Jerry Schaffer

Jerry was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on November 25, 2017.  As of  October, 2019, the leukemia is in full remission and he has completed all of his maintenance chemotherapy treatments. 


However, Jerry is now facing a new battle.  During September, 2019, he started having mobility issues and weakness in his legs.  By mid-October, the symptoms had worsened and he became wheelchair bound.  After multiple x-rays, MRI’s, and other tests were conducted to try and find the cause of the weakness in his legs,  some nodules were discovered, including a couple spots on the brain.   A biopsy revealed that Jerry now has diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a new form of cancer unrelated to his eye cancer and leukemia.


In typical fashion, Jerry faced this new battle head on.  When Dr. Benjamin Gielda, his radiation oncologist, described the brain radiation treatments that would be phase one of the plan, Jerry responded by saying, “I’m game!” That positive attitude no doubt had  a lot to do with Jerry handling the radiation treatments very well.  Throughout December, 2019 and the first week of January, 2020, he completed 20 radiation treatments  of the brain.  The next cancer treatment phase was scheduled to begin by mid-January, 2020 with a chemotherapy regiment to treat the cancer spots in the rest of his body.


Unfortunately, the next phase of the cancer treatment has been postponed because Jerry caught “influenza A” during his last week of radiation.  The coughing and other symptoms caused him to be admitted to Spectrum Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, MI on December 30.  The combination of radiation treatments and the flu has really set Jerry back physically. On January 4, 2020, he was transferred from the hospital  to Pine Ridge rehabilitation facility in Stevensville, MI  with the goal of gaining enough strength and wellness to go home and resume his cancer treatment.


While Jerry’s current physical condition is not amenable to visitors at Pine Ridge, we welcome all of your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes.  We will try to keep this website updated, especially when new information is available.  Thank you again for your friendship and believing in the power of prayer!


If you would like to send a card or letter through the mail directly to Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, the address is 4368 Cleveland Ave., Stevensville, MI 49127.  Jerry’s room number is 210.