#LewisStrong Coach Osia Lewis Cancer Battle
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On January 11, 2017, Osia Lewis, assistant football coach at Vanderbilt University, went in for testing after feeling like he had a flu bug only to learn that he had an inoperable tumor on his liver from a very rare form of cancer called Cholangiocarcinoma . While devastated by the news, Osia's response to this adversity was symbolic of his spirit and faith: "I am going to will it to move"
Osia's wife of 30 years, Darlene (Dar) ,who had already lost her father to cancer, also tragically lost her mother ,Karleen, who passed after falling ill in Nashville and being hospitalized for 3 months while visiting them from Oregon, shortly after Osia's diagnosis in 2017. Despite these hardships, the Lewis family grew even tighter as Dar regained strength once again to be his rock in this fight through the next three years of intense chemo and cancer treatment, while their children Marvin, 25, and Kiana, 23, also moved back home to be by their parents side in support.
Dar journaled their good days and bad through her CaringBridge Journal which unfolded as a testament of the power of love, faith, and the relentless commitment to never give up on the treatment or each other. During this period the cancer also responded positively to treatment and the tumor had shrunk without spreading to any other parts of his body. This gave hope for the future and a return to the football field he so dearly loved for Osia.
On February 17th, 2020 however the Lewis family received devastating news on two fronts: the cancer lesion had begun to grow and was not responding to the current treatment and that the position Coach Lewis had held with Vanderbilt would not be funded for the upcoming football season effective June 30th.
The Lewis family is now looking to move back from Tennessee to his childhood home of Tuscon, Arizona to be closer to extended family, son Marvin who is now in El Paso, TX (about 4 1/2 hours away), and Kiana is moving with them. Osia hopes to utilize his (31) years of experience as a college coach or in athletic administration in support of a program. You can read more about his illustrious career as an All-American player and voted 'Most Inspirational' by his peers at Oregon State, his pro career with the AFL , and coaching legacy at Oregon State, San Diego State, UTEP , Vanderbilt and others here
With the loss of their sole source of income, the loss of medical coverage at Vanderbilt in June, and the upcoming costs for the additional cancer treatment, the burden on the Lewis Family is far too heavy of a load to carry alone.
It is with this message that I come to you as a former player of Osia's with a plea to surround the Lewis Family in love and healing prayers while also offering whatever you might be able to share to help lighten their burden and allow them to focus on beating the cancer.
I spent (5) years with the Lewis family while he was my linebacker coach at Oregon State. I was from California and could not always travel home for holidays and got homesick from time to time as did many of the out of state players. Dar and "Captain Lew" as we called him always had a seat at their table or a place in their home for us; we were truly loved as their own. Some 30 years later I can still pick up the phone and say hi like we never left each other. I have heard stories from many other players who also have credited him with preventing them from suicide or other challenges in life and making them the men they are today.
I estimate Coach Lewis in his 31 years of coaching has impacted the lives of over 2,900 players at the collegiate level in one form or another. He never has given up on the field or in life on his players and I am hoping those that were fortunate enough to play, coach, watch from the stands, were part of a program with him, or are of generous hearts and willing to be of service, will do the same for him.
The offerings of support received will go directly to the relocation costs to return the family to Tuscon and to provide the financial means to cover out of pocket and uncovered treatment plus medical expenses until Osia can find a new football program to be a part of, which is the ultimate goal of this campaign and the Lewis family.
As a silver lining, his primary doctor at Vanderbilt has a colleague that is a nationally known specialist in Biliary cancers and is based out of the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tuscon. It is my hope through our collective generosity that by June 1st we can rally behind Osia, Dar, Kiana and Marvin & meet or exceed the support goal. What better way could we all share in gratitude to Osia and his family for the years of service he has given to his athletes and the game than to send their family off with a fresh start and uplifted spirits for the continued fight ahead. All roads are pointing home for the Lewis Family, please help as you can and share this campaign in making this journey possible. #LewisStrong
Osia's wife of 30 years, Darlene (Dar) ,who had already lost her father to cancer, also tragically lost her mother ,Karleen, who passed after falling ill in Nashville and being hospitalized for 3 months while visiting them from Oregon, shortly after Osia's diagnosis in 2017. Despite these hardships, the Lewis family grew even tighter as Dar regained strength once again to be his rock in this fight through the next three years of intense chemo and cancer treatment, while their children Marvin, 25, and Kiana, 23, also moved back home to be by their parents side in support.
Dar journaled their good days and bad through her CaringBridge Journal which unfolded as a testament of the power of love, faith, and the relentless commitment to never give up on the treatment or each other. During this period the cancer also responded positively to treatment and the tumor had shrunk without spreading to any other parts of his body. This gave hope for the future and a return to the football field he so dearly loved for Osia.
On February 17th, 2020 however the Lewis family received devastating news on two fronts: the cancer lesion had begun to grow and was not responding to the current treatment and that the position Coach Lewis had held with Vanderbilt would not be funded for the upcoming football season effective June 30th.
The Lewis family is now looking to move back from Tennessee to his childhood home of Tuscon, Arizona to be closer to extended family, son Marvin who is now in El Paso, TX (about 4 1/2 hours away), and Kiana is moving with them. Osia hopes to utilize his (31) years of experience as a college coach or in athletic administration in support of a program. You can read more about his illustrious career as an All-American player and voted 'Most Inspirational' by his peers at Oregon State, his pro career with the AFL , and coaching legacy at Oregon State, San Diego State, UTEP , Vanderbilt and others here
With the loss of their sole source of income, the loss of medical coverage at Vanderbilt in June, and the upcoming costs for the additional cancer treatment, the burden on the Lewis Family is far too heavy of a load to carry alone.
It is with this message that I come to you as a former player of Osia's with a plea to surround the Lewis Family in love and healing prayers while also offering whatever you might be able to share to help lighten their burden and allow them to focus on beating the cancer.
I spent (5) years with the Lewis family while he was my linebacker coach at Oregon State. I was from California and could not always travel home for holidays and got homesick from time to time as did many of the out of state players. Dar and "Captain Lew" as we called him always had a seat at their table or a place in their home for us; we were truly loved as their own. Some 30 years later I can still pick up the phone and say hi like we never left each other. I have heard stories from many other players who also have credited him with preventing them from suicide or other challenges in life and making them the men they are today.
I estimate Coach Lewis in his 31 years of coaching has impacted the lives of over 2,900 players at the collegiate level in one form or another. He never has given up on the field or in life on his players and I am hoping those that were fortunate enough to play, coach, watch from the stands, were part of a program with him, or are of generous hearts and willing to be of service, will do the same for him.
The offerings of support received will go directly to the relocation costs to return the family to Tuscon and to provide the financial means to cover out of pocket and uncovered treatment plus medical expenses until Osia can find a new football program to be a part of, which is the ultimate goal of this campaign and the Lewis family.
As a silver lining, his primary doctor at Vanderbilt has a colleague that is a nationally known specialist in Biliary cancers and is based out of the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tuscon. It is my hope through our collective generosity that by June 1st we can rally behind Osia, Dar, Kiana and Marvin & meet or exceed the support goal. What better way could we all share in gratitude to Osia and his family for the years of service he has given to his athletes and the game than to send their family off with a fresh start and uplifted spirits for the continued fight ahead. All roads are pointing home for the Lewis Family, please help as you can and share this campaign in making this journey possible. #LewisStrong
Organizer and beneficiary
Rico Petrini
Organizer
Nashville, TN
Darlene Lewis
Beneficiary