Tyrone students and staff were excited to see English teacher Jonathan Holmes back in the classroom today for the first time in months.
“It felt really great to have him back,” sophomore Cooper Spicer said. “We missed him.”
Friday, April 24 was his first day teaching since January 12, when a long list of unexplained health issues forced him to seek medical help.
After seeing many doctors and specialists, Holmes was diagnosed with POEMS, an extremely rare form of blood cancer that damages nerves and affects other parts of the body.
While he was seeking medical answers and racking up treatment-related expenses, Tyrone students, staff, and members of the community rallied to help Holmes and his family.
The Eaken family of Warriors Mark was one of many who stepped up.
Kelly Eaken has known Holmes since high school, and their son John is friends with Holmes’ eldest son, Ryleigh Holmes, who is currently a sophomore at TAHS. She has also worked with Holmes’ wife, Kim, for the past two years.
“I’m very grateful for all of the help,” Holmes said. “I’m also very, very surprised by how many people from so many places have come out of the woodwork to help me and my family. I’m truly humbled by it all.”
Eaken is glad that she could help.
“I have seen first hand the number of doctors’ appointments and the frustrating news that they have received after each one, trying to discover what had initially caused Jonathan’s health issues,” Kelly Eaken said.
Kelly and NewPig coworker Roseann Farabaugh organized a spaghetti dinner and basket raffle fundraiser on April 12th at the Fowler Grove Community Center.
“Roseann and I knew that the struggle they were about to face was going to be large because they were now looking to seek second opinions, and we wanted to help them financially in any way we could, so we began coming up with ideas for the spaghetti dinner and basket raffle,” Eaken said.
They reached out to several businesses and members of the community for donations for the dinner and basket raffle. Many New Pig employees contributed donations to the family, as well as numerous baskets for the raffle.
They sold 175 meals, and 65 baskets were donated for the raffle. The event raised close to $4,000 for the family.
“It was very difficult to accept [help] at first, but as my best friend reminded me, giving is a blessing. Don’t take away the opportunity for someone to bless you because it makes you uneasy. See the love in their giving,” Holmes said.
Several local businesses also helped to make the dinner a success.
Bake Shop Bakes donated cookies and dinner rolls, Logan Beverage donated water, Vale Wood Farms donated iced tea, lemonade, and chocolate milk.
Eaken said that she would also like to thank the following people who made the fundraiser possible: John, Kelly, LJ and Quinn, Roseann, JC and Autumn Farabaugh, Laurie and Jay Isenberg, Barbara Holmes, Jason Crowell, Lisa and Dave Williams, Tim Williams, Cindy Bickel, Kathy Eaken, Besty and Steve Beckwith, Michele and Tim Reese, Alice Mulhollan, Jim Hook, and Laurie Dasher.
Other fundraisers organized on Holmes’ behalf at the school are the Hope for Holmes t-shirt sale, organized by TAHS seniors Grace Naylor and Hailey Lowery, and the Darby’s Army wristbands, organized by Laurie Isenberg.
“In all honesty, the fundraisers, the support, the prayers, and love have shown me the impact I’ve made with my life. I never would have dreamed this many people would rally around me,” Holmes said. “When Laurie Isenberg first told me about ‘Darby’s Army,’ I thought it was a neat idea. It has a ring to it. I had no idea the truth in that slogan. I truly have an Army behind me, fighting with me, alongside me. I’m honored. I’m grateful. I’m truly humbled.”
The money raised will help Holmes with travel expenses and medical care costs, which he’ll need for his treatment.
Because POEMS is so rare, he had to travel to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for treatment.
While he still has a lot of treatments to endure, Holmes said that his doctors believe that because of his age and the fact that they made a diagnosis early, his prognosis is good.
“I have an amazing medical team with me, and a heart full of Faith. In my eyes and my heart, this battle is already over. POEMS just doesn’t know it yet. One step at a time, one goal at a time. Cancer can be killed, and I have every intention of hitting that mark. Bullseye,” Holmes said.
