Forever in Our Hearts, Cheng Vang

Our world has turned upside down, and there are no words to express how our family feels.

Our beloved Brother-in-law Cheng Vang lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. His battle started unnoticed in 2020 when he started to lose his hearing. In November 2021, he tested positive for COVID; from then on, his health began declining. We believe that COVID helped cancer spread at a rapid speed, destroying all of the healthy cells. It wasn’t until May 2022 that he realized a mass was growing on his neck, affecting his breathing, speaking, and eating. In mid-June 2022, my brother-in-law and sister received the devastating news that he was diagnosed with stage 4 Nasopharyngeal carcinoma cancer. It is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the nasopharynx, including trouble and difficulty breathing, speaking, or hearing.

The doctors said the severity of cancer will give him only six months to live. Therefore, they made a difficult decision and proceeded with chemo to try to extend his life with us. On Monday, August 22, he started his first session of chemotherapy. He had a tracheotomy to help him breathe and a gastrostomy to help fuel his body. Unfortunately, after his first chemo session, my Brother-in-law Cheng had multiple strokes and went unconscious due to the giant brain tumor compressing the veins on his neck. He then had to be dependent on a ventilator. His body, organs, and heart were working overtime to pump blood—it caused him too much pain.

On Tuesday, August 30, 2022, a little before 10 PM, before visiting hours were over, my Sister May, ALONE, ALL BY HERSELF, she decided she should go home to my nephew Cody. We are sure he wanted to be alone with my sister one last time before departing. Before she could leave, he wanted to ensure her that he would suffer no more. I can imagine hearing him say, “Hey May, if you are going to go home, I am going home too.” My brother-in-law Cheng decided he no longer wanted to feel sorrow and pain, no longer wanted to suffer, and took his last breath. My brother-in-law wished to fight until the end; he seriously did, but God had other plans.

My Brother-in-law Cheng leaves behind his entire Vang Family, my Sister May, and six children: Lesley, Salena, Nikki, Justin, Kyle, and Cody. He wanted to fight to the end for his children and my Sister May.

My Sister May did NOT ask me or anyone else to create this GoFundMe; I did it on MY account. I am asking for any donation, no matter the amount, to help my Sister May during this difficult time. ALL DONATIONS will go directly towards any outstanding medical and travel expenses accumulated during this emotional period, and MOST IMPORTANTLY to support my Sister May FINANCIALLY since she is on leave and no longer has my Brother-in-law’s financial support.

This GoFundMe is also for family and friends who will not be able to attend the funeral and would like to send my Sister May any monetary donation. This fundraiser will close a week after the funeral.

I, along with my family, ask you all to keep May, Lesley, Salena, Nikki, Justin, Kyle, Cody, and the entire Vang Family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We love you so much Txiv Laus & we will forever miss you and your presence!