25 Mile Race to raise funds for cancer!

Marissa will be participating in a 25 mile bike race in memory of Jason in order to raise money for a cancer support group. The efforts of Breakingaway provide valuable services and programs, free of charge, to help people living with cancer to live well with the disease. Please visit the website and donate whatever you can, even $5 makes a difference! Please honor Jason and help others who are facing the biggest battle of their lives.
Thank you!!!

http://www.active.com/donate/breakawaysf2009/drouillard

Potluck for Jason's Celebration of Life

Several people have offered to bring food for Jason's Celebration of Life. Please don't feel you have to bring anything, but if you would like to bring something to share and it's convenient for you, we thought we would let people post to this blog what they're bringing. This will help avoid duplications. Someone has already volunteered to bring some meat/cheese/cracker trays.
Thank you.

Celebration of Jason's Life/RSVP

Jason’s Celebration of Life will take place Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 4 pm. The remembrance will take place at the VFW Hall, located at 299 I St., Chula Vista, on the North East corner of Third Ave. and I St. It is a large white building with steps up into the hall.

Parking at the VFW Hall is limited. You may want to park across Third Avenue in the public lot behind the County Building. Directions are below.

As this is a celebration of his life, and not a funeral, we would prefer dressy casual attire. Also, knowing Jason, he would prefer if people did not wear black. There will be alcohol available, so you may want to plan on getting a taxi, arrange hotel accommodations, or designate a driver if you plan on drinking.

For planning purposes, we would like to know approximately how many friends and family will be attending. Please respond to this blog with your RSVP and include the number of guests you will be bringing.

Directions to the VFW Hall for Jason’s Celebration of His Life:

From the 805
To get to the VFW from the 805 take the H St. West exit. Turn Left on Third Ave. (fourth light). At the next light (I St,) turn right and then right into the public parking lot.

From the 5
To get to the VFW from the 5 take the H St. exit turning left(east) toward downtown.. Turn Right on Third Ave. At the next light (I St,) turn right and then right into the public parking lot.

Jason's Obituary

Jason’s obituary will be in the Union Tribune on Wednesday, January 21, 2009. For those friends and family out of town, his obituary is included in this post.





Jason Matthew Jensen, age 33, of San Diego died Sunday, January 11, 2009, in Houston, Texas where he had been undergoing treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center since August. He carried himself with a quiet dignity despite the discomfort of his cancer. He showed strength of character that most men can only dream of. Throughout his care he never once lost his high spirits and inspired all around him with his optimism and love of life.

Born June 26, 1975 in Millington, Tennessee, he was the son of Marjorie and Terry Jensen. He grew up in Chula Vista, California, graduating from Hilltop High School, class of 1993. In school he was very involved with both concert and marching bands. He later attended Humboldt State University.

From an early age he loved computers. This led to a career at Goodrich Aerostructures in Chula Vista as a Systems Administrator. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Phoenix in 2004.

With his wife Debby, he enjoyed traveling, hiking, video games and spending time with friends. They were also avid movie goers. He was also a long time vegetarian and passionate about animal rights.

Preceded in death by his grandparents, Thelma and Ray Jensen of Chula Vista and Ruth and Alvin (Biff) Schneider of Dover, Ohio, and his aunt, Paula Becerra, Jason is survived by Deborah Stradley Jensen, the love of his life, whom he wed on November 6, 2004, his cat Pita, and his loving mother and father.

A Celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 4:00 PM in the VFW Hall at 299 ‘I’ Street (Third and I) in Chula Vista.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Jason to a favorite cancer charity; or to help offset medical expenses, donations may be made to the Jason Jensen Memorial Fund at North Island Credit Union, 3950 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA. 92117, account number 116939319.

Jason Jensen Memorial Fund

Family and friends who wish to make a donation to the Jason Jensen Memorial Fund, please mail checks to the following North Island Credit Union branch address:

North Island Credit Union

3950 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92117

 

Please make checks payable to:  Jason Jensen Memorial Fund

and include the account number in the memo:  116939319

For anyone wishing to donate in person, you may do so at any North Island Credit Union location.

If you have any questions, please email me at:

beckystradley@yahoo.com

Celebration of Life for Jason

We would like to thank everyone for the kind words they have posted on the blog about Jason. We love to hear how much he meant to each of you and how much he will be missed. We feel the same way…we feel empty inside without him and this loss is going to have a profound effect on us all for the rest of our lives. He was the love of my life and my soul mate…and now he will take on a new role as my angel. He will look after me, his mom and dad, and everyone that he cared so deeply for during his short but amazing life.

It looks like we will be holding his Celebration of Life ceremony on February 1 at 4 pm. This is Super Bowl Sunday, but frankly we don’t have a lot of options because the facility we would like to use is very busy, so all I can tell you is to set up the DVR so you won’t miss the game. Jason was never a huge football fan so I know it wouldn’t bother him to throw his party on this day.

We would like to put together a video montage for the funeral and we would like to ask everyone that has pictures, either digital or hard copies, that we might not have, to send them our way ASAP. We really need to get these by this weekend because the company needs them quickly in order to get the montage done in time. So please either email or mail them to us (disc or hard copies are fine).

Please use the following address:

Terry Jensen
125 Mankato St.
Chula Vista, CA 91910
greatdane48@gmail.com

In lieu of flowers, my sister Becky is starting a Jason Jensen Memorial Fund to help offset medical expenses and funeral costs. Jason has put three years of blood, sweat and tears into the renovation of our condo and I treasure it so much because of all the fond memories and good times we had together there, so I am putting my best effort into not losing it because of outstanding medical debt. His Memorial Fund will be set up at North Island Credit Union and donations can be mailed or dropped off. Becky should have the account set up by Saturday. She will post the address and details on the blog. An alternative option is to donate to your favorite cancer charity in honor of our beloved Jason. We have also written an obituary and we will let you know when it is to be printed in the Union Tribune so you can get yourself a copy.

Sending my love to you all,
Debby

We Lost Our Dear Jason

It is with heartbreaking sorrow we report that Jason passed away peacefully early Sunday morning. Family members were at his bedside. Words cannot describe the grief and sadness we feel at losing such a wonderful husband, son, and dear friend.

A celebration of his life will be scheduled at a later date. The family will return to San Diego when arrangements are completed here in Houston. Please help us notify friends, relatives, and colleagues of Jason's passing. The family asks that any flowers or donation requests wait until they return to San Diego. Funeral information will be posted here and through phone trees.

Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers and support we have received.

The Jensen Family

Hospice Care

This is Debby's Dad, Joe, posting again. The latest PET scan Jason underwent Thursday morning indicated his melanoma has become very aggressive and widespread. His condition has worsened fairly rapidly during the past week, and unfortunately, the treatment efforts have been unsuccessful in slowing his disease. Debby, Marjorie, and I were in a long consultation with two of Jason's oncologists Thursday afternoon. He does not have the stamina for the T-cell intervention. Further treatment options were discussed and Jason was to start additional radiation and an MRI on Friday. Thursday was a very rough day emotionally for the whole family.

Thursday night Jason's coughing became much worse and he had ongoing breathing difficulty. Debby woke us and we took him to the ER at 5:00 a.m. He was given oxygen and chest x-rays. Jason has become too weak to tolerate any more chemotherapy. His tumor load has expanded to a fatal level. His condition is too fragile to travel back to San Diego at this time. Jason has returned to the town home to begin Hospice care with the family. A program called Odyssey Hospice care is providing nursing services and medical equipment. Jason's Dad and Debby's Mom flew in from San Diego Friday night to be with us. Debby's sister and brother-in-law, Becky and Stephen, are flying in today. Jason is surrounded by his loving family.
Please keep Jason and the family in your prayers. God bless you all for the support! - Joe

Jason says to tell everyone that he loves and misses them. We can't thank everyone enough for their encouraging posts, packages, emails and letters during Jason's difficult battle. - Debby

With A Quiet Dignity

This is Debby's Dad posting some observations on the blog today. Jason tells me there are over 45,000 people working at the various MD Anderson Cancer Center complexes in Houston. I'm sure he has met several hundred of them already. As I watch Jason go to different clinics, labs, and exam rooms, he carries himself with a quiet dignity despite the discomfort of his cancer. He shows a strength of character that most men can only dream of. Most of the technicians, nurses, and doctors sense this immediately about Jason and he is treated with the greatest of respect by Anderson staff. Today we were at the center for most of 10 hours. Jason was as dignified at the end of the day as he was when going into the PET scan clinic at 6 a.m. this morning.

The two Nurse Jensen's are also inspiring to see in action. Debby and Marjorie have been constant caregivers by Jason's side since August. As his medical needs and care have increased, so have their efforts to keep him as comfortable and healthy as possible. They are so devoted to Jason. Debby is such a loving wife and advocate for her husband. Marjorie demonstrates a mother's love in the truest sense by her many sacrifices and assistance to her son. As I listen to them plan food options, schedules, and activities, it is always about what is best for Jason.

Although many of you who read this blog cannot be here, please know that Jason is receiving the best care possible by Team Jensen. And....around the townhouse here in Houston, between treatments, Jason also carries himself with a quiet dignity. I am so proud of them all.

Joe

One Nurse Jensen back in Commission

Friday Joe and I took Jason in for his eye appointment. They will continue to monitor him for eye pain and comfort and work in conjunction with Dr. Kim. There are other options if the pain returns. For now, Jason’s eye is a lot less painful and swollen because of the battery of eye drops that I must administer into his eye every hour.

Debby’s feeling better so that’s great…she had a nasty case of the flu that finally seems to be subsiding. Jason was scheduled for blood tests, a PET scan, and appointment with Dr. Kim next week to stage his next treatment. But today, Debby was able to get those appointments moved to this Thursday. She is a shaker and a mover!


We got a nice surprise last week - New Year’s cookies from the Domers. Thank you so much! They are delicious.


Marjorie