Joe's Fight to Breathe Easier
Donation protected
In a blink of an eye, life as you know it can change.
On June 2nd, my Uncle Joe’s world flipped upside down and it will never be as it was before. It all began with what he thought was an upper respiratory infection that eventually led him to the emergency room because he couldn’t breathe. He was admitted to the hospital and the doctors ordered X-rays, CT scans and an MRI in hopes of determining the underlying cause to his current situation.
(Joe has been through a lot---heartbreak, loss of loved ones, tragedy, health issues and more, but you would never know it. He has been on permanent disability for many years due to severe back pain for which he has undergone multiple back surgeries. You would never hear him complain or be a burden on others. Even in pain, he is always more concerned about others and making them smile. Checking himself into the ER and being admitted without notifying others until the next day just reiterates how selfless he is.)
After a week of test after test, he was finally diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer, but he was doing much better than when he initially was admitted. Finally, after about two weeks in the ICU, they believed he was at a point where he could leave the hospital and stay with family who could help him get the next steps into place and continue to monitor his oxygen needs.
Everything was getting set up and everyone involved was learning along the way. Home nurse and physical therapist visits were scheduled, oxygen tanks ordered and doctor visits scheduled. Unfortunately, Joe struggled to keep his oxygen levels up and eventually had to use both the oxygen machine and an additional oxygen tank just to keep his levels somewhat reasonable. The physical therapist came out for her second visit on day 5 and noticed that Joe was declining at such a rate that paramedics should be called out. Once paramedics had him stabilized, his brothers took him to the hospital that his oncologist services, approximately 45 minutes away. Although we were very concerned with this turn of events, in some ways it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
He was admitted to the hospital and was able to start his first round of chemo a week early. Although he handled the chemo well, we discovered that it had spread throughout his lungs and lymph nodes, thus putting him into Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer. After more than a week in the hospital, he was released after his third dose of chemo round 1. It was night and day compared to the first time he was released from the hospital. He has been able to keep his oxygen levels up and requires less from the oxygen machine. He is able to move around more and even sits at the table to sit and eat with family.
Joe is staying positive and strong! He has always been a fighter, especially for those that he loves. He will fight this battle with all the strength he has with his family cheering him on. Please consider donating any dollar amount you can spare and/or share this GoFundMe page with family and friends. Lung Cancer is one of the most expensive cancers to treat. Stress is not good on the body and if we were able to relieve some of the financial burden he faces, he could concentrate on just fighting the cancer.
Thank you for taking the time to read this all of the way through and any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
On June 2nd, my Uncle Joe’s world flipped upside down and it will never be as it was before. It all began with what he thought was an upper respiratory infection that eventually led him to the emergency room because he couldn’t breathe. He was admitted to the hospital and the doctors ordered X-rays, CT scans and an MRI in hopes of determining the underlying cause to his current situation.
(Joe has been through a lot---heartbreak, loss of loved ones, tragedy, health issues and more, but you would never know it. He has been on permanent disability for many years due to severe back pain for which he has undergone multiple back surgeries. You would never hear him complain or be a burden on others. Even in pain, he is always more concerned about others and making them smile. Checking himself into the ER and being admitted without notifying others until the next day just reiterates how selfless he is.)
After a week of test after test, he was finally diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer, but he was doing much better than when he initially was admitted. Finally, after about two weeks in the ICU, they believed he was at a point where he could leave the hospital and stay with family who could help him get the next steps into place and continue to monitor his oxygen needs.
Everything was getting set up and everyone involved was learning along the way. Home nurse and physical therapist visits were scheduled, oxygen tanks ordered and doctor visits scheduled. Unfortunately, Joe struggled to keep his oxygen levels up and eventually had to use both the oxygen machine and an additional oxygen tank just to keep his levels somewhat reasonable. The physical therapist came out for her second visit on day 5 and noticed that Joe was declining at such a rate that paramedics should be called out. Once paramedics had him stabilized, his brothers took him to the hospital that his oncologist services, approximately 45 minutes away. Although we were very concerned with this turn of events, in some ways it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
He was admitted to the hospital and was able to start his first round of chemo a week early. Although he handled the chemo well, we discovered that it had spread throughout his lungs and lymph nodes, thus putting him into Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer. After more than a week in the hospital, he was released after his third dose of chemo round 1. It was night and day compared to the first time he was released from the hospital. He has been able to keep his oxygen levels up and requires less from the oxygen machine. He is able to move around more and even sits at the table to sit and eat with family.
Joe is staying positive and strong! He has always been a fighter, especially for those that he loves. He will fight this battle with all the strength he has with his family cheering him on. Please consider donating any dollar amount you can spare and/or share this GoFundMe page with family and friends. Lung Cancer is one of the most expensive cancers to treat. Stress is not good on the body and if we were able to relieve some of the financial burden he faces, he could concentrate on just fighting the cancer.
Thank you for taking the time to read this all of the way through and any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Organizer and beneficiary
Irene Wood
Organizer
Haslet, TX
Steve Wood
Beneficiary