Meridian youth facing another bout with cancer
By By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
July 29, 2001
Four-year-old Johnathon Mars, of Meridian, began chemotherapy treatments for cancer again this weekend at the UMC Children's Hospital in Jackson.
Johnathon was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a malignant soft tissue tumor, on his first birthday in 1998 and has been in remission for about two years.
Johnathon's first bout with the disease was in the bladder and rectum area. It has now moved to his lymph nodes.
Doctors found the cancer returned on July 18, the same day Johnathon was sent to Jackson before his diagnoses three years ago. His birthday was last Sunday.
Johnathon and his parents will be in Jackson throughout this week. He will have to return to Jackson every 21 days for five consecutive days of chemotherapy and he will have to have his blood count taken twice a week.
Early this year, Johnathon and his family went to Disney World compliments of the Make-A Wish Foundation.
Steve Gillespie is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3233, or e-mail him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.