TEAM JESSE 4TH FIGHT

teamjesse4thfight 

My name is Shannon Squire. I am reaching out for Jesse Aguilar-Rodriguez and his family. Jesse has been my son's best friend for many years  and has become "another son" to our family. 

    JESSE AND MY SON, DAMON

                                                                    
He was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (A.L.L) in February, 2015, at the age of 17. What's more heartbreaking....is that this  diagnosis was only the  FIRST OF FOUR to come.  Jesse is a fighter, with an inner-armor behind his quiet, gentle spirit. But he is struggling with the news of          having to fight yet again, along with the worry and stress it brings upon his family.    


For the Aguilars (father Jesus, mother Yolanda, and younger sister Dayanara) 2020 has brought them hardships far beyond the Covid pandemic. The    family is now in deep, financial crisis and help is urgently needed. This June, Jesse began having weakness in his legs and quickly lost the ability to        walk. After 2-1/2 years of remission and having fought 3 previous cancer battles, his Leukemia has returned.

Jesus, a carpenter, is the family's sole provider. He has been out of work since March and does not qualify for unemployment. Due to his 24hr care and many hospital in/and outpatient stays, Jesse needs his dad now more than ever and esus doesn't know what his future holds or when he will return to work. 

I am pleading for assistance for the Aguilars so they can focus on what is most important.....Jesse's 4th battle with cancer.    

   #TEAM JESSE


The idea of  #Team Jesse came about in 2015 following his first diagnosis. The  Springfield Miller student body, along with teachers and parents, came together  to fight for him. Jesse, #65, was offensive tackle on a team built of players from all different backgrounds, race, religion, many broken homes and poverty. The love this team had for Jesse created stronger bonds and deeper friendships. "TEAM  JESSE" gave them more to  fight for than just     winning games...and win they did!  After DECADES of losing records and disappointment, this team reached a #1 state ranking after winning their first title in 50 years. The team dedicated a crucial game to Jesse's fight by wearing orange to symbolize their brotherhood. They not only won that game,   but went on to the state finals. All this while Jesse lay in his hospital bed 130 miles away.

                                                
  CANCER #1
   
February 2015 - Jesse celebrated his 17th birthday not feeling well and slowly became worse. Jesus and Yolanda took him to the doctor thinking he may have the flu. He didn't. Testing eventually showed it was Acute Leukemia. He was rushed to Doernbacher Children's Hospital 2 hours north, where he would remain for 8 months. The chemotherapy and radiation devastated his system. With complications along with several infections, he came        close to dying after only 8 weeks. But, he fought with everything he had....which includes a deep relationship with God. Most days Jesus traveled 240 miles round trip after work in order to maintain the families only income. After 8 months of treatment (and tears), Jesse entered remission
and came home.                                                                                                                                                         
 
CANCER #2

June 2016 - Remission lasted only 9 months. The following summer, after graduating, receiving his driver's license and enrolling in college, a  routine blood test showed  the cancer had returned. Another devastation for the Aguilar family and all who love Jesse. Because it was caught early, treatment was shorter and didn't require hospitalization. The family made monthly trips north for chemotherapy and remission came sooner this time...…...but it didn't last long.                                                   
                                                           
CANCER #3

June 2017 - Again, only a nine month remission. This diagnosis hit the family very, very hard. Words cannot explain the pain and heartbreak felt throughout our "TEAM JESSE" family.  Again, Jesse had enrolled in college, wanting to go into the health field because he knows what it mean to have caring nurses and staff. This third diagnosis was the worst so far and started with emergency brain/neurosurgery. 
                                                       
Jesse began to suffer from headaches and soon had trouble walking. An MRI showed a problem with the flow of fluid around the brain and spinal        cord. He was rushed to Doernbecher's Children Hospital (2 hours away) to insert a brain shunt to relieve the pressure and save his life. 

At this point there was only one option.....A CLINICAL TRIAL. 

Seattle Children's Hospital (400 miles north) is one of the few hospitals in the US performing a trial called "T-CELL IMMUNOTHERAPY".  T-cells are collected from the blood, modified, then reinfused back into the patient with new receptors that will latch onto the cancer cells and kill them. It is targeted towards patients between the ages of 15-25 who have relapsed from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and are not likely to survive. 
2 weeks after his neurosurgery at Doernbecher's he was transported to Seattle to begin the trial. Jesse remained there for the next 6 months....   spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas in a hospital bed. 
Jesse's remission was achieved the following Spring of 2017 and would become his longest and most successful remission....lasting 2-1/2 years. Having gained both strength and hope, be began college believing that his hardest fight was over...…..it wasn't. 

  CANCER #4

June 2020 - Jesse recently told me he "hates summers".  They have marked the return of his leukemia every time. This recent diagnosis began     with bouts of nausea and weakness in his legs. He quickly lost the ability to walk on his own, going from a walker to a wheelchair within weeks. An MRI showed return of his leukemia with the cancer not only in his blood, but also his spine. Chemotherapy was immediately started, again, with long road trips to Doernbecher Hospital. Radiation has started as well and he will eventually be admitted to Seattle Children's Hospital for  further treatment. Jesse shared that he is tired of fighting all of the battles, but says each day he wakes up he happy to be alive. 

SEEKING PENNIES :-) AND PRAYERS

With the hardships of COVID and Jesse's 4th diagnosis, this family has exhausted all financial options and desperately needs help. In addition,      the Aguilar family will soon lose their insurance due to Jesus's unemployment. Their faith, hope, and love for one another keeps them going..........and praying. I am asking for help to ease the financial stress so they can focus on Jesse's healing. 

Funds received will bless the Aguilar's with ALL LIVING EXPENSES and be their only source of income. This precious family lives a simple life, in a small, 2 bedroom duplex. Jesus and Yolanda have slept on the floor for the past 6 years, wanting for Jesse to have the comfort of their bed.       What they lack in space, they make up for with love.  

No parent ever wants to hear that their child has cancer. But, hearing it four times in the past 6 years???? Despite their circumstances, Jesus and Yolanda's goodness and grace continue to shine in even the darkest moments. 

ANYTHING YOU CAN DONATE WILL BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. THERE IS   NO AMOUNT OF MONEY OR PRAYER TOO SMALL. PLEASE             SHARE THIS "TEAM JESSE" CAMPAIGN ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND HELP THE AGUILARS KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOVED,  SUPPORTED.....AND NOT FIGHTING ALONE. 

 THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!!!!