Jake’s 3rd battle with Cancer
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We regret to inform you that Jake’s cancer has once again returned. This will be his 3rd battle with cancer, however, we are determined to win this battle and conclude the war once and for all this time.
After a recent 5 day stint at Enloe Hospital for Pneumonia, the doctor ordered a chest CT Scan to check on the healing process which ended up revealing swollen masses in his chest. Since being released a couple weeks ago, Jake has noticed tumors growing in different places throughout his body that have become very sensitive and painful. At the end of finishing his chemo treatments back in early April of this year, he was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), which we were told was the root cause of both cancers… and certainly the cause of this current one coming back. Upon learning this, he quickly started following an EBV protocol through a Doctor who has devoted her life to helping people fight EBV with diet, lifestyle and supplements. Despite our greatest efforts to be healthy, his system has been knocked down far too low for far too long, which is why this is all happening again. Being infected with EBV is very common, however, it can cause mutations in cells infected with EBV that can lead to cancerous changes, which is the case with Jake. He is set to do a clinical trial through UC Davis with an estimated start date of August 22nd. This means lots of travel time as it is a 6 hour round trip that we will have to make at least four times a month, on top of hotel stays to ensure we are close by if any adverse reactions occur. This week he will have an examination, PET Scan as a reference point for either the success or failure of said trial, and specialized bloodwork. This trial is a targeted B-Cell immunotherapy to specifically seek out and destroy EBV cancer causing cells. Although you can’t get rid of EBV, we are hoping this will rid at least most of the cancer causing cells so that Jake can focus on trying to restore his severely compromised immune system and get back to a “normal” life. This will be a lifelong struggle to keep the EBV dormant so it doesn’t cause health problems in the future.
A statement from Jake: “I can’t even begin to express the daily mental and physical hurdles I’ve had to endure in recent years. I try my best to stay positive, but it gets ugly at times having to deal with everything I’ve had to. Saying that life is unfair would be a complete understatement. Having to grapple with death is something I never thought I would have to do.. and now I’m facing it for the third time. Having to tell my 4 year old daughter I’m sick, but not being able to explain why is confusing her and it breaks my heart. Having to wonder (again) if I will be around to watch Ivy grow up absolutely wrecks me. That is why most of my tears are shed, but it is also where most of my fight comes from. I will never give up. I will beat this again. And I WILL be there to watch my little girl grow up.”
We truly appreciate all of your support. Whether it be in your thoughts and prayers, monetary help, sharing Jake’s story.. please know we greatly appreciate you all very much and it is very difficult having to ask for help again. We will have a lot of expenses coming up, including but not limited to: gas, food, hotel stays, parking fees, etc. Thank you to everyone who can help in any of these areas.
Much love - The Edwards Family
After a recent 5 day stint at Enloe Hospital for Pneumonia, the doctor ordered a chest CT Scan to check on the healing process which ended up revealing swollen masses in his chest. Since being released a couple weeks ago, Jake has noticed tumors growing in different places throughout his body that have become very sensitive and painful. At the end of finishing his chemo treatments back in early April of this year, he was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), which we were told was the root cause of both cancers… and certainly the cause of this current one coming back. Upon learning this, he quickly started following an EBV protocol through a Doctor who has devoted her life to helping people fight EBV with diet, lifestyle and supplements. Despite our greatest efforts to be healthy, his system has been knocked down far too low for far too long, which is why this is all happening again. Being infected with EBV is very common, however, it can cause mutations in cells infected with EBV that can lead to cancerous changes, which is the case with Jake. He is set to do a clinical trial through UC Davis with an estimated start date of August 22nd. This means lots of travel time as it is a 6 hour round trip that we will have to make at least four times a month, on top of hotel stays to ensure we are close by if any adverse reactions occur. This week he will have an examination, PET Scan as a reference point for either the success or failure of said trial, and specialized bloodwork. This trial is a targeted B-Cell immunotherapy to specifically seek out and destroy EBV cancer causing cells. Although you can’t get rid of EBV, we are hoping this will rid at least most of the cancer causing cells so that Jake can focus on trying to restore his severely compromised immune system and get back to a “normal” life. This will be a lifelong struggle to keep the EBV dormant so it doesn’t cause health problems in the future.
A statement from Jake: “I can’t even begin to express the daily mental and physical hurdles I’ve had to endure in recent years. I try my best to stay positive, but it gets ugly at times having to deal with everything I’ve had to. Saying that life is unfair would be a complete understatement. Having to grapple with death is something I never thought I would have to do.. and now I’m facing it for the third time. Having to tell my 4 year old daughter I’m sick, but not being able to explain why is confusing her and it breaks my heart. Having to wonder (again) if I will be around to watch Ivy grow up absolutely wrecks me. That is why most of my tears are shed, but it is also where most of my fight comes from. I will never give up. I will beat this again. And I WILL be there to watch my little girl grow up.”
We truly appreciate all of your support. Whether it be in your thoughts and prayers, monetary help, sharing Jake’s story.. please know we greatly appreciate you all very much and it is very difficult having to ask for help again. We will have a lot of expenses coming up, including but not limited to: gas, food, hotel stays, parking fees, etc. Thank you to everyone who can help in any of these areas.
Much love - The Edwards Family
Organizer
Cheryl Edwards
Organizer
Westwood, CA
