Jason KICKED Ass Cancer's Ass
Donation protected
My name is Jason, I have colon cancer and I need your help.
Just after Thanksgiving 2015, I was admitted to the hospital for what I thought was just some severe stomach pain that created some extreme nausea. It was found that cancer of the colon was the cause and overnight my life has changed.
It’s hard to accept that something like this could happen, especially right during the holidays, but I’m proof that it does happen and it can happen to good people in the blink of an eye.
Cancer doesn’t care who you are or what time it is, or what your plans were. It doesn’t care if you have a family or if you’re alone. It’s scary, very scary. Which is why for the first time in my life I can remember honestly saying, “Yes, I am afraid, and I need help”.
The day I was admitted to the hospital, diagnosed and had my first surgery performed, all I could think was, “I don’t have insurance yet”. I had just started a new job I love and hadn’t met the 90 day requirement yet, so I had to apply for emergency insurance to cover the surgery. The problem is after you leave the hospital with cancer you have many other doctor visits to specialists, you have prescriptions you have to maintain, travel expenses in some cases as well as treatment options like mine where chemotherapy is involved. There’s also future surgeries and follow up testing to contend with. Bills are going to pile up even with relief. That’s where I come to you for help.
In addition to the emergency insurance needing to be supplemented, I found out that due to my job status, I am being denied FMLA and short term disability. So for now, my job is still waiting for me, but I don’t know for how long. The real issue is that I can’t create an income as I’m unable to go to work during treatment. This could be months depending on what happens.
I’m in a bit of a bind. I can’t work, I’m in constant pain and I have a colostomy bag now, which is not a pleasant experience and a bit embarrassing to have out in public. I feel like I’m in a horrible dream I’m desperately trying to wake up from.
I’m tapped out and am asking for the assistance of strangers now. My friends and family have already been here for me and made a huge difference already and continue to do what they can. The money raised here will go towards medical expenses including a future surgery, (possibly two), that is scheduled to take place after my first round of chemotherapy. This will also help with daily living expenses for me and my family while I’m unable to work.
I don’t typically ask for help, I just don’t do it, in fact I hate doing it, but I’m afraid I have no other choice at this point and am scared for my life. I have a lot of fight in me and I am confident I’ll beat this thing, but fear of the unknown creeps through with doubt in the back of my mind. I have to know my family is taken care of while I can’t create an income. That comes before my pride or arrogance that I can do this alone. The stress of not being able to provide or even pay some of these medical bills could be enough to hinder my treatment. They say “don’t worry about it, just get better.”, but that’s just not possible, not like this. My biggest fear is that it will interfere with my focus on beating this bastard cancer’s ass, so I can continue to be the hero my daughter believes me to be. When she was eight I dressed up as Batman. Because I was secretive about my homemade costume she thought I actually WAS Batman. This is my greatest memory of her, literally believing I keep her world safe at night when she sleeps. I need you to be my hero now, not just mine, but my family’s.
I have to be there for my little girl when she graduates high school, when she gets married, when she has a broken heart because some asshole cheated on her, when she needs someone to talk to about things she feels only I can give the answers to. I can’t express how important this is to me to me. A sincere thank you will in no way repay the gift you give. Know you will be helping touch the lives of others in a positive way and in doing so any life those others may come in to contact with. With that in mind, you potentially have the power to change the world through association. Please donate what you can and know there is a man who counted on you and you pulled through in his darkest hour. If you can’t donate please share this with your friends and loved ones.
Now, I don’t believe in getting something for nothing. This is a form of panhandling and I admit it and loathe it at the same time. It is a necessary swallowing of pride for me though.
So what’s in it for you other than a heart-felt thank you? Well, I’m an artist. This allows me a special kind of healing that few understand. Along with the best scientific advice and treatment procedures that modern medicine has to offer, I’ll be healing through the power of art. I plan on making a series of paintings and drawings and writings based on the experiences I’m going through and will release the final collection in some printed form. You donate, you get one of the first copies for free. They will eventually be sold as some form of fund raising for colon cancer research and will go to an existing cancer fund or one I create. Your donation will get you one of these for free.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some cancer to kill. Chemo starts Monday and I need to find some yoga poses that don’t conflict with a colostomy bag.
Sincerely,
Jason – Future Cancer Survivor
Just after Thanksgiving 2015, I was admitted to the hospital for what I thought was just some severe stomach pain that created some extreme nausea. It was found that cancer of the colon was the cause and overnight my life has changed.
It’s hard to accept that something like this could happen, especially right during the holidays, but I’m proof that it does happen and it can happen to good people in the blink of an eye.
Cancer doesn’t care who you are or what time it is, or what your plans were. It doesn’t care if you have a family or if you’re alone. It’s scary, very scary. Which is why for the first time in my life I can remember honestly saying, “Yes, I am afraid, and I need help”.
The day I was admitted to the hospital, diagnosed and had my first surgery performed, all I could think was, “I don’t have insurance yet”. I had just started a new job I love and hadn’t met the 90 day requirement yet, so I had to apply for emergency insurance to cover the surgery. The problem is after you leave the hospital with cancer you have many other doctor visits to specialists, you have prescriptions you have to maintain, travel expenses in some cases as well as treatment options like mine where chemotherapy is involved. There’s also future surgeries and follow up testing to contend with. Bills are going to pile up even with relief. That’s where I come to you for help.
In addition to the emergency insurance needing to be supplemented, I found out that due to my job status, I am being denied FMLA and short term disability. So for now, my job is still waiting for me, but I don’t know for how long. The real issue is that I can’t create an income as I’m unable to go to work during treatment. This could be months depending on what happens.
I’m in a bit of a bind. I can’t work, I’m in constant pain and I have a colostomy bag now, which is not a pleasant experience and a bit embarrassing to have out in public. I feel like I’m in a horrible dream I’m desperately trying to wake up from.
I’m tapped out and am asking for the assistance of strangers now. My friends and family have already been here for me and made a huge difference already and continue to do what they can. The money raised here will go towards medical expenses including a future surgery, (possibly two), that is scheduled to take place after my first round of chemotherapy. This will also help with daily living expenses for me and my family while I’m unable to work.
I don’t typically ask for help, I just don’t do it, in fact I hate doing it, but I’m afraid I have no other choice at this point and am scared for my life. I have a lot of fight in me and I am confident I’ll beat this thing, but fear of the unknown creeps through with doubt in the back of my mind. I have to know my family is taken care of while I can’t create an income. That comes before my pride or arrogance that I can do this alone. The stress of not being able to provide or even pay some of these medical bills could be enough to hinder my treatment. They say “don’t worry about it, just get better.”, but that’s just not possible, not like this. My biggest fear is that it will interfere with my focus on beating this bastard cancer’s ass, so I can continue to be the hero my daughter believes me to be. When she was eight I dressed up as Batman. Because I was secretive about my homemade costume she thought I actually WAS Batman. This is my greatest memory of her, literally believing I keep her world safe at night when she sleeps. I need you to be my hero now, not just mine, but my family’s.
I have to be there for my little girl when she graduates high school, when she gets married, when she has a broken heart because some asshole cheated on her, when she needs someone to talk to about things she feels only I can give the answers to. I can’t express how important this is to me to me. A sincere thank you will in no way repay the gift you give. Know you will be helping touch the lives of others in a positive way and in doing so any life those others may come in to contact with. With that in mind, you potentially have the power to change the world through association. Please donate what you can and know there is a man who counted on you and you pulled through in his darkest hour. If you can’t donate please share this with your friends and loved ones.
Now, I don’t believe in getting something for nothing. This is a form of panhandling and I admit it and loathe it at the same time. It is a necessary swallowing of pride for me though.
So what’s in it for you other than a heart-felt thank you? Well, I’m an artist. This allows me a special kind of healing that few understand. Along with the best scientific advice and treatment procedures that modern medicine has to offer, I’ll be healing through the power of art. I plan on making a series of paintings and drawings and writings based on the experiences I’m going through and will release the final collection in some printed form. You donate, you get one of the first copies for free. They will eventually be sold as some form of fund raising for colon cancer research and will go to an existing cancer fund or one I create. Your donation will get you one of these for free.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some cancer to kill. Chemo starts Monday and I need to find some yoga poses that don’t conflict with a colostomy bag.
Sincerely,
Jason – Future Cancer Survivor
Organizer
Jason Griffin
Organizer
Chandler, AZ
