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  • February 6, 2009 04:31 PM EST by Brian Sullivan

    Life In Perspective: My Best Friend's Battle With Cancer

    I try to keep this blog strictly to work related topics.   Personal life is one thing, work another.  But I feel compelled to relay the story of my best friend and ask you to keep him in your thoughts.

    Many of you may have seen the Fox Business segment "My Hometown" where I traveled to Winchester, Virginia and reported on local stories.   One of those segments introduced you to my best friend, Jason Dowell.  Jason is one of the first people I met after moving from California, and as an only child he is the closest thing I have to a brother.

    Two years ago Jason's life took a dramatic turn.   He began to have seizures and soon tests confirmed the diagnosis of brain cancer.    He has a form called glioblastoma multiforme [GBM].    After more than a year of multiple tests, biopsies, chemo and a cocktail of experimental drugs, things got better.   When you met him back in November, tests showed the cancer had disappeared.    Sadly, the good news did not last.   He began having seizures again in December.    Today he went back to UVA Medical Center for another MRI and it confirmed the cancer is back.

    Throughout this, Jason has kept remarkably upbeat.   He has a wonderful wife, Michelle, and three young kids who have given them all they have in support.  He also has a strong faith in God.   Together they continue to fight this battle against a horrible disease.

    Jason is also an embodiment of some of the issues with American health care.   As a self-employed cabinetmaker, he lacks sufficient insurance.   Financially this has been nearly devastating on his family.   Making the mortgage can be a struggle.   With drug costs in the tens of thousands, he is lucky enough to be accepted into a clinical trial for an experimental drug, BIBW 2992, made by pharmaceutical firm Boehringer Ingelheim.

    So today begins a third round of battle.   Jason and Michelle's struggle has been an inspiration for me and many we know, and it really puts life into perspective.

    His family has created a blog on CaringBridge.com to detail their fight.   Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

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DJ Johnson

God bless Jason. I will pray for him.

February 9, 2009 at 12:18 pm

Brent

Mr. Sullivan, I am saddened to read about your friend, but hopeful the experimental drug he has been fortunate enough to receive works for him, as well as others as fortunate as him to receive it. Jason and his family will be in my prayers. I also hope and pray if Boehringer Ingelheim's drug is successful, they don't have to go through the same shenanigans as Dendreon, and their experimental immunotherapy, Provenge. Best, Brent

February 7, 2009 at 11:03 am

Jonathan Stilley

Hi Brian, tough day for you. Sorry to hear about your friend. We'll keep him in our thoughts and prayers.

February 6, 2009 at 11:43 pm

Nathania

Thank you for sharing this. My dad had brain cancer and unfortunately lost his battle at an all-too-early age of 66. It's something I never got over. I spent many hours taking him to treatments and visiting him in the hospital. He was very stubborn and never believed he would die even when there was nothing they could do. Of course, now he's in a better place, but oh how badly I wish he was here to spend time with his grandchildren. Every time I hear about someone else going through brain cancer (last year's American Idol David Cook's brother is battling it too), it strikes an obvious chord with me. I sincerely and deeply hope the drug is successful for your friend. I'll be checking out his blog, for sure.

February 6, 2009 at 6:30 pm

about this blog

  • Brian Sullivan joined FOX Business Network (FBN) in April 2008 as an anchor. He co-anchors the 10am-12pm ET hours of the FOX Business block. Prior to joining FBN, Sullivan served as an anchor for Bloomberg Television where he hosted the programs Morning Call and In Focus.

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