Help Jason Fight Stage 4 Kidney Cancer | #SimonsStrong

Jason’s Story

Faith, Family, and Fighting for More Time

#SimonsStrong

My husband, Jason, is a devoted father of six, a son, a friend, a musician, and a man who loves God with all his heart. He is someone who has always put others before himself, never hesitating to help someone in need. Today, we find ourselves facing something we never imagined: Jason is fighting Stage 4 papillary renal cell carcinoma, a rare form of kidney cancer.

Jason and I recently celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary. Together, we have a beautiful blended family of six children. Over the years, our lives have been filled with school activities, college, graduations, weddings, family vacations, and so many wonderful memories. Our youngest is only 12 years old, and there are still so many milestones we want Jason to be here to experience.

One of the things I admire most about my husband is his heart for helping others.

When friends have found themselves without a job, Jason has stepped in to help them find work, whether that meant giving them an opportunity at his own company or connecting them with someone who could. Over the years, we have experienced the heartbreaking loss of three of his close friends. Each time, Jason was one of the first to step forward and help their widows and families in whatever way he could.

He has never done any of this for recognition or expected anything in return. It’s simply who he is.

Music is another huge part of Jason’s life. He plays bass, guitar, and piano, performs with his band, and uses his talents to serve God by playing music at church. We love spending time with family and friends, traveling, and making memories together. These are the simple things in life that mean the most to us.

Our world changed when Jason was diagnosed with Stage 4 papillary renal cell carcinoma.

Papillary renal cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 10–15% of kidney cancer cases. Because it is less common, treatment options for advanced disease are more limited than those for the more common forms of kidney cancer.

Jason has multiple tumors involving both kidneys, including a 12.4 cm (size of a softball) tumor in his left kidney and a 7.6 cm (size of a tennis ball) tumor in his right. The cancer has also spread to lymph nodes in his chest, where enlarged nodes have placed pressure on his airway and surrounding structures.

Hearing that the cancer had already spread was devastating. Suddenly, our days became filled with doctor appointments, treatments, difficult decisions, and an uncertainty we had never experienced before.

Jason has already begun immunotherapy and targeted treatment here in the United States. After extensive research, seeking guidance from specialists, and much prayer, we made the decision to pursue additional individualized immunotherapy at Immunocine Cancer Center in Mexico, where Jason has been accepted for treatment.

The treatment program costs approximately $120,000 plus traveling expenses, a tremendous financial burden for our family. We understand that no treatment comes with guarantees, but we are hopeful that this may provide another opportunity in Jason’s fight.

Through all of this, our faith in God has been our foundation. We believe in the power of prayer, and even when we don’t understand the circumstances, we continue trusting His plan.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

One of the most humbling parts of this journey has been watching people step forward to help a man who has spent so much of his life helping others.

For years, Jason has been the person people could depend on when life became difficult. Now, the man who has always been there for others needs someone to be there for him.

We aren’t asking for help to fund a luxury or an experience. We are asking for help to give my husband more anniversaries with me, more years with our children, and more memories with the people who love him.

I want Jason to be here for the Matthews high school graduation, future weddings, and grandchildren. I want him to watch our youngest grow into a man. I want to hear him playing music at church, see him doing what he loves, and continue building the life we planned together.

I want more holidays around the table, more laughter in our home, more family vacations, and more ordinary mornings together.

There is still so much life we want to live.

The love, prayers, donations, and generosity we have received from family, friends, and even complete strangers have been overwhelming. Every donation and every person who shares our fundraiser helps bring us closer to making this treatment possible.

I cannot put into words how much your kindness has meant to our family. We are forever grateful.

We know our future rests in God’s hands, and we are trusting Him to guide us through every step of this journey.

We are holding on to faith, fighting with hope, and believing that Jason’s story is far from over.

With love and gratitude,

Amy Simons

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” — Romans 12:12

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