By Katie Farrell
AMESBURY — Reggie Brown knows the path from Amesbury to Boston quite well nowadays. Each day, he travels the 84-mile round-trip journey from his Fruit Place home to Massachusetts General Hospital, where his 27-year-old son Jason is battling acute myeloid leukemia.
He spends the entire day there with Jason — fulfilling a promise he made when his son was first diagnosed in March. During those frightening early days of Jason's diagnosis, Reggie made him a deal.
"I made a partnership with him," Reggie recalled yesterday. "I said we're partners in this — I'm going to be there every day for you. One way or another, I'm going to keep that promise. I'm not going to back down on it. Every single day, I'm there."
Talking with the doctors, Reggie, 60, will advocate for Jason with his opinion or simply explanations about procedures and treatments. His son won't make any decisions until his father gives his say.
Jason, who attended Amesbury schools, is now undergoing chemotherapy and will spend about four to six more weeks at Mass General. He's been there since he was diagnosed. Once he is released, Jason will likely need to visit Mass General two or three times a week for follow-up appointments and outpatient treatment.
But as the weeks wear on and gas prices continue to soar, the costs of traveling from Amesbury to Boston are taking a financial toll on the Browns, and Reggie fears he won't be able to meet his promise if he can't afford the daily gas and tolls. Now they're reaching out to ask the community for help as they strive to help keep Reggie's promise to his son.
"We live week to week like a lot of people," Reggie said yesterday.
A former carpenter, Reggie, and his wife, Marilyn, who works at General Linen in Newburyport, have bought Jason new pajamas and a robe for his hospital stay. They hope to buy him a new box spring and mattress for when he returns home so he can recover comfortably.
"It's going to be a long haul here," Reggie said.
The Browns have set up a fund at The Provident Bank and put collection cans in several locations throughout town, asking for any small help people might be able to lend. The cans can be found at Richdale, Vermette's, The Pizza Factory and Cumberland Farms.
They have collected $70 to $80 so far and are immensely grateful.
"That's a few trips," Reggie said, noting even a little goes a long way for the family.
"I'm thankful to get anything; that helps a lot," Reggie said. "We're glad to get anything, they all add up. It's tough for everybody out there. I appreciate that people have put money in the cans."
Doctors are optimistic about Jason's prognosis. As of now, they don't believe he will need a bone marrow transplant, although that can change as time goes on. Between his young age and his physical shape, Jason has a strong prognosis, Reggie said.
A sports fan — he loves wrestling, baseball, basketball and football — Jason is a "real rugged kid" and loves spending time with his nieces and nephews, his father said.
His siblings include Lynn, 34, who lives in Amesbury; Brian, 29, of Seabrook, N.H., and Eric, 21, of Amesbury.
His 5-year-old niece, Mikayla lives close to the family's Amesbury home and would visit daily. Jason would draw with her or play Uno, Reggie said.
"He's really close with her; he's a good uncle."
Donations to the Brown family can be sent to the Provident Bank, 5 Market St., Amesbury, MA 01913 in care of Reginald P. Brown Jr. for the Jason Brown Fund.
