JOHN CASPER

JOHN CASPER: A SON, A BROTHER, A HUSBAND, A FATHER, AND SO MUCH MORE. EVERYONE THAT IS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE CROSSED PATHS WITH JOHN KNOWS THAT HE IS THE MOST LOVING, RESPECTFUL, AND UPLIFTING MAN. A COUPLE YEARS AGO, JOHN FELT A LUMP UNDER HIS RIGHT EAR AND DECIDED TO SEEK HELP FROM A DOCTOR. THE DOCTOR DIAGNOSED JOHN WITH A RARE FORM OF CANCER. DURING THE SURGERY TO REMOVE THE CANCEROUS LUMP THE DOCTORS HAD TO REMOVE HIS MAIN FACIAL NERVE. WHICH LEFT JOHNS RIGHT SIDE OF HIS FACE PARALYZED. AS IF THIS WASN'T ENOUGH OF A PREDICAMENT TO SUCH A YOUNG MAN, ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED. AFTER A ROUTINE SCAN WAS SKIPPED, AND TWO YEARS HAD ALREADY PASSED, MORE CANCER WAS FOUND; BUT THIS TIME NOT UNDER HIS EAR. THE CANCER HAD SPREAD TO HIS LUNGS AND CHANCES OF HIM GETTING TREATMENT ARE VERY LOW. I LOVE MY BROTHER IN-LAW, AND HIS LIFE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME. AS IS ALL LIFE. PLEASE HELP JOHN END THIS JOURNEY OF PAIN, SORROW, AND AGONY WITH A SMALL DONATION SO THAT HE CAN BEGIN A NEW JOURNEY FULL OF BLISS, JOY, AND EXHILARATION.

THANK YOU!!!

BRECK BOWEN

My sister Breck and her kids

Julito and Vanessa

How you can help!!

*I am John's oldest sister Clarissa, I am publishing this post on behalf of my brother because he needs your help. My brother is a great person, not just because I am his sister, but because he really is. He is the first person to help anyone who needs it. He is kind and sympathetic of other people and their situations. He is the kind of brother that makes you glad you have a brother. He always calls my kids on their birthdays and if we aren't together he always calls on holidays to see how everyone is doing.

John is a great father, his girls are so in love with him. They are always climbing on him and teasing him and he is always there making them laugh or helping them tie their shoes or put on their coats or whatever they need. He will sit and hold them when their sick and piggy back with them when they are playing. John is never too busy to be a dad.

John is a great husband and he loves his wife. He helps Tressa with the girls and the house. He works full time and is going to school. He loves to be with Tressa just hanging out, watching movies, playing basketball or tennis. They are always laughing and having so much fun.
He is a great person going through a terrible thing. Please, if you are able, help him and his family. He would be so grateful for any help you can give.

John has been diagnosed with a rare cancer. Rare enough that several of doctors have denied him treatments. There is one doctor that says that he may be able to give him help but John's insurance company may not cover the tumor blockers. The insurance needs some proof that the medication will work, and there is none with John's cancer because they don't have enough patients with his cancer to do research on.

Another option John has is to do a natural treatment with Chemo with a doctor in Reno, NV. The treatment there is very expensive and is not covered at all. Either choice John makes, they are both going to be out of pocket. I know it's a lot to ask but if you could just help my brother, I believe it will be worth it. He wants to try everything. If he went by what the doctors told him, he would be sent home to die. As long as he is trying everything he can, that's all he can do. It's too bad that money is an issue here for such a great guy.

Love,
Clarissa

John's nephews and niece. 2003
Jacob, Erika, Shawn

*I don't think any of us know how we would react faced with our own mortality, until we are. John has faced that fear with strength, courage, and determination- not only once, but twice now. I am so impressed with the man that John has grown to be. The love and dedication he shows for his wife and daughters. The loyal friend that he has been to so many. The giving and caring son he is to our mother. I am so grateful that I have such a caring and thoughtful brother in my life and I am so proud to be his sister.

Much love, Jen

John's family, Jen, Ruthie, Missi, Clarissa

*As I began writing about John many thoughts were streaming through my head. John, A 24yr old kid. My brother and friend. Kind, gentle, soft-spoken, thoughtful, smart (almost genius). But, most importantly what kept coming back,was that he is a husband and father. A wonderful father to Shay (5) and Roxy (3). Two beautiful girls who love and adore their dad.

When I think about John having Stage 4 cancer and possibly losing him the thoughts are unbearable. Every treatment for cancer is expensive. For John the treatments he needs (because of expenses) are out of reach. With the help of family and friends, and anyone willing it doesn't have to be.

John needs our help now- urgency is key. Any donation possible would benefit John and his family greatly. Thank-you and God Bless for helping in anyway that you can.

Missi

*This is a tough situation because I hate to ask for anything, especially money! The difference here is the love for my husband. Just the thoughts that I may not have him soon because of cancer are unbearable. It's hard to imagine my life without him, to take care of our girls without him. Of course I have thought about it, like what about my little Shay with special needs who loves her Dad more than anyone in the world. I worry about her more than myself! What will she do without her Dad??

(John and Shay the day we were all sealed together) Logan, UT 2005

I keep saying I am terrified and these are some of the reasons why. What do I do?? What can I do?? I have to stay positive for John and keep pushing him to try his best. I know that he is my eternal companion, what would I do without that knowledge? That is what keeps me sane!! I love this guy, my John so much!! Please help him, please help me, please help my girls, because we need our John! Anything helps! We love you and thank you all!!!

Humbly,
Tressa

Marsh Valley High graduation 2003

Introducing......

So I just thought about it, what if a stranger read John's blog, they wouldn't know what his family looked like. So here we are, all together the Casper family..............Shayanne (5), John, Tressa, Roxy(3)

Thank you all so much!!!!

Since we found out about John's cancer, we have had loads of support!! It's so amazing how our family and friends have been there through all of this.

John's sister Jen and her family came down right away once we found out. We had a good time with them! We went to Ikea and the boys went downtown. Thank you guys for your concerns and support!

(The Hall family, we both forgot to take pictures, Dang!)

Then John's Mom Ruthie came down and stayed for a week. She helped a lot with the girls, while we went to appointments. Thank you so much Ruthie for watching the kids when I didn't feel like it!!(Roxy and Ruthie)

Then John's sister Clarissa came down and we celebrated Erika's 9th Birthday. Thank you for coming down here, so we didn't have to go up there. :) I hope Erika had a good Birthday! I thought it was fun! Swimming at the hotel was fun too! Thank you for taking our mind of things for a while!(Shay, Shawn, Jacob, Roxy, Erika)

Then John's other sister Missy and her family came down too. We hung out and tried some fun juices for John. Then we went downtown to the Gateway and had a good time! Thank you for coming down, it was great getting the kids together too!

This past week my Mom came from Washington. She showed me tons of recipe's that I would have never known. She just went along with whatever we were doing. She worked all day and stayed up late to chat with me. It was nice having her here since I hardly get to see her. Thank you Mom for doing the many dishes and loads of laundry because I am so sick of doing them! :)

(Suzy is going to hate this pic, but it's the only one I took of her)

Thank you to my ward for all the meals you have brought and for the blessings and fasts that you did!!! Thank you for the flowers and prayers and phone calls!!! I love the ward and we are lucky to have all of you in our lives!

Thank you to John's Dad Lorin, who has sent up from Nevada tons of letters and things to help out with John's diet! Thank you for your ideas, calls, prayers, and support too!

Thank you to Travis and Megan for having us over and making John laugh, and for baby sitting the other night. The girls had fun! Thank you for being there for us!!

Thank you to everyone for the groceries!!!! For the recipe's!! For the ideas!! for the Prayers!!! Thank you for all the worry, prayers, good thoughts, and love that you have given to us!!! I can't even explain how much it means!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

John the Pilot!

My mom's husband Mike and his friend from work set up a airplane ride for John. My Mom told me before hand and told me not to tell John, that it was a surprise! I was soooo excited for him. I knew he would love it! So the next week when Glen called and left a message, John told me and kept telling me how nice it was of Mike to set this up for him.

So the next week we got a call from Glen, we headed down to Bountiful to meet this wonderful pilot who was going to take John up. Shay and I came along to take pictures of course. My Mom was watching Roxy. When we got to the hanger to see the plane, Glen asked if Shay and I would like to go too! OH BOY was I excited!! I was trying to play it cool, but I was so glad he asked!

We get there to see the plane and we got to meet Glen's lovely wife Loretta. They were so cute and fun to meet. A friend of theirs, Doug was there as well to take pictures. He was fun too! They were great people and I am so grateful to have met them!!

We looked around the hanger a while and chatted for a few. Glen built his own plane, and we thought that was pretty cool! So we climbed aboard his bonanza airplane. He was a great pilot, we had no fears! We all had our own headsets, even Shay.

John got to fly the plane for like 10 minutes. I could tell he was nervous, he kept asking Glen if he wanted to take it back. I was laughing and asked him if he was nervous and he said "YES", Glen kept him calm and he flew a couple minutes longer. I was so proud of my 10 minute pilot John!

We all had such a awesome time! Words can't express how much fun we had and how amazing it was for them to give us this opportunity of a lifetime! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making my husband John smile so big!!!

Results

What a relief!! We got John's body scan results back. The Doctor told us that the cancer is only in his lungs. We are so relieved and glad that it has not spread. Which probably means that his cancer may be slow growing. We don't know for sure yet, but will find out soon.
The next step is a CT Scan next month to check on the status of his tumors.