Support the Ellison Family

My brother Shane Ellison has been fighting stage 4 melanoma since December 2016 and stage 1b renal carcinoma since February 2021. From 2018-2020 our family was able to breathe a little easier as we felt like this nightmare was behind us. In the fall of 2020 new melanoma masses appeared in Shane’s neck which ignited these past 2 years of a relentless fight to get it under control. Shane has went through 9 surgeries to date.

This past March after a year of treatment, scans showed the melanoma has metastasized to the right frontal lobe of his brain and there was an additional small lesion located in the left posterior part of his brain. He immediately went through radiation and started a more aggressive approach to treatment. After receiving the 4th round he experienced a life threatening side effect called pneumonitis. This is inflammation of the lungs.

The treatment was working to treat the lesions in the brain and the lump that appeared in his neck. They were shrinking and dying. Unfortunately the pneumonitis requires high dose steroids and this caused a pause to treatment. We have recently found out that he will not be able to continue this treatment due to the pneumonitis and a new finding on scans. He was officially knocked out this clinical trial.

2 spots appeared in Shane’s liver and after a recent surgical biopsy they came back positive for melanoma also. While we wait for his lungs to clear up, Shane has started a new treatment to inhibit the BRAF mutation from moving in his body. Shane has been hit with a handful of side effects, but the inflammation of his eyes and lungs have been the most difficult to get under control.

When Shane and Candice found out it was back in 2020 they decided to switch to a PPO, so Shane could be treated by the best Melanoma doctor in the nation Dr. Ribas at UCLA. Shane was so excited to be treated at UCLA with the best of the best!

This fight comes with great expense. From multiple drives a week to UCLA, medical bills, large deductibles, medications, and additional out of network treatment with an acupuncturist that has worked wonders for Shane’s inflammation. We are praying that another clinical trial will allow Shane to participate when the inflammation is all cleared up. His secondary cancer renal carcinoma is also creating road blocks for his acceptance into new trials. We believe Dr. Ribas will find the best treatment option for Shane.

My brother is a hard working man who loves his family dearly and has worked so hard to provide for them for years. He was accustomed to working over time, and doing everything possible to make ends meet for 3 active teens. Candice has also had to cut back on her ability to work full time so she can care for him, drive him to appointments and advocate for the best possible care every step of the way.

My precious niece Kenzie, and nephews Nolan and Maddux have had their worlds rocked so many times through this battle. Kids and teens should be able to live life blissfully, but they have had to hold their breath, and pray for the health and complete healing of their Dad they love so much.

The heavy pressure of financial stress has taken its toll on this precious family. All I want is for him is to be able to focus on the fight! I know he can beat this! I know the Lord is with us during this time and he will see us through.

Shane and Candice are high school sweethearts who are still so deeply in love with each and best friends. Their talented babies are so special and my brother would do anything for them. He is the life of the party, the best story teller, an amazing son, father uncle, and brother, hard working and loyal to all of his family and friends. I ask that any donation would help towards his fight to beat this. The ability to breathe a little easier would do wonders for the stress that hits families in these situations. He has the perseverance and determination to beat this. Not one time has he complained. His anguish and sorrow is for his family and what they’re going through. He is a selfless man.

To know Shane is to love Shane. And I can’t thank our beautiful community enough for all the prayers and love that has already been sent their way.