UPDATE: 

Jon has another surgery he has to endure today to make sure the disease has not spread.  He went from a life threatening situation this week, to having great encouragement from everyone's donations and especially the notes you leaving.  

Here are Jon's own words: 

"You all have been such an encouragement and blessing to me that you will never know. Praise the Lord I have no fear, no worries, I know I am in the hand of the Lord and that however this turns out it's for his glory. I have very competent doctors and staff who have made my stay in the hospital very pleasant even in the midst of this unpleasant thing. I encourage you all to be strong and of good courage as well we have an amazing father who will make all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. Thank you all again for your prayers.... They are being heard and will be answered"


Because of additional needs, we have raised the goal.  Challenge your friends to help this 27 year old veteran.  His wife and his three young boys appreciate it.  
Thank you. 

March 4, 2015

We are the extended family of this very wonderful couple and three small children under the age of 5, and want to help them. Jon Burke and his wife Maria live in Tennesee. They attend a small church where Jon plays in a worship group.  Jon is a veteran and is seeking a degree in the field of sciences/wildlife biology. He is always willing to help anyone who asks.

Now he is the one who needs help. 

This is his story so far as described by his sister, Laura. 

"Sunday, my brother went to the ER because a pharmacist told him to when he saw his swollen elbow.
Yesterday afternoon, he went in for exploratory surgery because of an infection that was not responding to antibiotics, and kept growing.
In surgery, he finally got a diagnosis: necrotizing fasciitis.
Maybe you never heard of it."

Necrotizing fasciitis also spelled necrotising fasciitis, commonly known as flesh-eating disease, flesh-eating bacteria or flesh-eating bacteria syndrome, is a rare infection of the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues, easily spreading across the fascial plane within the subcutaneous tissue. (Wikipedia) 

To date Jon has had three painful surgeries and is scheduled for a fourth surgery to remove more of the dead area that is caused by this horrendous disease.    

Their family will need help with day to day expenses, as Jon starts to recover.  With so much to deal with: recovery from surgery, skin grafts, physical therapy, and travel to the hospital, school, and the responsibility of being a provider for his family, we are hoping this fund would give them some relief and let them know how much they are loved.  

We know they would be forever grateful.