his spine - which is the cause of his severe pain. The cancer is again in his lungs, and still in other bones throughout his body. Megan and Jeremy consulted with both his oncologist in Las Vegas and with an oncologist at the University of Colorado - who is an expert in Jeremy's type of lung cancer. Both doctors agree that the best plan going forward is to blast the cancer with a very strong form of chemo and hope for tumor shrinkage and pain relief. Additionally, he has been referred to get some palliative pain treatment - as the pain is the most pressing thing to treat at this point. Jeremy starts chemo this coming Wednesday, and we are hoping that it rids his body of this tumor, and that the side effects are manageable. This is, unfortunately, one of the last treatments available for Jeremy at this time.
Obviously, this is completely devastating news to Megan, Jeremy, and Leo - and their family and friends. This will be Jeremy's fourth type of treatment for this cancer. Once again, they find themselves juggling appointments, insurance phone calls, paperwork, and having to take time away from work. They are not sure, at this point, how much time away they'll need, if he'll qualify for disability, and if Megan has enough sick days to spare at work. They're also hoping for some home health care for pain relief, and their insurance does not cover it.
So, we are again humbly asking for your help. This time around, any funds raised will go directly to covering ongoing and mounting medical bills, home health care, time lost from work, and just general day-to-day expenses that pile up when a loved one is sick. Please consider giving to help the Hartings, but most importantly, they can use all of your prayers and good thoughts.
**UPDATE, May 31, 2020**
After 18 months of successful treatment and clean scans, we found out on May 26, 2020 that Jeremy’s cancer has returned to his bones (hip and upper spine). A lot has happened since we last updated, not the least of which is the birth of Jeremy and Megan’s son, Leo Robert Harting, on April 26, 2020! As you can imagine, to find out about this setback is especially heartbreaking.
Right now, Jeremy’s team of doctors are doing tests to determine the plan forward. They are exploring several options. Drug treatment will (again) be very, very expensive. Megan and Jeremy plan to consult with a doctor at the City of Hope cancer hospital in Los Angeles, a visit that will not be covered by insurance, not to mention travel and housing costs. Another option for now or for the future will be to head to the University of Colorado in order to participate in new treatments and/or clinical trials. There is also a good chance that both Jeremy and Megan will need significant time away from work on unpaid leave to make all of this possible. They are facing this challenge with determination and hope, but things are especially difficult with a newborn at home.
So, we are once again asking for your help. We are all so thankful for the generosity of our friends and family when Jeremy faced cancer the first time. Those funds (the amount listed here) were used up in full to cover his treatment and all related expenses (hospital stays, travel costs, etc.). Most importantly, they took a huge burden off of Megan and Jeremy so that they could focus solely on getting Jeremy the best care possible. We understand that these are difficult times for everyone, and know that this is a lot to ask. Any support you can offer is appreciated. Even if you are unable to donate at this time, please share this page with your friends, family, and community, and keep the Harting family in your thoughts and prayers. We are so full of hope, and will update you again very soon.
OUR STORY:
Jeremy and Megan Harting seem to be a typical young married couple in their 30s. They are both dedicated teachers and proud doggie parents of Oliver, a French Bulldog/Boston Terrier mix. But there is nothing typical about them. They are some of the hardest workers around, and selflessly devote themselves to their students, their work, their families, and their many friends. Jeremy has a doctorate in guitar, and Megan is a certified Montessori educator. They uprooted their lives and moved to Las Vegas from Philadelphia in the summer of 2017 in order for Jeremy to teach in the prestigious guitar program of the Clark County School District. Megan teaches Kindergarten in the Las Vegas school district, and no one is better at teaching young children than she is!
The world as they knew it changed in late September 2018 when Jeremy went to the doctor for a persistent cough, and, after weeks of testing and procedures, was diagnosed with stage 4 non small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma). The cancer has spread to his bones and liver. He is 37 years old, otherwise healthy, and is a nonsmoker. This devastating news has left his family and friends heartbroken, and has left Megan with the unimaginable and overwhelming tasks of arranging care, managing treatment schedules, and figuring out how to pay for it all.
They plan to fight this cancer aggressively, and will do whatever it takes to get Jeremy the best care in the country, with or without the support of their health insurance. But they need your help to make this possible. Please, give what you can to help this special couple. The funds will go toward: medical expenses, travel expenses (if they need to travel outside of Las Vegas for state-of-the-art treatments), and general day-to-day expenses that will become difficult to manage while both of them are on unpaid leave from their jobs. Megan and Jeremy were hoping to start a family soon, so funds will also go toward possible fertility treatments – which are not usually covered by insurance – if their options become limited as a result of his treatments.
Our goal may seem steep, but even this amount will most likely not begin to cover medical expenses alone. Thank you for your support!
Organizer and beneficiary
Shannon McCue
Organizer
Las Vegas, NV
Megan Harting
Beneficiary