Sturm Family Website

In June 2003, Jared had emergency surgery to remove a tumor from his spine. It was benign but it was very large, complicated and nasty. The surgery was 16 hours long. He regained some excellent movement in his legs as well as some sensation but he sustained some serious damage to his nerves resulting in loss of sensation. A short time later, Jared had to return to surgery to remove the remains of the first tumor. His tumor caused a loss of sensation from the base of his spine downward. Lacking nerve connections, Jared entered into a variety of treatments and physical therapy, learning to walk without sensation. Because he was in such good shape prior to, and worked so hart after the surgery, he recovered relatively quickly. The outlook was good. He was planning to return to Alfred University and resume work toward his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics. Then at the beginning of February 2004, Jared suffered a relapse. Again a tumor attacked his spine and spread to the sheath of his brain. The tumor had turned malignant.In November of 2004, Jared underwent a type of stem cell therapy in which stem cells are harvested from his own bone marrow. Following more chemotherapy the stem cells were transplanted back into Jared's system. Jared then underwent a period in virtual isolation until his immune system recovered, in the hospital for about 5 weeks and then home quarantine for 3-6 months. I believe he was home in time for Hannukah. In February 2005, Jared began to have headaches again and it was discovered that the tumors had recurred. They are small but serious and causing some problems. He began a new cycle of 18 rounds of chemotherapy. Then, early March after 2 of the 18 rounds, Jared began to show signs of extreme fatigue, blurry vision, more head and neck pain, and general discomfort. He was having trouble waking up in the morning and taking a long time to get out of bed. After more tests and an MRI the diagnosis was that he was having a reaction to a combination of an overdose of pain medication and the sedative effects of a couple of the chemotherapy drugs. The scans showed no progression of the disease over the past 6 weeks. His doctors concluded that the pressure on Jared's optic nerve is not a tumor, a disease, or an infection, but likely scar tissue on his optic nerve. As of August of this year, Jared's most recent MRI was excellent with the results being improved over the previous one. He is still under treatment but the intensity is a bit less thus the side effects are not as troublesome. Jared continues to work so hard at his physical therapy and is now going for sessions 4 times a week at two different facilities. The days he is not in formal PT he is doing exercise at home. He is in the water once a week and being back with aqua therapy has been so wonderful. It has been over a year since Jared has been able to ride his bicycle on his training stand. Yesterday he rode a 3 wheeled recumbant bicycle outside for the first time. It was very difficult and frustrating but he was able to do it with limited success. Things are improving.

Please keep Jared and his family in your thoughts and prayers. I can think of no one stronger, tougher, or more amazing to me than Jared.

Steve and his younger son, Adam, recently took part in the 26th annual Pan Mass challenge, a bike-a-thon to raise money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Below is a link to a very touching news story about the Branfmans. Keep a box of Kleenex nearby as you watch it. You may also make a donation from the website listed below. The link is right above the news story about the Branfmans.