When his pain began, Jon was working on his health by dieting and going for walks. The pain was distracting, but not overwhelming, so Jon brushed it off. In July, the pain became worrying. Coupled with a loss of appetite and the fact that Jon had lost 40 pounds in 6 months, Jon and his wife decided to make an appointment to investigate. A visit to the VA in Chippewa Falls revealed that Jon’s liver enzymes were alarmingly high. His local VA could not schedule him for a follow up appointment until September, so Jon and his wife made the first of many journeys to the Minneapolis VA emergency room, where their situation quickly became clear.
In early September 2023, Jon was diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer. His team of doctors acted quickly, establishing a treatment plan that included chemo and radiation, followed by surgery. In October and November, he received treatment at the Minneapolis VA five days per week. Jon and his wife considered booking a hotel room in Minneapolis for his treatment, but with Jon unemployed, the cost would have been too high for his long stay. A hotel also wouldn’t offer the flexibility to adjust their stay to accommodate any changes in his treatment schedule. Jon was ecstatic to be offered lodging at the Hope Lodge in Minneapolis, whose services he speaks highly of.
During his initial treatment, Jon was introduced to Angel Foundation™. The cost of cancer weighed heavily on him, and though he didn’t feel that his current financial situation was dire, he was concerned about all of the unknowns and long-term costs of his treatment. He would lay awake at night worrying, “What does our future look like? Will this bankrupt us?” Though Jon and his family were not in danger of losing their home, Jon said that receiving an Emergency Financial Assistance grant from Angel Foundation™ provided them tangible relief while they figured out their next steps.
To help ease his worries about the long-term financial impact of his cancer diagnosis, Jon also participated in Angel Foundation’s™ Financial Cancer Care program, which helps cancer patients manage their finances through free educational workshops and one-on-one meetings with a volunteer Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) trained to help with financial planning, taxes, insurance, estate planning, and retirement savings. Participating in our Financial Cancer Care program provided Jon with answers to some of the many unknowns and gave his family hope to move forward. Angel Foundation™ was also able to connect Jon to a pro bono attorney located closer to home to help him work toward the goals he identified through participating in the program.
When he had finally finished chemo and radiation, Jon headed home to rest up for surgery. In January 2024, Jon was happy to learn that he could be added to his wife’s insurance and receive his surgery and follow up care at Mayo Clinic. The 11-hour surgery to remove his cancerous growths was a success and after four weeks of tube feeding and another four rounds of immunotherapy, Jon was feeling optimistic about his potential outcome. He felt better and continued to lose weight and prioritize movement.
But in April of 2024, Jon’s world was rocked once again. A routine PET scan revealed that Jon’s cancer had come back and spread to his spine, liver, and stomach. As of September 2024, Jon is still receiving treatment for his cancer. He moves through each day with an inspiring amount of optimism. Jon shared that his community of support has been essential to his positive attitude.
When asked what advice Jon would share with other cancer patients going through a similar experience, Jon shared, “Take a deep breath. Treatments improve every year. The number one thing is to take care of yourself. It is impossible not to worry about the money side of things, but you need to rely on the people around you. Keep asking questions and you will find the resources you need.”
At Angel Foundation™, we know that cancer looks different for everyone. Jon’s story differs from many of the stories we share because he and his family were not on the brink of financial collapse when he contacted Angel Foundation™. But the reality of cancer is that even when patients have options, having this type of support can be critical.
When you make a gift to Angel Foundation this holiday season, you are ensuring that Angel Foundation™ can continue to say “yes, we can help” not just to cancer patients who find themselves in dire circumstances, but also to those who may fall into financial hardship if they don’t get the support and guidance they need. Thank you, we are so grateful for your support.
