#teamJames Join September and Stephanie in supporting James

James Heider came to live in Twin Falls from Pima, AZ, right after his 18th birthday in August 2024. He is in love with a girl, you see, and they had become engaged on her 17th birthday, the February before. That girl is my granddaughter, September. My daughter, Stephanie, allowed James to couch surf for a bit; he had to pay for food and rent very soon after all. And he really wanted to get a job here. James had one at Meg's Place in AZ, had worked for 3 years, and he wants to be a chef someday! He wants an apartment, and the kiddos want to save for a wedding. He got a job here in September. He loved it.

James' real journey began in November 2024 when he was exercising at home. As men will do, he overdid it and hurt his leg. September, his fiancée, took him to the ER. He was in pain and just wanted to know if he had really injured it badly or pulled a muscle or something. They could find nothing of significance. They sent him home with a doctor's note for his work for light duty for a few days. It kept getting more painful, and he couldn't walk well on that leg. James is no baby; he is 6'4" and very strong. He isn't used to being hurt, so back to the ER after a week. James needed another doctor's order for work, and they wanted to get him approved for an MRI. His insurance finally approved that MRI after several more ER visits by mid-December. He had to quit working; his pain was excruciating, he could hardly walk, and the company he cooked for would not honor his doctor's orders. So he felt discouraged but knew that he'd find another job right after they figured out his injury. His doctor didn't want James to injure that knee/leg any worse. For James, that MRI was the beginning of his new journey, so many trips to other doctors, a new type of doctor, an oncologist, in Boise by January. Throughout January, James kept his spirits up, and along with September and Stephanie's help, James got through it day by day. Never having had so much pain in his life, and neither of the two kiddos knowing what to do. Thank the Lord for September's momma! And the calls he got from his momma! When James felt a little salty, September helped make him laugh or chewed him out, which is just what was needed, I guess, they always seem so supportive of each other, no matter what! Young love, growing and working it out together. They have been so thankful to Stephanie for her supportive nature too.

James got the diagnosis of osteosarcoma, bone cancer, in the 3rd week of January 2025. James will be treated with 2 types of chemo; sometimes here in Twin Falls, ID, and 2 weeks every 5 weeks in hospitalization in Boise, ID, for 18 weeks in all. We sure can't wait to see him ring the bell at the end of it all!

James has a need for this GoFundMe recovery fund, with sharing his story with others please, and keeping him in your prayers for his journey through to a healthy recovery.

The money will be used for things such as food, gas to get to his many treatments in Boise, and helping with the bills, covering his housing, which has been provided by his future mother-in-law, my daughter, Stephanie. She is quickly falling behind, which might then put them in jeopardy of getting utilities shut off or losing the housing my girls have lived in for the last 5 years prior to James coming to couch surf.

My daughter, Stephanie, is a single parent. She is also a teacher at Bickel Elementary. She's a great mom and provider, which makes this even harder for her because she was unable to work much of the time in the last part of December and in January in order to provide James with transportation to and from Boise for his oncology/diagnostic appointments this last 5 weeks. During the pre-confirmed diagnostic weeks, and now going forward with chemo treatments, at least for the next 18 weeks. Stephanie has missed a lot of work, and paying for substitutes out of her own income is required of her each day missed, for her students. This will continue, there is no question, because she is a giving and loving person. She is unsure as to when she will be able to return to working full-time at her job as a teacher at Bickel, and this GoFundMe is a Godsend!

Although this has been devastating news, we are keeping our hopes up that James will win this fight! Prayer works, and God is great!

Please consider a donation if you can, any amount, even only a dollar is needed. If you can't, we still thank you for reading James' story. Please say a prayer for James and September. Send your good vibes his way. Thank you.

Give support for James Heider by sharing, please.