TYLER, Texas — An East Texas school community is rallying around a beloved teacher in his time of need.
It has been a challenging six months for Jason Daniel Bailey, who is currently fighting a rare but highly aggressive form of cancer: primary urethral carcinoma. As he seeks early retirement, his colleagues at Tyler ISD are paying it forward by donating their sick days for his use.
"I mean today could be my last day, that's how aggressive this cancer can be," Bailey said. "It could take over in a matter of 24 hours."
Bailey has been teaching for more than 20 years. He is an English dual credit teacher at Tyler High and an adjunct professor at TJC — but these days, his medical needs are his top priority.
"When my first round of chemotherapy drugs stopped working, when Archie — the name I call my cancer — cracked the code, he grew twice as large than he was initially in about four days."
In May, Bailey underwent several rounds of procedures and testing, which confirmed he had primary urethral carcinoma.
"Because it is so aggressive it operates on days on a time scale of days instead of months or years," Bailey said.
With challenging days ahead, Bailey's passion is teaching, songwriting, writing and art. Despite his diagnosis, he remains focused on the days ahead and is in high spirits.
"I want to know how this ends," Bailey said. "I want to stick around as long as possible. I would like that to be decades but if its only days I'm prepared for that too."
However, he is also honest about the dark side of his diagnosis.
"I don't block out the ugliness. I don't deny its happening. I just acknowledge it and then get onto happier things," Bailey said.
Bailey is currently seeking treatment at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Doctors say bladder cancer is three times more common in men than in women.
"And we don't really know why that is," Dr. Arlene O. Siefker-Radtke, an oncologist at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, said. "Some have thought maybe it is related to a different hormones that are produced in women versus men. I personally wonder if its due to inherit differences in the immune system."
Just days ago, Bailey posted a plea on social media, asking colleagues to donate 15 sick days to cover his time away from work while he fights for his life.
"People who know me know, I dread asking for help in any form, and only until this cancer diagnosis I wouldn't," Bailey said.
Within minutes of receiving an email from the district, dozens of teachers and staff stepped up — and Bailey received enough sick days to retire at the end of the semester.
"I was looking for 15 days," Bailey said. "It's approaching 1,000 shares in less than 24 hours."
A longtime friend of Bailey and Tyler ISD teacher Amanda Wages is one of the dozens who donated their sick time to Bailey.
"Really to know him is to love him," Wages said. "To watch him with kids is amazing, it's a blessing. It doesn't surprise me at all that he's got all these people that want to support him."
Since word got out about Bailey's diagnosis, the English teacher has received an outpouring of love and support.
"Isn't that what life's about? It's trying to be a better person and help others," Wages said.
Despite going through tough times, Jason is preparing to celebrate his 56th birthday this Sunday, Nov. 3. He said this one has a special meaning to him.
"Birthdays have never meant anything to me, (they were) just another day until this one, because I didn't think I was going to make it to it," Bailey said.
The experience has been a lesson in helping others.
"I love y'all, thank you," Bailey said directly to those who have come to his aid. "I hope to hang around long enough to maybe pay some of it back."
With the donations Bailey received, he will be able to retire in early December, but he is still in need of financial help to offset the burden of medical costs. He shared the list of accounts to donate money to for his treatment:
- PayPal: @jasondanielbailey
- Cash App: $guitarjake1968
- Venmo: @jasondanielbailey
- Zelle: 903-312-2021
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