All things being standard, Landen Jaggie would have been walking for graduation with the Robert C. Byrd High School Class of 2025 Friday morning. For those who know this young man, they know nothing has been standard for much of the last three years.

 

For those who do not know Landen Jaggie’s story, you are about to learn about one of the toughest youngsters who is doing his best to win against a bad situation dealt to him by life. And at the end, you’re going to see a way you can help Landen and his family as well.

 

Despite not walking Friday at RCB, Landen Jaggie earned his degree through successful completion of his online work. However, he chose not to walk with the class. It was not because he was an outcast. It was not because he struggled in school and did not want any part of it. He was not opposed to wearing a cap or gown.

 

The absence of this 18-year-old was brought about by something he has faced since his sophomore year – cancer. Landen Jaggie is battling Osteosarcoma, and currently in the midst of an ongoing chemotherapy cycle.

 

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that usually develops in children and young adults, particularly during periods of rapid bone growth. If it sounds familiar, there is a reason for it.

 

Bridgeport’s Jerome Axton, who has appeared many times in this very blog, battled the same cancer. And it was Axton who contacted me to ask if I could possibly help a local family and their son who has had a brutal journey since he was 16, which is when he was diagnosed. The situation that led to its discovery was, to say the least, bizarre as it was harsh.

 

“He was playing dodgeball at the trampoline park in Morgantown with friends. He threw the ball and his arm broke. It was the upper humerus bone in his arm, and it snapped right in half,” his mother Tammy Jaggie said.

 

An immediate trip to the emergency room in Morgantown found a tumor in his humerus bone. Surgery was done to repair the arm, and a biopsy was sent away for the tumor.

 

“The orthopedic doctor did not think it was cancer, but wouldn’t rule it out, and told us we would know more once the biopsy came back,” she said.

 

When it came back, the news was not good. It was Osteosarcoma, and Tammy Jaggie said it was considered high grade and aggressive.

 

“He started chemo and then had surgery to remove the bone and put a rod in its place,” she said. “It wasn’t what you want to see, but we were progressing and he finished his treatments and got to ring the bell for finishing up in August of 2023. We thought the worst was behind us.”

 

It was not.

 

Three months later, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan was done. There was a spot on his rib and the family would soon learn the cancer had metastasized.

 

“We started a different kind of chemo because it was considered metastatic,” Tammy said. “We also reached out to other hospitals and ended up at Cincinnatti Children's Hospital. By that time, he also had spots showing up in both lungs, his sternum, and even a few on other bones that the doctors weren’t too concerned about but wanted to watch. It was devastating.”

 

At Cincinnatti, along with the new chemotherapy treatment, there was a rib resection surgery. Landen would also end up doing a thoracotomy on his left lung, which fortunately, came back okay. Medical staff, however, are keeping a close watch on his right lung.

 

Tammy said following the conclusion of another PET scan for end of treatment, it showed spots on Landen’s sternum and right hip. Through all of this, Landen and his family decided to head to Johns Hopkins and go with the original doctor from WVU – Dr. Brock Lindsey. And if his name sounds familiar, it is the same doctor Axton followed there from WVU as well.

 

“Dr. Lindsey and Johns Hopkins put him on high chemo, and we’ve had two big surgeries with Dr. Lindsey,” said Tammy.

 

The first was a hemipelvectomy, which removed a big tumor on his hip. The following week, a partial hip replacement was done on Landen and 12 inches of his femur was removed and a rod was installed.

 

In three years, Tammy said she believes – counting putting in his port for chemotherapy and other medicines – her son has undergone seven surgeries. Several of them have been major surgeries.

 

Today, he is in another round of chemotherapy. The goal is to get better. The issues, however, are plentiful.

 

“You can see him getting defeated because it’s constant. He’s weak, tired, and with little energy,” his mother said. “He used to look forward to going out and doing things like fishing, but even that is too much right now.”

 

The treatment set up now does allow him to be home, despite travels to Johns Hopkins. Landen is using a walker and still trying to make the best of a difficult personal story that is still being written.

 

As noted, there are other issues. A big one is financial.

 

“The financial part is overwhelming as well. In the midst of all of this, you have medical bills, travel, plus the loss of wages with me not working,” Tammy said. “People have been so kind and donated leave to me, but there’s only so much of that.”

 

Her husband, Jason Jaggie, works and has to stay back home when Tammy remains with her son for medical trips and treatments.

 

“One of us has to stay home to work and bring in money,” she said. “Missing work and hurting your finances or going to work and having to miss your son in this situation, are two situations that are not easy.”

 

You can help them out. There is a GoFundMe set up to assist the family. You can find it by clicking HERE.

 

If unable to donate, Tammy Jaggie said prayers are welcome, as are good thoughts or vibes you can send her son’s, and her family’s, way.

 

“We’ve seen a lot of good in people through this from family, workers and friends, both our friends and Landen’s friends,” she said. “He has wonderful friends who always check on him and make sure he’s all right.”

 

As one can imagine, Tammy Jaggie and the family need to be reassured that they are not only not alone, but what they’re doing from treatment to personal care is correct.

 

“I don’t know if there are words to tell you how you feel when you love someone so much and to see your son like that and not be able to make the pain go away,” she said, as her voice cracked with emotion. “Even though he’s a warrior, it never feels like what we’re doing is enough.”

 

Now, you can help. Please consider assisting this family financially and if it is your thing, spiritually. Let us do what we can to bring a normal standard back to Landen Jaggie and his family. This warrior has battled enough.