Honoring Kevin “Pima Bear” Lewis

2/21/22

Kevin Michael Lewis has ended his battle with cancer. He passed peacefully with his wife at his side after two beautiful days in Hospice surrounded by all of his loved ones. 

 2/18/2022

November of last year, Kevin relapsed with tumors that metastasis to his brain. He received radiation and some chemotherapy to control the bleeding and swelling along with steroids. 

We were scheduled to start a stem cell transplant with high dose chemotherapy but in the day of admission, Kevin started having seizures. His scans show the brain tumors have gotten worse and moving forward with treatment may be off the table. 

We may need to place a drain in his head to give some relief as we try to decide what the next best step is 

11/23/2021 update:

At the end of October, Kevin was admitted to the hospital with horrific headaches. Unfortunately they discovered 10 brain metastasis causing several neurological issues. We proceeded with radiation to 2 tumors believed to be causing immediate discomfort and started a high dose of steroids to reduce the brain swelling / bleeding. After a month of back and forth we got insurance on board to contract with MD Anderson for treatment! 

This facility is out of networking for us, so we are responsible for copayments each visit. ($200-$300). Kevin needs full time care and I have been put in a position to take an unpaid leave to be his full time caregiver. 

I started a small candle business to help offset the challenges but with added bills from the new treatment facility, I’m feeling the pressure and anticipating a rough new year as we blow through our savings accounts. 

10/2021 Update:

  Kevin completed his first cycle of chemotherapy and radiation for stage 4 testicular germ cell cancer on July 2nd. It was a long long road full of monthly hospital trips for blood transfusion, platelets etc. There was a fine line that his wonderful doctors had to walk, between killing off all his cancer and not killing him. Things got really rough, and his body held on and he was nearly Cancer free at the end of his cycle on August 26th. 

We had 3.5 wonderful months of quality time with our children and family to recover, gain  strength and putting weight back on ( and we got married!) while we were waiting for our 3 month follow up.

October 18th, Kevins dr declared him in early relapse. We have been referred to MD Anderson Cancer Center for this next stage. A very aggressive and dangerous form of chemotherapy alongside stem cell treatment will be used to fight this second round. 

I (Rebecca) was luck to be called back to work from furlough in late April. The flexibility granted from my job has been a blessing. Kevins community has stepped in for him TREMENDOUSLY to take the burden off of us as much as possible.

The resources we have been able to keep this far are coming to an end. On one income, we are faced with the reality that staying where we live won’t last much longer. We are luckily enough to have the opportunity to move into the family home but it will need some serious work before we can transition. (Wall repairs, a fullkitchen renovation, toilets, tub, paint, electrical)

There are still a lot of unknowns, we still have a lot of questions that will go unanswered for afew more weeks but what we do know is that we need to mentally and physically prepare for another battle. My husband Kevin is an absolute warrior!! He’s strong and supportive and taking this with his head held high

Feb 2021: Kevin Lewis has recently been diagnosed stage 4 adenocarcinoma. Kevin has begun chemotheraphy and will continue to fight this diagnosis for the foreseeable future. 

For those of you that know Kevin know how big his heart is and know his character. Kevin is a well respected Sommelier and has contributed a great deal to the local food and beverage community. He is a proud member of the Pima tribe, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, a legacy within the Native American community, the son of a fallen officer, and a loving father to two young children.  

He gives so much to everyone in his life and truly never expects anything in return. The next steps are going to be very challenging while he undergoes intense weekly chemotherapy.  The aggressive nature of his cancer makes it so he's unable to work for the foreseeable future and his longtime girlfriend and primary caretaker Rebecca has been furloughed from her hospitality industry job due to the pandemic since March 2020.  

We are asking for help with medical bills and living expenses so that Rebecca is able to care for Kevin during this scary and unforeseen time.  We are so unbelievably thankful for any and all support that you can offer. We feel so blessed to have such a loving support system! 

Venmo @RebeccaUribe