Jay’s Story

Site created on November 16, 2023

A few months back jay started experiencing numbness in his fingers taking us to the ER to get some clarity of what was going on. After several CTs they ruled out anything “dangerous” and sent us on our way. Several weeks later the numbness spread to his chest, stomach and eventually down to his leg and foot (all being on the left side). After speaking with his PCP we had several test ran. One of which was an MRI on his brain. They found a tumor covered by a cystic mass full of fluid on his brain stem. We are now at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL for the top team in the nation to preform surgery to drain the cyst and attempt to remove the tumor. (11/16/23 note has more info on the exact extraction and care process).

We are not ones to ask for help, but this has taken us by a landslide we were not expecting. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. We’re also asking if you feel the need to donate to please send it directly to the below listed sources. We have set up a separate checking account for medical needs and housing needs around the procedures for Jay, Emily, the kids and the rest of the family as they come in and out to visit with us. We cannot thank you enough for all the prayers and text/calls we have already received. We fill all of your love in so many ways.

Venmo: @emilywingard
Cashapp: $emwingard
PayPal: @jameswingard1 
GoFundMe: link posted to site   
*Of course cash and checks are appreciated also to the family and they can take care of applying it to the account if we are already out of town*

Newest Update

Journal entry by emily wingard

Today is the day we’ve been waiting for. Jay just had his LAST radiation treatment and we’re heading home! 

 We spoke to his neuro-oncologists this morning and he said everything is looking the way it should thus far. He wants Jay to come back in 3 months for a spinal MRI and another brain MRI to take a look at how the tumor is responding to treatment and to check on Jay’s symptoms he is still having from the tumor. 

 His radiation oncologist is scheduling out a 4 week MRI to get a good look on how the radiation has treated to this point and that will be the “overview” for a 3 month scan to see if it’s working. Unfortunately we will not know for sure until 3-6 months down the road what the results from radiation will be; we are hoping for the best! 

Jay had an MRI last Friday (follow up post-op to ensure all the swelling had decreased), that turned out great. The cyst on the tumor had decreased in size of which we’re hoping this is already a sign radiation is working! 

Keep us in your prayers and especially Jay for the next few weeks as he has been told the symptoms of radiation will more than likely get a little worse once it’s complete. The next two-four weeks of rest are critical to ensure he doesn’t end up sick or his symptoms rising. 

We appreciate all of your prayers, support, thoughts and so many kind words through this process. We could not have made this happen without all of you. A huge thank you to my grandmother (Memaw) who has kept our kids every single night that we have been gone and taken them to school every morning. My mom (Donna) and Jay’s parents (Susan &Warren) for charting Korbin off to whatever baseball practice/lesson that day led to (four nights a week might I add). We are so thankful and blessed to have you guys. 
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