Jordan Strong
Donation protected
Hello! We are Rhea Vacha and Amber Barnes. This story is about our youngest nephew!
Let us introduce to you an amazing cheerful resilient kid! His name is Jordan Richard Faust!!! Jordan will be 3 years old this July! He is the youngest of three brothers! He lives with his mom (Ashley), dad (Justin) and two older brothers, Skyler (17) and Malik (10), oh and can’t forget the family fur member, Skyy Vodka (black lab).
In early spring, Jordan’s mom and dad had been concerned that Jordan hadn't been feeling well; he was vomiting, wincing in pain, high fever and then stopped walking for three days! So naturally, mom and dad took him in! Labs were done which weren't completely benign but Jordan’s fever was gone. So the outcome seemed to be “viral”. So mom and dad took Jordan home.
For the next few days they kept a close eye! Jordan didn’t seem to return to his normal baseline. His gait was effected, Jordan screamed daily in pain and his “virus” seems to come back routinely every few weeks. So naturally mom and dad returned to the doctor. This time and multiple more times results weren’t much different. It seemed that Jordan was getting worse but answers weren’t being given. It wasn’t until a referral was made to a Pediatric Neurologist that answers began to come in. Non-invasive labs were drawn and differentials were crossed off the list. The “C” words seems to be worst case scenario and I’ll be honest I (Rhea) was the first to try and reassure my sister and Justin that “C” couldn’t be it. Justin kept telling me as days went on waiting for result he knew something wasn’t good. Jordan was in pain, he had days where he couldn’t walk. His potty training he has successfully rocked out has regressed and he was back in diapers. Why was this happening. What could this be? Secretly I (Rhea) became more and more scared.
Labs were giving us much answers so the pediatric neurology specialist scheduled a brain and spine MRI. This was scheduled out a few days because Jordan would require sedation. But the upcoming Friday morning my sister called me (Rhea) to tell me Jordan wasn’t moving his head. I told her to call to Peds Neurologist and she will admit Jordan and push up the MRI. Which is exactly what she did. 24 hours later my sister and Justin would hear the scariest words ever, “it’s cancer”.
How could this be? It was just suppose to be a virus or growing pains. Now, Jordan was being urgently transferred to American Family Children’s Hospital for more tests and treatment planning.
As days went on and multiple labs, tests and scans continued our sister and Justin would learn that Jordan has a tumor in his abdomen the size of a softball. It’s too big to remove immediately. He would need to undergo chemo first. Not only that his bone marrow was infected as well with the cancer.
This was confirmed Stage M Neuroblastoma. A cancer that is common in children under the age of 5. This cancer can begin while the child is in utero. The adrenal gland produces cells that don’t mature fully and these cells eventually turn into cancer.
Jordan began his chemo treatments on July 5! He is resilient, strong, and really does have super powers! He wakes up every day with a smile on his face; tired or not. He keeps his parents and family confident that he is strong enough to beat this! He has touched so many hearts already in the almost 3 years he’s been alive but in the last month he has impacted 100’s more.
As many people know, Jordan and his dad share a love and obsession for Avengers super hero’s! When Jordan received his Hickman Picc line. Jordan couldn’t help but feel like he was Ironman! A tad scared though, Dad decided to tape the same medical equipment to his chest so he could be just like Jordan. Immediately Jordan was at ease. Jordan is well aware he is not alone in this fight and he and his family have surely been feeling the love. Many have asked how they can help? What does Jordan like? How is he feeling? How are mom and dad? How are Jordan’s brothers!? Can we get them something? This is new to us all, so often we answer with sending prayers are wonderful! But many have asked to do more. So, at multiple requests we took on the task of putting together this GoFundMe.
Jordan and his family live in Edgerton (Rock County side). So driving to downtown Madison will be daunting and costly. Meals away from home and in the hospital will add up and not to mention medical bills.
We want to thank everyone who has sent out prayers, stopped by for a quick visit or sent a little gift to our sister and her family letting them know they care. Know that a donation is never expected but always greatly appreciated.
Thank you for this time and allowing us to share our families story. On behalf of Ashley, Justin, Skyler, Malik and Jordan we want to thank you!
Best,
Rhea Vacha & Amber Barnes
Jordan's Aunts!
Let us introduce to you an amazing cheerful resilient kid! His name is Jordan Richard Faust!!! Jordan will be 3 years old this July! He is the youngest of three brothers! He lives with his mom (Ashley), dad (Justin) and two older brothers, Skyler (17) and Malik (10), oh and can’t forget the family fur member, Skyy Vodka (black lab).
In early spring, Jordan’s mom and dad had been concerned that Jordan hadn't been feeling well; he was vomiting, wincing in pain, high fever and then stopped walking for three days! So naturally, mom and dad took him in! Labs were done which weren't completely benign but Jordan’s fever was gone. So the outcome seemed to be “viral”. So mom and dad took Jordan home.
For the next few days they kept a close eye! Jordan didn’t seem to return to his normal baseline. His gait was effected, Jordan screamed daily in pain and his “virus” seems to come back routinely every few weeks. So naturally mom and dad returned to the doctor. This time and multiple more times results weren’t much different. It seemed that Jordan was getting worse but answers weren’t being given. It wasn’t until a referral was made to a Pediatric Neurologist that answers began to come in. Non-invasive labs were drawn and differentials were crossed off the list. The “C” words seems to be worst case scenario and I’ll be honest I (Rhea) was the first to try and reassure my sister and Justin that “C” couldn’t be it. Justin kept telling me as days went on waiting for result he knew something wasn’t good. Jordan was in pain, he had days where he couldn’t walk. His potty training he has successfully rocked out has regressed and he was back in diapers. Why was this happening. What could this be? Secretly I (Rhea) became more and more scared.
Labs were giving us much answers so the pediatric neurology specialist scheduled a brain and spine MRI. This was scheduled out a few days because Jordan would require sedation. But the upcoming Friday morning my sister called me (Rhea) to tell me Jordan wasn’t moving his head. I told her to call to Peds Neurologist and she will admit Jordan and push up the MRI. Which is exactly what she did. 24 hours later my sister and Justin would hear the scariest words ever, “it’s cancer”.
How could this be? It was just suppose to be a virus or growing pains. Now, Jordan was being urgently transferred to American Family Children’s Hospital for more tests and treatment planning.
As days went on and multiple labs, tests and scans continued our sister and Justin would learn that Jordan has a tumor in his abdomen the size of a softball. It’s too big to remove immediately. He would need to undergo chemo first. Not only that his bone marrow was infected as well with the cancer.
This was confirmed Stage M Neuroblastoma. A cancer that is common in children under the age of 5. This cancer can begin while the child is in utero. The adrenal gland produces cells that don’t mature fully and these cells eventually turn into cancer.
Jordan began his chemo treatments on July 5! He is resilient, strong, and really does have super powers! He wakes up every day with a smile on his face; tired or not. He keeps his parents and family confident that he is strong enough to beat this! He has touched so many hearts already in the almost 3 years he’s been alive but in the last month he has impacted 100’s more.
As many people know, Jordan and his dad share a love and obsession for Avengers super hero’s! When Jordan received his Hickman Picc line. Jordan couldn’t help but feel like he was Ironman! A tad scared though, Dad decided to tape the same medical equipment to his chest so he could be just like Jordan. Immediately Jordan was at ease. Jordan is well aware he is not alone in this fight and he and his family have surely been feeling the love. Many have asked how they can help? What does Jordan like? How is he feeling? How are mom and dad? How are Jordan’s brothers!? Can we get them something? This is new to us all, so often we answer with sending prayers are wonderful! But many have asked to do more. So, at multiple requests we took on the task of putting together this GoFundMe.
Jordan and his family live in Edgerton (Rock County side). So driving to downtown Madison will be daunting and costly. Meals away from home and in the hospital will add up and not to mention medical bills.
We want to thank everyone who has sent out prayers, stopped by for a quick visit or sent a little gift to our sister and her family letting them know they care. Know that a donation is never expected but always greatly appreciated.
Thank you for this time and allowing us to share our families story. On behalf of Ashley, Justin, Skyler, Malik and Jordan we want to thank you!
Best,
Rhea Vacha & Amber Barnes
Jordan's Aunts!
Organizer and beneficiary
Rhea Vacha
Organizer
Edgerton, WI
Ashley Gullickson
Beneficiary
