Jason Futch
Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
Briar Cribbs, a 16-year-old senior from Jasper, is currently undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Before Thanksgiving last year, Cribbs noticed a lump on his neck and brought it to the attention of his grandparents, George and Karen Ash. Karen immediately suspected that it was lymphoma, a disease that took the life of Cribbs’s biological father. Medically, lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes, which typically affects the neck, underarm and groin area.
“I didn’t want to accept that,” said Karen. “I told myself I was going to wait and see what the doctor had to say.”
Karen said doctors at Shands Emergency Room performed a biopsy by removing the affected lymph node, where it was confirmed to be Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Since the confirmation, Cribbs and his grandparents have been traveling back and forth from Jasper to Gainesville so he can receive chemotherapy. The day after chemotherapy, he receives an injection to strengthen his immune system.
When asked how the cancer has affected him, Cribbs said it's only been a nuisance thus far.
“I’m feeling how I’ve felt for the last 16 years of my life,” he said. “It hasn’t really affected me too much other than just being a nuisance.”
Because Cribbs is autistic and has social anxiety, he does virtual school through First Christian Academy. He continues his education while hoping to attend Santa Fe College after graduation to study medical imaging.
As the family navigates frequent medical trips and treatments, their church family at West Lake Church of God, led by Johnnie Philman, has come together to organize an open fundraiser for so the family’s needs are met while they travel. Karen said the fundraiser was a surprise to them.
“I’m not even sure if it had been for Brother Johnny that this thing wouldn’t even have started,” Karen said. “I would never have initiated it on my own because I’m a giver. To me, the tables have turned, and we do need the help.”
“I’m not sure we would have gone as far as we have now,” George said. “It takes a lot of gas, as we were going twice a week. It was putting a strain on us because we are on a fixed income.”
The fundraiser aims to help ease the family's financial burden as Cribbs continues his treatments. Donations are accepted in the form of monetary contributions, gas cards and food or gift cards. Cribbs said that he enjoys McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Dairy Queen, Olive Garden, and a good steakhouse, which may be helpful when choosing gift cards.
For those wishing to donate, checks can be donated to the Briar Cribbs Fundraiser Account at First Federal Bank. A GoFundMe page has also been set up for the family, which has raised $375 as of press time. The GoFundMe can be found at https://gofund.me/bdcdc117b.
Donations can also be mailed to: Briar Cribbs, 212 S.W/ 4th St., Jasper, Fla. 32052.