Help Jerry Fight Head & Neck Cancer

Hi friends, family, and kind strangers—

We never thought we’d be here writing this, but life has thrown us a curveball, and we’re asking for your love and support as Jerry fights the hardest battle of his life.

The Diagnosis

On June 11th, Jerry was diagnosed with an unspecified head and neck cancer—“unspecified” because doctors haven’t been able to locate where the cancer originated. We’ve gone through multiple biopsies without answers, but the cancer is there, and treatment had to begin.

The Journey So Far

Before starting chemo and radiation, Jerry had to undergo a painful but necessary oral surgery to remove eight back teeth. Radiation greatly reduces blood flow to the jawbone, which can cause lifelong complications, so this step was preventative. After healing, we moved quickly into the full treatment plan.

Jerry’s treatment has been one of the toughest regimens out there:

    •    Daily Radiation (5 days a week, for 6–8 weeks)

    •    Weekly Chemotherapy delivered through a PICC line

  •       Weekly Oncologist and Radiation Dr visits

    •    Speech therapy to protect swallowing muscles

    •    Feeding tube placement when eating became impossible

Radiation to the head and neck affects everything—speaking, swallowing, eating, and even the simple joy of tasting food. Jerry hasn’t had real food in over 2½ weeks and relies fully on his feeding tube. He’s lost his voice, and every day comes with new side effects: exhaustion, painful burns to his neck, and intense waves of hot and cold.

Still—Jerry pushes through. He jokes, he types texts to friends, and he finds ways to be “dad” for our boys, even if it means a playful wrestling match from the recliner. His strength amazes us daily.

Our Family

Cancer doesn’t just happen to one person—it happens to a whole family.

    •    Our boys, Weston and Wyatt, have been brave beyond their years. Weston leads prayers for his daddy every night, and Wyatt keeps us all laughing with his wild energy and sweet heart.

    •    I have taken FMLA from work to be Jerry’s caregiver—managing medications, feedings, appointments, and the daily rollercoaster of treatment.

We’re holding onto normal moments where we can—like dropping the boys off at school together or sharing a quiet laugh in the chaos.

What’s Ahead

Jerry’s last chemo is coming up soon, with just over 11 radiation sessions left. Once treatment ends in mid-September, he’ll need about a month to recover from the worst of the side effects. Then we wait. In three months, a PET scan will tell us if this battle was won.

How You Can Help

Many of you have asked what you can do. Right now, we’re asking for support through this GoFundMe to help us cover:

    •    Medical expenses not fully covered by insurance

    •    Travel costs for endless appointments and treatments

    •    The unexpected expenses that come with cancer care

We aren’t a family that easily asks for help, but this journey has humbled us. Any amount—big or small—helps ease the burden and keeps us focused on Jerry’s healing.

Most of all, we ask for your continued prayers, good vibes, and love. If you know Jerry, you know he’s still the same sarcastic, strong-willed, funny guy—just now fighting like hell to get back to the life he loves.

Thank you for walking with us in this fight.

With love,

Sara & Family

Venmo and PayPal links will also be posted.