WOODLEAF — In his early 20s, with his whole life in front of him, Jonathan Gross was given news that would change everything. Just after starting his first job out of college he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.

But Gross and his family have taken the disease as a spiritual journey and a challenge.

Originally from Hagerstown, Md., Jonathan Gross, 22, moved back to his mother’s hometown to do an internship for college credit in January of 1999. Moving in with his grandmother Jeanette Brown of Woodleaf, Gross thought it would be nice to look after her. Little did he know it was he who would soon need support.

Doctors diagnosed Gross with Osteosarcoma — cancer of the bone cells — in February of 2000.

After finding a tumor in his left leg and lung, Gross had six rounds of chemotherapy, but they did not affect the tumor in his leg. Under doctor’s advice, Gross decided to have it amputated in June of 2000.

Gross spent the rest of that year undergoing 15 rounds of chemotherapy. With one treatment left to go, he felt a pain in his remaining leg. “I just feared the worst,” he said.

After an examination, doctors found no cancer in his right leg, but did detect cancer in his spine.

This January, Gross had surgery on his spine where doctors removed the tumor and fused together three vertebra. He then had two weeks of radiation and two more rounds of chemotherapy.

Another scan showed cancer was still in his lung.

Doctors decided it was time for more drastic measures.

Gross plans to be treated at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The clinic, which has locations in three states, is a team practice of medical research and treatment. It opened at the turn of the century and serves more than 400,000 patients each year.

Although the clinic has agreed to pay for Gross’ treatment, he needs money for travel expenses for the trips he will have to take. Gross will go for three treatment sessions and then once every three months for several years for follow-up visits.

Gross said he is the 14th person to receive this specialized treatment.

A benefit sponsored by the Women’s Missionary Society and the Pre-Teen Sunday School Class at Needmore Baptist Church June 2 aims to raise money to aid Gross in his travels to Minnesota. The benefit will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Scotch Irish Fire Department. on Needmore Road in Woodleaf. Tickets are $7 for the barbecue chicken dinner.

Gross is optimistic about the future. “I think 90 percent of the recovery process is psychological.”

With the support of family and friends, Gross feels confident about the future. His parents, Wanda and the Rev. Richard Gross, moved from Maryland to be closer to their only child. Gross’ father recently became pastor of Oakdale Baptist Church in Spencer.

“We were just very thankful that something opened up,” Wanda Gross said.

Gross met a girl named Katie while at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte for treatment. Katie, 21, is from Shelby and has the same type of cancer as Gross.

“Cancer certainly is no respecter of age,” Wanda Gross said.

He also remembers the first nurse who ever gave him a chemotherapy treatment, Elizabeth Spatoula. “She’s been a really good support for me,” he said.

He said this experience has taught him to rely more on his faith. “You think you’re in control of your life and you’re calling the shots and you’re not,” Gross said. He said he has learned not to take things for granted. “Going to work for me is like going on vacation.”

After an internship with Lockheed Martin in Kannapolis and some information systems work for Pillowtex, he was hired full time as an engineer for Pillowtex.

Gross is grateful that he has been able to lead a normal life. Aside from work, he drives a car, attends church and visits with friends. Last fall, Gross went deer hunting, something he has enjoyed all his life, but had not done since he was diagnosed with cancer.

That day, “I felt I had taken part of my life back,” he said.

Contact Jill McCartney at 704-797-4253 or jmccartney@salisburypost.com .