Jonathon Updates

Recently Jon, his sister Amanda and Mom went skydiving!  What fun!  Kids wish donated the experience or Jon’s wish and Damons played his skydiving experience on the big screen!  It was all truly amazing, Jon has come a long way from last year!  Moving forward!

This Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 we will be at Relay for Life.  It is being held at Lancaster Catholic High School track.  Our team name is Sangrey Strength!  This is our first experience with relay and we are looking forward to it!  Everyone and anyone is invited to come!  There will be ongoing music and activities from Friday 6pm to Saturday 6pm..yes 24 hours of fun!

Thank you for your continued support and prayers, Jon’s next mri is scheduled for July.

Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts!  Jon’s MRI this month was good!!!  He will have the next one in three months.  His face is healing nicely from his Jan. surgery and his hair is growing in, quite curly!  His classes at HACC are going well. He continues to go to the gym to workout!

Today Jon received his 2007 Hempfield High School diploma!!!  He was very surprised to see many of his past teachers, coaches and supporters!  Thank you to all for making this special for him!  Your support and prayers are what keeps him moving forward and he holds a special place for each of you! 

Jon was able to walk with his class in commencement last June but he was working on finishing his credits.  Due to his many obstacles or “bumps in the road”, as he would call them, Jon finished his credits for completion of the requirements through an on-line schooling.  We are proud of Jon’s accomplishments!

The Sangrey Strength Relay for Life Team thanks all of you who are supporting the fight for life! 

It has been six weeks since Jon’s surgery and he is healing nicely!  Last week he went back to the gym to start working out!  School is going well and soon it will already be Spring Break!  Time goes by so quickly!

Jon’s last MRI was clear!!!  So Awesome!

We traveled to Penn State for THON!   It was so awesome to be there and for Jon to be feeling good to enjoy it.  They raised over 6 million dollars, unbelievable.  THANK YOU!  Our dancers Jill and Lauren seemed to be holding up well and we hope you have recovered.  We spent time with Ashley and many of Jon’s Penn State friends.

We have decided to put together a Relay for Life team in Jon’s honor.  The team name is Sangrey Strength!  If you would like to help out in any way we would love and welcome your support!  He has shown great strength through his journey to battle cancer and we would like to help raise money to continue the fight against cancer!  The date is June 6 and 7.  The relay is held at Lancaster Catholic High School.  You can email us at josang817@aol.com

We are in the process of having t-shirts made.  The front will have Sangrey Strength Crushing Cancer and the back will be business logo’s and company names of those who donate $50 or more.  We would also like to recognize and honor friends and loved ones who have battled cancer for a donation of $10.

When I look back over the past year and a half I am awed by the compassion, comfort, prayers and strength that so many of you have shown our family.  It is through you and the strength of God that has Jon moving forward!

Jon had the 7 12 nerve graft surgery on Monday, Jan. 21!  Dr. Fedok grafted Jon’s 12 th and 7 th nerve to restore movement to his face on the right side.  The surgery took 5 hours and Dr. Fedok commented that the surgery went well.  He loves his work and for that we are grateful!  Jon looks good!  He can swallow and his speech is clear (of course my worries)!  He came home yesterday and we are heading back up to Hershey to have his drain removed.  Thank you for your prayers and support, stop in and say hi or send a comment!

Jon’s surgery to remove his port went very well on Friday, Nov. 30th!    He is recovering nicely but is very tired and bored!  That was the finale of his chemotherapy treatment!!!!  

The EMG of his face went well.  Jon is so brave, he never once commented that the test was uncomfortable in anyway until we were walking out he said, “Oh, I feel like someone punched me in the jaw!”  Tuesday he has a follow up visit with his ENT and oncologist.

Several of Jon’s Adopt-a-School friends stopped in for a very nice visit.  They are from the Penn State group associated with Four Diamonds who have adopted our family.  We are so fortunate to have such great support from them!

He enjoys visits from those of you who have stopped in to see him at work!

Thank you for your continued prayers and concern.

Thank you everyone for your faith and support!  Jon had his last chemotherapy on Nov. 6.  He is starting to feel better.  This last round was probably the worst for him,  but he is looking much better!!!!  They have scheduled surgery for his port removal on Friday he 30th of this month.  He can’t wait!  He would have had it out immediately after his last iv push of chemo.  Jon has been lifting weights at the gym and not been able to bench the whole way to his chest because the port is raised about an inch and a half. 

Last week  Jon visited an otolarynology doctor (ear, nose and throat) at Hershey.  He suggested a  procedure called  the 7th and 12th nerve.  As many of you know Jon has palsy on the right side of his face.  Previously he had an awesome smile and would like to have his smile back!  He and all of us miss it!!!!  He still looks extremely handsome now but the doctor has had great success with this surgery.  The 12th nerve is the tongue nerve which would be removed and replace the 7th nerve.  It is amazing what the doc’s can do!  He is scheduled for an emg on Dec. 11, to measure his muscle movement of his face.

Jon has been working at Banana Republic and enjoying the social aspect of seeing many faces!!!!  He amazes me, even though he doesn’t always feel so great he goes to work!  He has started his class at HACC and enjoying it very much.

Last evening (Sunday) Jon and a few friends went bowling in Harrisburg with others from THON.  Jenna, a chair person from THON of Penn State, put together a fun evening with other teens and captains.  A fun time was had by all and it was great to meet everyone!  Many of the Penn State students involved with THON will be “canning” at the mall and other stores and locations.  Before last year I was unsure of who these college students were with there cans outside in the bitter cold asking for donations.  They are the ones working hard to raise money for The Four Diamonds Fund.  The Four DiamondsFund helps with many expenses for those treated with cancer at the pediatric oncology clinic at Hershey Medical Center and to help find a cure for cancer. We are THANKFUL to those who work So hard!  It amazes me how they find the time and energy to go to class, plan activities, raise money and meet with families.  So if you see students with cans on the corner or at the store they are helping so many, help them raise money to meet their goal for THON ‘08 in February.

Congratulations to the Hempfield Midget Football teams, what a great season!

Last Thursday we shared a bit of Jon’s story with the students who attended The Good News club at LPC.  I was quite touched by the young children who pray to God for Jon’s health and wellbeing.  They had so many great questions and comments I could see why Jon has enjoyed working with them!

Jon and all of his family are looking forward to EATING a huge Thanksgiving dinner!  We wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving.  Stop in and say hi!

    Jon has spent the last two days in the clinic at Hershey receiving his chemotherapy.  He is not feeling so well today and looks forward to feeling better!  Next week he will receive what is considered an IV push.   Yesterday and today he received IV drips all day and he is now finished with the very toxic chemo.  Jon enjoyed seeing many people dressed up for Halloween!

   Yesterday in clinic we had a very special visit from Woody Wolfe!  He played the guitar and the ukulele to songs that he has composed and those of other artists.  What a great treat!

     Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers!

Jon has been hired to work part time at the Banana Republic which is to open next week at the Park City Mall!!!!  He started yesterday with orientation and will be working to get the store ready for opening day.  He is excited and looking forward to this new adventure!

Jon had a visit with Dr. B today.  He commented that his scan looked good!  There is a small spot that has been there, unchanged since surgery, that he will continue to keep an eye on but nothing to worry about!  His next MRI of the spine and head will be in February.  Dr. B was very impressed with how well Jon looks and is doing!!!!! 

We thank you for your continued prayers, words of wisdom and support!!! 

Jon had his MRI scan yesterday.  Dr. Sheehan informed us that the scan looks GOOD and he will see him in 4 months.  He is referring Jon to a plastic surgeon to discuss his facial palsy.  Jon has an appointment with Dr. B, his radiation oncologist to discuss his MRI.

Jon started his anatomy class last evening at HACC.  HE really enjoyed being back in class.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!!!!!