Team Jared Fighting Leukemia
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Meet Jared. Jared is almost 12. Even at such a young age, Jared has a deep sense of love and compassion, always looking out and caring for his younger family members. Jared and his wonderful family have received unimaginable news. Jared has just been diagnosed with cancer.
After experiencing unexplained backaches for a few weeks along with several inconclusive trips to the ER, Jared began having intermittent fevers and was hospitalized on June 5th for observation. It was quickly concluded that he had spinal Osteomyelitis, a bone infection and treatment began. However, Jared was not responding to the antibiotics as expected and quickly declined in a matter of days. Both he and his mom Nikki were flown out to Doernbecher's Children's Hospital in Portland. Joe, his dad drove up to join them but unfortunately his sister Charlotte had to stay behind.
A host of new tests showed spreading to other bone tissue. A more intensive treatment plan was started. While Jared seemed to get better some days, he would inevitably relapse into rapid decline. A biopsy was performed on June 15th; the results came back as a very aggressive cancer of the blood called B-cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-cell ALL). By this time, it had also spread to several other areas and was causing Jared extreme pain within his entire body. Chemotherapy was started immediately.
After two weeks of sleeping in the hospital, with this diagnosis, Nikki and Joe were able to move into the Ronald McDonald House. Finally, family was able to reunite Charlotte with her brother and parents (she was so worried!).
Cancer treatment is a long, hard and rough road to travel, not only for the patient, but for the entire family as well. Children with ALL are divided into risk groups; because of his age, Jared is considered to be in a higher risk category with this form of cancer. Both Nikki and Joe are no longer able to actively work as Jared is currently receiving intensive chemotherapy. While presently their shelter needs are covered during their stay at the Ronald McDonald House, most of their regular financial needs remain unmet.
To compound this life changing event, Nikki had already been out of work for several months beforehand; dealing with her own health issue, then healing from her subsequent major surgery, just two weeks prior to Jared's initial hospital admittance. Both Nikki and Joe have other significant families and homes in Southern Oregon in which they are responsible for. They are in dire need of support immediately.
Cancer treatment can also be highly unpredictable. Guidelines are merely that and at any time, therapy can be amended based on Jared's cancer or his health response to the chemotherapy. The initial phase of intense chemo is called Induction; 95% of children with ALL enter remission (remission is not a cure) after one month. This means that %99.99 of the cancer cells are destroyed. The focus will then move Jared into what is called Intensification which can take 2-3 months and like it sounds, is even more intensive than Induction. This is when the focus shifts to killing all the remaining cancer cells in Jared's body. The Maintenance phase will then be started and can last 2-3 years. The goal is to prevent the return of the cancer. Because boys are at higher risk for relapse, many doctors favor giving them several more months of treatments during this phase.
In addition to chemo, cancer protocol calls for other measures to support the body and well being of mind while undergoing treatment. The family is planning to attack Jared's cancer from a variety of angles, including diet and nutrition, exercise, meditation to name a few. They will be also looking extensively into cutting edge therapies and adjunct medicine. Children who are free from ALL after 5 years are likely to have been cured as its rare for these cancers to return. This is our goal for Jared, survivorship.
Jared and his family will be in Portland at the very least while he begins the first round of chemo and will remain together for an unknown duration, to bring familial support and a sense of normalcy in this very stressful time. Even after returning home, there are likely to be more trips as his team of doctors here will continue to work closely with his team at OHSU. It is fair to say, that in overcoming cancer, each day is a new day celebrated.
Jared has been quite the warrior during this ordeal. Whilst he is most certainly feeling the ravages of cancer and now the chemo, he continues to be his loving self and use his witty humor to deal with the stress and trauma of everyday. He continues to impact those that love him deeply and those that are just meeting him as well with his warm heart and sweet smile and coy sense of humor.
We Humbly request your assistance in supporting Jared and his family and restoring hope to them. Your contribution helps cover costs incurred outside those of insurance, assists with housing and aids in easing other astronomical costs of travel, loss of income for both parents, basic necessities and quality of life for this family during this unimaginably difficult time. With much gratitude, we deeply thank you.
After experiencing unexplained backaches for a few weeks along with several inconclusive trips to the ER, Jared began having intermittent fevers and was hospitalized on June 5th for observation. It was quickly concluded that he had spinal Osteomyelitis, a bone infection and treatment began. However, Jared was not responding to the antibiotics as expected and quickly declined in a matter of days. Both he and his mom Nikki were flown out to Doernbecher's Children's Hospital in Portland. Joe, his dad drove up to join them but unfortunately his sister Charlotte had to stay behind.
A host of new tests showed spreading to other bone tissue. A more intensive treatment plan was started. While Jared seemed to get better some days, he would inevitably relapse into rapid decline. A biopsy was performed on June 15th; the results came back as a very aggressive cancer of the blood called B-cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-cell ALL). By this time, it had also spread to several other areas and was causing Jared extreme pain within his entire body. Chemotherapy was started immediately.
After two weeks of sleeping in the hospital, with this diagnosis, Nikki and Joe were able to move into the Ronald McDonald House. Finally, family was able to reunite Charlotte with her brother and parents (she was so worried!).
Cancer treatment is a long, hard and rough road to travel, not only for the patient, but for the entire family as well. Children with ALL are divided into risk groups; because of his age, Jared is considered to be in a higher risk category with this form of cancer. Both Nikki and Joe are no longer able to actively work as Jared is currently receiving intensive chemotherapy. While presently their shelter needs are covered during their stay at the Ronald McDonald House, most of their regular financial needs remain unmet.
To compound this life changing event, Nikki had already been out of work for several months beforehand; dealing with her own health issue, then healing from her subsequent major surgery, just two weeks prior to Jared's initial hospital admittance. Both Nikki and Joe have other significant families and homes in Southern Oregon in which they are responsible for. They are in dire need of support immediately.
Cancer treatment can also be highly unpredictable. Guidelines are merely that and at any time, therapy can be amended based on Jared's cancer or his health response to the chemotherapy. The initial phase of intense chemo is called Induction; 95% of children with ALL enter remission (remission is not a cure) after one month. This means that %99.99 of the cancer cells are destroyed. The focus will then move Jared into what is called Intensification which can take 2-3 months and like it sounds, is even more intensive than Induction. This is when the focus shifts to killing all the remaining cancer cells in Jared's body. The Maintenance phase will then be started and can last 2-3 years. The goal is to prevent the return of the cancer. Because boys are at higher risk for relapse, many doctors favor giving them several more months of treatments during this phase.
In addition to chemo, cancer protocol calls for other measures to support the body and well being of mind while undergoing treatment. The family is planning to attack Jared's cancer from a variety of angles, including diet and nutrition, exercise, meditation to name a few. They will be also looking extensively into cutting edge therapies and adjunct medicine. Children who are free from ALL after 5 years are likely to have been cured as its rare for these cancers to return. This is our goal for Jared, survivorship.
Jared and his family will be in Portland at the very least while he begins the first round of chemo and will remain together for an unknown duration, to bring familial support and a sense of normalcy in this very stressful time. Even after returning home, there are likely to be more trips as his team of doctors here will continue to work closely with his team at OHSU. It is fair to say, that in overcoming cancer, each day is a new day celebrated.
Jared has been quite the warrior during this ordeal. Whilst he is most certainly feeling the ravages of cancer and now the chemo, he continues to be his loving self and use his witty humor to deal with the stress and trauma of everyday. He continues to impact those that love him deeply and those that are just meeting him as well with his warm heart and sweet smile and coy sense of humor.
We Humbly request your assistance in supporting Jared and his family and restoring hope to them. Your contribution helps cover costs incurred outside those of insurance, assists with housing and aids in easing other astronomical costs of travel, loss of income for both parents, basic necessities and quality of life for this family during this unimaginably difficult time. With much gratitude, we deeply thank you.
Organizer
Tracy Amusten
Organizer
Medford, OR
