A Family Journey to Battle Justin’s Cancer
Donation protected
May 13, 2019
Brief Summary:
My 28-year-old nephew, Justin, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia on March 25, 2019. Three weeks into his battle with cancer, I went down to Arkansas to be by my sister-in-law’s side. Words can’t adequately depict what I experienced during my 10 day stay. Suffice it to say, expect the unexpected…Trying to navigate this journey is insane – between all the different doctors (at least 4 when I was there), the medications (18 at last count), drug reactions, ICU, oncology, bone marrow biopsies, home health care, medical staff, air force staff, etc…This fund raiser is so important because Justin needs his family on this journey with him. To do it alone is impossible and, quickly frankly, a detriment to his chances of kicking this disease. His parents, Marilou and Dave, live in Atlanta. They have jobs that require their presence. If they aren’t at work, they don’t get paid. They have been taking off work and driving 8 hours each way to be with Justin and help manage his care. Additionally, two of Justin’s three siblings have traveled to Arkansas to tag team with them. Cody and Courtney can work remotely but the time and expense is adding up for them as well. This is a 2-3 year-long journey. Marilou and Dave make ends meet but don’t have a lot of wiggle room. The money raised by the Go Fund Me page will give them some room to breathe by covering expenses related to being with Justin during his journey and supporting his needs in recovery. On behalf of the Vlaun family, I thank you.
Lisa Estler
For the full story, read on…
Full Story:
Our Healthy Justin:
I share the story of my nephew, Justin Vlaun, and his family’s journey with cancer. It began on Monday, March 25, 2019 when Justin, 28 years old, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Justin, strong, healthy, and fit is currently serving in the Air Force at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. He was experiencing severe joint and back pain along with extreme fatigue. After an MRI revealed his enlarged spleen, blood work revealed the cancer. To relieve some of his pain, a doctor gave Justin a synthetic form of medical marijuana which sent him to the emergency room on March 29th. Once he became stable, they decided to keep him in the hospital to begin chemo treatments. Assuming he would be in the hospital for 5-7 days for the treatments, his family tagged teamed to be by his side. Mom and brother, then Dad and sister, then mom and me. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into a month. Justin experienced atrial tachycardia after the chemo was completed. This sent him to ICU for four days only to return to the oncology floor for a few more days to do a second bone marrow biopsy.
Getting some fresh air outside the hospital:
Finally, on Monday, April 29th, Marilou (Justin’s mom) and I brought him home to his house on the base. It was a glorious moment. Justin was in remission after his first of eight chemo treatments! Marilou was able to return to her home in Atlanta. He was in good hands with frozen meals his mom had prepared, a home health care nurse tending to his ports and blood work. He began eating everything in sight, taking walks with his dog, Molly and hanging out with his fiancé, Valorie.
Marilou and Justin with Molly at home:
After a week and a half at home, the routine blood test results were “good,” revealing he was ready to start his second round of chemo. Justin was so disappointed to have to go back into the hospital after such a short time at home but felt comforted knowing that this would only be a 5-day visit. Cody, Justin’s brother, flew from Florida to be by his brother’s side. Two hours into the chemo treatment, Justin began experiencing a numbness on the left side of his body. An MRI revealed fluid on the right side of his brain. A spinal tap confirmed that Justin currently has an infection which is causing swelling in his brain. The 5-day trip to the hospital will likely be a three week stay now…
Having come alongside my sister-in-law for 10 days in Arkansas, I witnessed the emotional, physical, spiritual toll a journey with cancer takes on a family. The incredibly difficult thing about this journey is the unpredictability. When you think one thing is going to happen, something else occurs. When you have a specific timeline, it changes. You have one doctor you are working with that turns into four. It starts with a couple of medications and turns into eighteen. There is so much to keep up with and so much to be vigilant about. As a parent, you want to be in the know, you want to fight for your kid. But, Marilou and Dave, Justin’s parents, have jobs that require them to be present in order to get paid. If they don’t work, they don’t get paid. They have had to leave their jobs to be with Justin. They have been driving back and forth from Atlanta to Arkansas, an 8-hour drive, because they can’t afford the luxury of flying. Cody and Courtney, two of Justin’s three siblings, have somewhat flexible jobs that allow them to work remotely. They have sacrificed their time and money to be with Justin. It comes at a price.
This family is bound to cancer. It consumes their thoughts and dictates their lives. One tangible way for them to experience some semblance of freedom is being covered financially. Marilou and Dave currently make ends meet but they don’t have the finances that allow them the luxury of flying, the ability to miss work or to help Cody, Courtney, and other friends and family members be available to support Justin throughout this journey. Justin’s family will be on this road for 2-3 years. Your financial assistance will go a long way to cover some of the costs associated with this disease and give them a little flexibility, a little room to breathe in order to take care of Justin. On behalf of the Vlaun family, my deepest appreciation…
Lisa Estler
Brief Summary:
My 28-year-old nephew, Justin, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia on March 25, 2019. Three weeks into his battle with cancer, I went down to Arkansas to be by my sister-in-law’s side. Words can’t adequately depict what I experienced during my 10 day stay. Suffice it to say, expect the unexpected…Trying to navigate this journey is insane – between all the different doctors (at least 4 when I was there), the medications (18 at last count), drug reactions, ICU, oncology, bone marrow biopsies, home health care, medical staff, air force staff, etc…This fund raiser is so important because Justin needs his family on this journey with him. To do it alone is impossible and, quickly frankly, a detriment to his chances of kicking this disease. His parents, Marilou and Dave, live in Atlanta. They have jobs that require their presence. If they aren’t at work, they don’t get paid. They have been taking off work and driving 8 hours each way to be with Justin and help manage his care. Additionally, two of Justin’s three siblings have traveled to Arkansas to tag team with them. Cody and Courtney can work remotely but the time and expense is adding up for them as well. This is a 2-3 year-long journey. Marilou and Dave make ends meet but don’t have a lot of wiggle room. The money raised by the Go Fund Me page will give them some room to breathe by covering expenses related to being with Justin during his journey and supporting his needs in recovery. On behalf of the Vlaun family, I thank you.
Lisa Estler
For the full story, read on…
Full Story:
Our Healthy Justin:
I share the story of my nephew, Justin Vlaun, and his family’s journey with cancer. It began on Monday, March 25, 2019 when Justin, 28 years old, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Justin, strong, healthy, and fit is currently serving in the Air Force at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. He was experiencing severe joint and back pain along with extreme fatigue. After an MRI revealed his enlarged spleen, blood work revealed the cancer. To relieve some of his pain, a doctor gave Justin a synthetic form of medical marijuana which sent him to the emergency room on March 29th. Once he became stable, they decided to keep him in the hospital to begin chemo treatments. Assuming he would be in the hospital for 5-7 days for the treatments, his family tagged teamed to be by his side. Mom and brother, then Dad and sister, then mom and me. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into a month. Justin experienced atrial tachycardia after the chemo was completed. This sent him to ICU for four days only to return to the oncology floor for a few more days to do a second bone marrow biopsy.
Getting some fresh air outside the hospital:
Finally, on Monday, April 29th, Marilou (Justin’s mom) and I brought him home to his house on the base. It was a glorious moment. Justin was in remission after his first of eight chemo treatments! Marilou was able to return to her home in Atlanta. He was in good hands with frozen meals his mom had prepared, a home health care nurse tending to his ports and blood work. He began eating everything in sight, taking walks with his dog, Molly and hanging out with his fiancé, Valorie.
Marilou and Justin with Molly at home:
After a week and a half at home, the routine blood test results were “good,” revealing he was ready to start his second round of chemo. Justin was so disappointed to have to go back into the hospital after such a short time at home but felt comforted knowing that this would only be a 5-day visit. Cody, Justin’s brother, flew from Florida to be by his brother’s side. Two hours into the chemo treatment, Justin began experiencing a numbness on the left side of his body. An MRI revealed fluid on the right side of his brain. A spinal tap confirmed that Justin currently has an infection which is causing swelling in his brain. The 5-day trip to the hospital will likely be a three week stay now…
Having come alongside my sister-in-law for 10 days in Arkansas, I witnessed the emotional, physical, spiritual toll a journey with cancer takes on a family. The incredibly difficult thing about this journey is the unpredictability. When you think one thing is going to happen, something else occurs. When you have a specific timeline, it changes. You have one doctor you are working with that turns into four. It starts with a couple of medications and turns into eighteen. There is so much to keep up with and so much to be vigilant about. As a parent, you want to be in the know, you want to fight for your kid. But, Marilou and Dave, Justin’s parents, have jobs that require them to be present in order to get paid. If they don’t work, they don’t get paid. They have had to leave their jobs to be with Justin. They have been driving back and forth from Atlanta to Arkansas, an 8-hour drive, because they can’t afford the luxury of flying. Cody and Courtney, two of Justin’s three siblings, have somewhat flexible jobs that allow them to work remotely. They have sacrificed their time and money to be with Justin. It comes at a price.
This family is bound to cancer. It consumes their thoughts and dictates their lives. One tangible way for them to experience some semblance of freedom is being covered financially. Marilou and Dave currently make ends meet but they don’t have the finances that allow them the luxury of flying, the ability to miss work or to help Cody, Courtney, and other friends and family members be available to support Justin throughout this journey. Justin’s family will be on this road for 2-3 years. Your financial assistance will go a long way to cover some of the costs associated with this disease and give them a little flexibility, a little room to breathe in order to take care of Justin. On behalf of the Vlaun family, my deepest appreciation…
Lisa Estler
Co-organizers (16)
Michael Estler
Organizer
Alexander, AR
Marilou Vlaun
Beneficiary
Lisa Estler
Co-organizer
Courtney Vlaun
Co-organizer
Ty Estler
Co-organizer
Laurie Schatzel Matthews
Co-organizer