Local soccer coach given support from community

Jason Thompson, a 28-year-old Santa Rosa Beach man, is facing a rare and extraordinarily aggressive cancer. After pursuing a diagnosis for more than three months, doctors at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are still not entirely sure what type of cancer is present.

What they do know is that some of the multiple tumors which have been detected in Thompson's body have doubled in size in the past two weeks. Since treating one type of cancer may actually spur the growth of another, informed treatment decisions are critical to Thompson's chances for survival. As a result, a large team of specialists has given his case extensive attention, including daily interaction with doctors at the Mayo Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

In addition to the doctors, Thompson has a significant community of supporters actively engaged in his battle against the disease.

Coincident with the onset of Thompson's illness, his father had flown in to assist with Thompson's fledgling cleaning business. Other family members, including two grandmothers, have since flown in to be by his side. And Jason's local community, which includes many young U.S. Soccer players and fellow coaches, has rallied around a Web site (www.kickingitforjason.com) created by his aunt, Kathy Roberts.

"I cannot believe the response from the soccer group. What the community has done, I'm speechless," said Kim Helder, Jason's mother.

Having just been treated with the most aggressive chemotherapy available, Jason is presently too weak to read the E-mailed comments on the Web site himself, but Helder reads them to her son. Among the items offered to Thompson through the blog have been pizza delivery, prayers and "a cold one at the Red Bar."

"Every one brings a smile," said Helder.

Thompson came to Santa Rosa Beach more than four years ago and has been self-employed as a window washer and in the post-construction cleaning business. His mother later joined him, moving from Michigan at his invitation two years ago. She has since assisted her son in the cleaning business, which is now under extreme duress during the busiest season, with both mother and son at the hospital in Jacksonville.

Thompson's brother has postponed his wedding and has travelled to Santa Rosa Beach to help out with the business during this time.

Photos and comments on the Web site chronicle an unusually community-engaged young man. Thompson appears in most of the photos as the picture of health, coaching soccer activities and fully enjoying an active social life as well as working and volunteering with young children. More recent photos reveal Thompson with an unhealthy weight loss, surrounded by his family. He appears in other photos in a hospital gown, punctured with needles but still smiling.

"We are self-employed, so of course this is financially devastating as well," said Helder. Helder said she will soon need to leave her son's bedside to return to work if the business is to survive.

"He is just a wonderful individual," said Helder. "Even if he weren't my son, I would think of him as just an exceptional, caring human being," she said.

Supporters in the community who would like to post a comment to Thompson or make a financial donation to help defray his rapidly mounting medical expenses may do so at www.kickingitforJason.com.