The Coach Fernandez Fight to Kick Cancer
Donation protected
September 13, 2020. More Than just a one year Update ... A Thank You!
I never really paid much attention to the GoFundMe concept until John Cross created an account for Jose’s fight.
There are so many platforms out there today that can be used to reach others. Thank you for taking the time to reach out on Jose’s account and even following us on Facebook. The strength we have felt from those around us is surreal. Knowing we have a TEAM fighting WITH us is such a blessing.
The best part of this crowdfunding concept for us is NOT the funding but instead the ability to share our story. I feel so blessed to have friends around us that have helped us as we journey forward in our fight against Mantle B-Cell Lymphoma. I have never been much of a writer, but each time I take time to update our friends and family through a social medium, I find myself a little more at easy. I feel a little less ALONE. Days like today that I find myself too tired to get up, yet to restless to stay asleep, I am beyond grateful for the journal gofundme has helped us create. Days like today reading back through our journey thus far gives me(us) so much strength. Rereading the initial story John wrote when he started the Coach José Gofundme to where we are today. It is all still so surreal.
Each and every post shared on Jose’s page has helped us so much. On days like today when thing seem a bit overwhelming the blog on Jose’s page is so calming. It reminds us we are NOT ALONE.
I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Know that every comment and jester our friends and family have share give us overwhelming strength to fight!
As we seem to be rounding a corner and heading towards recovery and maintenance I want to again shoot Thank You! Today was the last chemotherapy treatment in phase 2!! José has become the Superman of this trial. Doctors are loving the results.
I never thought I would write and or share so much of life’s journey with so many. But it helps so much. It has become a journal of preserveranc...the power of words.
Or Maybe I’m just in an overwhelming need of a hug...
Love you ALL and feel so lucky to have so many on Team José!
ORIGINAL MESSAGE: It all started in April of 2019. Jose, after a soccer game, noticed his groin muscle was a little swollen. It did not hurt, so he stretched and iced for several weeks. But the swelling did not go away. Concerned, he decided that maybe he had an unknown infection and his body was fighting it.
Jose went to his doctor who ran multiple tests including blood work. Everything came back saying he was healthy as an ox. Another month passed and in July Jose went back to the doctor because the swelling seemed to be getting worse. The doctor was concerned and ordered a CAT scan. The results were a bit off but again not alarming. At this point, the only way to examine the swollen lymph nodes was to biopsy the area. On August 13th Jose was called to the doctor’s office and told the biopsy came back positive for Mantle B- Cell lymphoma, blastoid variant. This is a very rare genetic form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma .
Jose was immediately referred to a local oncologist. A week later with a PET scan and biopsy report, he was given stage 3, possibly stage 4 prognosis. Jose then went to MD Anderson for a second opinion.
Jose will be participating in a 5-year trial study at MD Anderson. This will require lengthy stays in Houston. The first year he will be treated with newly developed medicines followed by high treatments of chemotherapy the second year and returning to drug therapy for the remainder of the trial.
It’s now been six months and he is still feeling as healthy as an Olympian (as one nurse referred to him), but he knows he has a long journey ahead. The girls are all digging into school and soccer and working super hard to keep life as normal as possible.
Thank you, everyone, for all of the thoughts and prayers, they are needed more than you know. With Jose having to fight for his life in Houston, our family will need all of the support we can get. Jose is facing very high medical expenses and we are asking for your generous donation to help offset those costs. Our goal is to raise $51,890 by 1/1/2020 so we can start the year knowing that the financial battle
is behind us and we can all focus on the battle with Cancer, one we know with our friends, family, and the grace of God we will win.
We ask that when you make a donation, please leave a note or a story about Jose. Let's surround him with positivity and let him know how important he is to our lives and the community.
I never really paid much attention to the GoFundMe concept until John Cross created an account for Jose’s fight.
There are so many platforms out there today that can be used to reach others. Thank you for taking the time to reach out on Jose’s account and even following us on Facebook. The strength we have felt from those around us is surreal. Knowing we have a TEAM fighting WITH us is such a blessing.
The best part of this crowdfunding concept for us is NOT the funding but instead the ability to share our story. I feel so blessed to have friends around us that have helped us as we journey forward in our fight against Mantle B-Cell Lymphoma. I have never been much of a writer, but each time I take time to update our friends and family through a social medium, I find myself a little more at easy. I feel a little less ALONE. Days like today that I find myself too tired to get up, yet to restless to stay asleep, I am beyond grateful for the journal gofundme has helped us create. Days like today reading back through our journey thus far gives me(us) so much strength. Rereading the initial story John wrote when he started the Coach José Gofundme to where we are today. It is all still so surreal.
Each and every post shared on Jose’s page has helped us so much. On days like today when thing seem a bit overwhelming the blog on Jose’s page is so calming. It reminds us we are NOT ALONE.
I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Know that every comment and jester our friends and family have share give us overwhelming strength to fight!
As we seem to be rounding a corner and heading towards recovery and maintenance I want to again shoot Thank You! Today was the last chemotherapy treatment in phase 2!! José has become the Superman of this trial. Doctors are loving the results.
I never thought I would write and or share so much of life’s journey with so many. But it helps so much. It has become a journal of preserveranc...the power of words.
Or Maybe I’m just in an overwhelming need of a hug...
Love you ALL and feel so lucky to have so many on Team José!
ORIGINAL MESSAGE: It all started in April of 2019. Jose, after a soccer game, noticed his groin muscle was a little swollen. It did not hurt, so he stretched and iced for several weeks. But the swelling did not go away. Concerned, he decided that maybe he had an unknown infection and his body was fighting it.
Jose went to his doctor who ran multiple tests including blood work. Everything came back saying he was healthy as an ox. Another month passed and in July Jose went back to the doctor because the swelling seemed to be getting worse. The doctor was concerned and ordered a CAT scan. The results were a bit off but again not alarming. At this point, the only way to examine the swollen lymph nodes was to biopsy the area. On August 13th Jose was called to the doctor’s office and told the biopsy came back positive for Mantle B- Cell lymphoma, blastoid variant. This is a very rare genetic form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma .
Jose was immediately referred to a local oncologist. A week later with a PET scan and biopsy report, he was given stage 3, possibly stage 4 prognosis. Jose then went to MD Anderson for a second opinion.
Jose will be participating in a 5-year trial study at MD Anderson. This will require lengthy stays in Houston. The first year he will be treated with newly developed medicines followed by high treatments of chemotherapy the second year and returning to drug therapy for the remainder of the trial.
It’s now been six months and he is still feeling as healthy as an Olympian (as one nurse referred to him), but he knows he has a long journey ahead. The girls are all digging into school and soccer and working super hard to keep life as normal as possible.
Thank you, everyone, for all of the thoughts and prayers, they are needed more than you know. With Jose having to fight for his life in Houston, our family will need all of the support we can get. Jose is facing very high medical expenses and we are asking for your generous donation to help offset those costs. Our goal is to raise $51,890 by 1/1/2020 so we can start the year knowing that the financial battle
is behind us and we can all focus on the battle with Cancer, one we know with our friends, family, and the grace of God we will win.
We ask that when you make a donation, please leave a note or a story about Jose. Let's surround him with positivity and let him know how important he is to our lives and the community.
Organizer
Kelly Fernandez
Organizer
Niceville, FL
