As if Ava Jones didn’t have enough on her plate these days – speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, a full load of collegiate classes, working and being a regular college student – even more was recently added.
Jones, a former Nickerson basketball, volleyball and track athlete who signed to play basketball at the University of Iowa, announced on Feb. 8 on her personal Instagram account that she has cancer. More specifically, Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
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“She’s actually staying pretty positive,” said Amy Jones, Ava’s mom and assistant superintendent at Nickerson Public Schools. “She tells everyone she’s going to beat it, so she’s staying very positive. She hasn’t had chemo yet. It’s just a shock, but it does answer questions we had.”
Amy said Ava had been showing symptoms for more than a year.
“In a way, it’s a relief,” Amy Jones said.
Many people have reached out to the Jones family to inquire what they can do to help. People can donate money to Ava’s Venmo account. The family’s GoFundMe is still active. It was started in the aftermath of an impaired driver hitting Ava, Amy, father Trey and brother Creek during a basketball tournament Ava was playing at in Louisville, Ky. The accident took Trey’s life and seriously injured Ava and Amy. Creek sustained minor injuries.
Ava had to medically retire from basketball due to the injuries she sustained.
Amy said Ava continues to study journalism at Iowa with aspirations of being a public speaker.
Meanwhile, Hunter Jones – the oldest sibling – continues to be a track and field standout at Pittsburg State, while Creek is involved with several activities at Reno Valley Middle School.
Amy also said that Ava will be able to receive care packages, but wanted Ava to start with chemo before deciding where they could best be sent.
