Inspirational Stories

Jon was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) unexpectedly on November 4, 2023, and has been receiving inpatient treatment at Sharp Memorial Hospital in his new hometown of San Diego ever since. The care is excellent but extremely expensive. 

Jon got COVID on his birthday, August 24, and his condition deteriorated over the following several months. He thought he had tonsillitis at worst, and imagine his surprise when the cancer diagnosis was given to him. Due to his dedication to CrossFit Yoga and meditation, Jon came into this strong and hopes to come out of this even stronger. He needs all of our help to beat this, and we know that you are here to support him.

Jon’s cancer begins in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of certain bones where new blood cells are made) but quickly moves into the blood. AML occurs when immature myeloid cells inside the bone marrow begin growing out of control. It can sometimes spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testicles. The overall five-year relative survival rate for AML is 29.8%. However, the outlook for each person will depend on their age, health, the specific genetic mutations present in the leukemia cells, and other factors.