Support Dean's Dad through Lymphoma Care

Dear Friends, Family and beyond,

My name is Erica and I am starting this GoFundMe to support my brother, Jes Sward, so he can continue to be the best dad to his two teenage boys during this very challenging time. His youngest son, Dean, was very recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 15. Things have been happening very fast, and Jes is now home from work trying to navigate this shocking news. Dean just started chemotherapy this past week and will need continuous care for some time. I want my brother to be able to stay positive and focused on his boys, and not be worried about his next job and how he will pay the bills and meet their basic needs, which unfortunately was already an issue due to the series of circumstances the family has been through over the last few years. Jes is trying to stay positive but he is under water financially at the moment and is already facing many costs related to cancer treatment that are not covered by Dean's insurance.

Before getting Dean's diagnosis, Jes was just starting to recover from his divorce from his kids mom, caring for our own mom with pancreatic cancer, and then also being a caregiver for our dad with dementia. Unfortunately, during this time, we lost both of our parents within 8 months of each other. All of this coming on the tails of COVID. To say Jes had some tough years is an understatement!

Jes is now a single dad with just myself and my husband as his immediate family for support. If you have not seen him for awhile, it is because he has spent the last several years navigating a divorce and caring for his kids, helping others, and caring for our parents. He has had his hands more than full giving to others, and now he needs us to rally for him. If you know Jes, you know he wears his heart on his sleeve and would give that shirt to you if you were in need. Jes is truly an amazing dad with so much to give, but he needs us now.

Jes is already a very hands on dad, and will need to be a primary caregiver for Dean over at least the next 6 months throughout the chemotherapy treatments and then beyond for recovery. He's the most dedicated father, giving everything to care for his boys and give them every opportunity possible and all the love and support they both deserve. They have both grown into amazing young men with so much life ahead of them, in a large part due to Jes' unconditional love and selfless dedication.

Unfortunately the last few years of turmoil have meant that Jes acquired quite a bit of debt just trying to cover his family's basic needs while we were caring for our parents. He is doing everything in his power to keep the family home (where he is now living with the boys) that we just got back from a reverse mortgage that my parents left us with. We want him to be able to stay in his home, as he needs to have a safe place to care for his boys and to nurture them throughout this challenging chapter. Jes lost huge support when he lost his father, John John, who you may know was not only his dad, but a friend, his mentor and gave him quiet support throughout the years. Jes and John John are 5th and 4th generation mason's and built a vast majority of the fireplaces, walls and patios in Muir Beach and Marin County. Jes has worked hard his entire life and it is hard for him to ask for help but he deserves a bit of respite to get through the challenges that lie ahead.

Please donate as you can, share with others who might be willing and able as well as sending him all of the support you can to help him survive another traumatic life event.

Thank you so much for your support; we are very grateful.