Help Steve Heal: Overcome Liver Cancer and Loss

Dear Reader,

Thank you for clicking on our page here, the interest itself is more than we could have asked for. This page has been dedicated to an important person that you might know. He often goes by Steve, Steven, Woodsy, Mongo, Dad, Brother, Uncle, and Grandpa. There are more names that have been picked up through countless stories and experiences with Steve. The story as to why a GoFundMe page has been set up is a story that our family wouldn’t wish on anyone. It unfortunately began with the passing of Steve’s mother, Joan, during this time Steve and the immediate family (Emily, Jason, Abbigale, and Elizabeth) all lived in Minnesota, about six and a half hours away from Steve’s family back home in South Dakota. After the passing of dear Joan, Steve decided the best way to cherish his family back home was to move back to South Dakota to spend as much time with his father Norman as he could. So that’s what he did, Steve left the comfort of his wonderful Delta family to spend with his dad on his last few years. Half of Steve’s heart and home is still in Minnesota with the countless friends he cherishes, as well as his four grandchildren (Payton, Kinley, Avery and Tucker), as well as his daughter and son in law, Emily and Tanner. Jason, at this time also enlisted in the Marine Corps and has limited leave to be with family during these hard times. While spending time with his dad Norman, Steve relinquished his insurance and benefits from his lifelong career of being a Lead Technician, Maintenance Manager, and Aircraft Instructor, and friend to many, to spend that last few years he could with his father Norman. Within the last year there have been a few trials that have affected the lives of Steve’s family, friends, and himself. There have been friends, coworkers and family members unfortunately lose their lives through sickness. An important figure in Steve’s life was that of his Father, who unfortunately passed away at the end of July. Prior to the loss of his dad, Steve was diagnosed with liver cancer in March of this year, he was battling this tremendous disease as well as working and spending time with his family. Steve’s progression of the cirrhosis of the liver, as well the cancer damaging his body, was placed on the liver transplant list through the Veteran’s Administration. What was told could take 11 months, only took 4, and whilst you are reading this message Steve is on the road to recovery from a successful liver transplant. The surgery itself was 10 hours long, and incredibly hard on his body and his mind. There has also been multiple other surgeries and set backs along the way that were hard to overcome physically and mentally. The recovery is also becoming very intense as his body tries to heal. Hence the reason for this GoFundMe, with the recovery of this surgery Steve is not allowed to work for 6 months or more. With medical expenses, travel, prescription medications, and nutrition, the expenses are too much to accomplish on our own. It is incredibly brave to speak about this story and to accept donations on behalf of Steve. Even if you made it to the end of this passage, we thank you. If there is anything that you would like to donate, the gesture will not go unthanked or unnoticed. We are glad you are here.