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Updated Cliff Notes: Jason was told on 2/4 at our local ER he had metastatic cancer. He was admitted into the ER at MD Anderson Houston on 2/14, diagnosed with high-grade bladder cancer on 2/19, and began his first round of treatment on 2/26. He was admitted to MD Anderson and was discharged on 3/5. He was readmitted on 3/12 for a bacterial infection and remains inpatient.
Original Post: I brought Jason to the ER on Sunday evening (2/4/24) for what we thought was sciatic nerve pain and found out he has cancer.
Christus transferred all of Jason's records to Texas Oncology on Monday (2/5/24), and they have assigned him an oncologist who is reviewing everything and working on a care plan. We are hoping we get called to schedule his appointment early next week. We are working with Christus Santa Rosa Care Concierge, and they have been amazing, along with the hospital staff.
Here is what we know so far. They did an ultrasound on his lower groin area and determined he had a hernia. To confirm he didn't need emergency surgery, they did a CT scan, which showed multiple lesions on his spine, liver, kidney, and lymph nodes. They don't know the origin of the cancer, but they do know that it has spread. The hernia is a fatty-filled hernia and not a concern. All the pain he has been experiencing is the lesions, especially on his spine. The hospital gave him codeine to help keep him comfortable until the oncologist appointment.
We met with a pastor at our church on Monday morning after we found out and prayed together. The amount of prayers that are going up from friends and family is overwhelming and we are grateful for everyone surrounding us and lifting us up right now.
After we left church on Monday, I took Jason to order a new mattress. Our current mattress was absolutely terrible and visibly had divots in it. Jason wasn't really entertained by the idea of dropping some money on a new mattress, but I told him he didn't have a choice. That head hardness is going to serve him well in this fight. Our new mattress arrived on Wednesday, and he will get to enjoy sleeping on it this evening. I'm also going back on Friday to purchase a base that will allow him to elevate the head or foot of the mattress. I also purchased him a little rolling 3-tier cart, and we've loaded everything he needs to go back and forth between the living room and the bedroom. Right now, I'm trying to make him as comfortable as possible until we see the oncologist and make sure he has what he is going to need to fight this disease.
We told Blake and Ryan about it on Monday after school. It was one of the hardest things we've ever done. We also let their teachers and counselors know so they can support them at school. They reacted as expected; Blake understood everything and was upset but stepped up to help. Ryan doesn't understand the entire situation, but I also realize her understanding will come as we get farther down the road. They are surrounded by love and support at home and school, which is all I can ask for.
Unfortunately, the codeine Jason was given was not providing much relief, so we went back to the ER on Wednesday, 2/7, and he was prescribed a strong pain reliever. He was also told he could take the muscle relaxer he was originally prescribed when he thought it was sciatic nerve pain. The muscle relaxer hasn't really been effective, but new pain medicine has been helping. The only downside is how drowsy it makes him, but we hope that will wear off and his body will adjust.
We've had some other unfortunate events happen simultaneously. Last week, we had major car problems, and God provided us with what we needed on Friday afternoon. Ryan also tested positive for strep on Wednesday morning and has been home from school. Our faith and trust in God have carried us through every day. I realize it's only been 5 days, but it feels like so much more. We've gotten through each day because of the people around us who have helped us through each day or shared that they were praying for Jason and us. Every single message makes Jason stronger and makes him want to fight even harder. We are so thankful to everyone.
I think Jason has been keeping in much of the pain he experienced. We knew he was in pain, but I think he was really trying to tough it out over the last couple of months. Now that he has found out why he is in pain, he is allowing himself to rest.
I'll post as frequently as possible to keep everyone in the loop. Even short quick updates. Or maybe long ramblings. I'll keep you on your toes. The amount of outreach, phone calls, texts, and emails we have received has been an enormous blessing. I feel terrible that I don't have enough time to keep everyone updated, so I hope this site helps keep everyone in the loop. What a blessing to have so many people who love us! Please don't stop reaching out, though, because it's what keeps us going.
Jason has also said that he wants his family and friends around him. We want to be surrounded by your love. That means we have an open door. If you want to stop by and visit and give him a hard time, he would love the extra ribbing. No coddling allowed! No scheduling is needed; send me a text on the day off to confirm we are around, and he feels up to it. I'll let you know when that changes, but for now, please visit.
We also understand that there is a long road ahead of us. We will trust God more than we ever have, pray fiercely, and lean on the amazing people God put together to support us.
Thank you to everyone for the continued prayers. We are spending our days right now working hard preparing Jason’s memorial service. Hope to hug each of you when we honor him on May 3rd.
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