ToquiNotes: Landen Jaggie's Battle with Cancer Ends as 19-Year-Old Shows All a True Lesson in Courage
By Jeff Toquinto on October 11, 2025 from ToquiNotes
About four and a half months ago, in this very blog, I told you the story of 19-year-old Landen Jaggie. At that time, he was a soon-to-be-graduating senior at Robert C. Byrd High School who would have liked nothing better than to join his classmates across the stage in May.
Jaggie earned his degree but did not get to walk across the stage. It had nothing to do with not caring about school, or any other reason a handful of youngsters decide not to receive a diploma that acknowledges the end of their journey through public education.
The reason he was not in cap or gown during graduation was something Laden Jaggie and his family had no control over. Jaggie, for the last three years, battled Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that usually develops in children and young adults, particularly during periods of rapid bone growth.
The battle continued until a little more than a week ago. On Friday, Oct. 3, Jaggie passed away. His battle on this earth was over.
He was laid to rest Friday.
I saw the news as I often do – via social media. I got to know his mom when writing the initial blog on Landen. I was put in touch with Landen’s mother Tammy Jaggie by Bridgeport High graduate Jerome Axton.
Axton was a friend of Landen’s, and one of his biggest champions and cheerleaders. He asked me to contact the Jaggie family to see if the community could help.
This was more than just a good young man helping another who needed help. It was personal. Axton, who has been in remission for years now, battled the same cancer.
I am glad he reached out. Although I never had the pleasure of talking with Landen directly as he was undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the time, I was able to talk in length about him with his mother Tammy.
As difficult as it was, Tammy Jaggie told me the entire story of how he went from healthy to snapping his arm just a few years ago at a 
trampoline park in Morgantown. He was doing what kids his age does – having fun with his friends – when his world and that of everyone that knew him turned upside down.
trampoline park in Morgantown. He was doing what kids his age does – having fun with his friends – when his world and that of everyone that knew him turned upside down.
You can revisit the details of what took place by reading that original blog HERE. His cancer was high grade, it was aggressive, and like all cancers, had no care for who it was attacking, or who it impacted.
His cancer battle was waged in Morgantown. It was waged in Cincinnati. It was waged at Johns Hopkins. Through it all were surgeries; too many surgeries for someone of an advanced age let alone a teenager. Tammy Jaggie said Landen had undergone seven surgeries, including multiple major surgeries.
Even in May, as the family was holding on to hope as he began another round of treatment. Tammy Jaggie and her husband Jason could see her son becoming weaker, being more tired, showing less energy. Yet, he battled on until he could battle no more. Only until Jerome messaged me to let me know how dire things had gotten in recent weeks did I know Landen’s battle was concluding.
As part of my job, I read a lot of obituaries. I see, far too often, people who pass because of cancer. Many times, I read in the obituary that a person has lost a battle to cancer. That is okay to do that as how a person managing an obituary can express their written tribute in any way as they battle grief is best left to them, but I never preferred to see the phrase “lost a battle to cancer.”
To me, saying they lost makes me feel that nothing was gained and that cancer won. Landen Jaggie beat cancer in every way possible. He stared it down and never yielded to it. When he could not battle, he let others take the baton for him. He showed others how to stare down the evilest foe and do it with a level of courage many of us will never be able to comprehend.
The Jaggie family said Landen passed away “following a courageous, three-year battle with High- grade metastatic osteosarcoma.” He never lost because he never quit. Landen provided more than just a lesson of courage for his mother, father, and brother to see, but one all his family and friends could see. It is a powerful legacy those who were part of his family and friends will carry forward.
Landen Jaggie left us as an example of how to live life when life gives you its worst. Lost to cancer? Not a chance.
Rest in peace Landen. Your work here is done.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Landen Jaggie with a cake celebrating his graduation from Robert C. Byrd High School as he continued treatment. Second photo shows Landen smiling as he's in his element in a recreational vehicle. Bottom photo shows Landen with mom Tammy and father Jason. Photos courtesy of the Jaggie family.
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