Inspirational Stories

I'm Jason, and I am 38 years old. Early last year I was very sick. I had a fever that would not go away for over three months. Every day I broke 103 degrees, and at least six times I hit 106 degrees. I was getting bloodwork after bloodwork done, seeing doctor after doctor when finally, I met my oncologist, and he did a bone marrow biopsy. He called me the next week and told me I had stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and we needed to start tests immediately so we could expedite my chemo treatment. This was obviously a shock, but I was calm and just looked at my family when I broke the news and said, "Don't worry, we will figure this out, and we will get through this!"

Tests were started, and five days after my diagnosis, I was given a call and told I needed to rush to the hospital now, and a couple of hours later I had total organ failure. I don't remember the next five days at all, but the next day, they gave me emergency chemo, and that saved my life. I finally came to become more coherent and spent almost three weeks at the hospital trying to bring my white blood cells up that were at zero. I did whatever I could to force food down and get stronger. Eventually, I was let out and allowed to go home at 137 pounds from a previous 172 pounds and continue this journey.

I kept myself secluded for the next six months as I continued to get the heaviest chemo treatments they had. I had cancer in my liver, my kidneys, my bone marrow, and lymph nodes all over my chest and neck. I did everything possible that my doctor said would help, and after 12 of the heaviest chemo treatments that exist, I am here now cancer-free and living my life!

Last year I went to Light The Night (LTN) right before my twelfth chemo treatment. I went there for inspiration and strength! This year I'm going back tonight, walking as a cancer-free survivor!

I am super blessed to be alive. I had stage 4 cancer. I did everything I could possibly think of to fight this! Most of all, I kept my mindset from before of always being positive, always appreciating every day, and never giving up! Two days after being told I was cancer-free, I did the Turkey Trot to celebrate. Two weeks after I ran two Spartan Races! I survived and thrived! Since then, in this last past year, I have done five Spartan Races, six HYROX competitions, and multiple other events. I'm here to show that not only can you survive, but you can also thrive. Anything is possible with enough faith and perseverance!