Jesse Jones might have lost the ability to eat food by mouth, but that didn’t mean he was willing to give up healthful dishes.

While in his 30s, Jones was diagnosed with throat cancer three times during a three-year period. Surgery was required each time. During the last bout, radiation was added to the mix. Several years passed before the side effects from the surgeries and radiation began to surface.

First, Jones was diagnosed with sleep apnea. One of the surgeries removed his epiglottis, at the entrance to his larynx, which allowed food to pass into his lungs, causing infections and pneumonia. Swallowing became more difficult. Jones also suffered from nerve damage that caused the loss of use of his left arm and hand (he was a lefty until that point). He is able to whisper but can’t speak in a normal audible tone.

“Losing my voice has been the toughest thing to adjust to. Fortunately, I can whisper loud enough to be heard one on one in a quiet environment,” he said. In 2002, after enduring lung infections on a monthly basis, some of which required hospitalization, his doctors recommended that he place a gastric feeding tube in his stomach and consume canned formulas.

Jones wanted real food, so he began experimenting with fresh fruits and vegetables. “I have always been health conscious and knew that chemical canned food wasn’t for me,” he said. “Not eating by mouth is strange at first, but as with all the side effects, I adjusted and sought to give myself the best quality of life,” Jones explained.

He created more than 100 recipes that were blended and put through his tube, including fruit, veggie, protein and seafood meals. He perfected the recipes, using only fresh, unprocessed ingredients, to include a proper balance of carbs, protein and fat. “It’s fresh food as close to farm-to-table as possible,” Jones said. “I am a firm believer that eating fresh, unprocessed foods not only can possibly prevent disease, but can also extend one’s life span.”

Jones, now 59, wanted to share his knowledge and recipes with other “tube-feeders,” dieters or health-conscious people. He started a website, www.drinkyourmeals.com, last year primarily to help others in his situation, but it is for anyone, he explained.

Membership is free for those with g-tubes and $5.99 per month for others. He also gives away one Vitamix blender per month to those in financial need. “I want every tube-feeder who desires it to be able to do blended meals for themselves to give themselves the best shot at being healthy,” he said.

“All things considered, I feel very fortunate and blessed to be with my wife of 29 years,” he added. The couple remodeled oceanfront homes together during the 1980s and owned shopping centers in Las Vegas for 15 years.

Jones continues to exercise five times a week, meditates twice a day and practices breathing exercises to maintain his health. “I do three days of elliptical or stationary bike and two days of free weights and resistance exercises. The balance of good nutrition, exercise and spiritual work all help me maintain a strong body and good mental attitude.”

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“Be Well” features inspiring stories of people dealing with health challenges. Email Nancy Arcayna at narcayna@staradvertiser.com or call 529-4808.