Being for the Benefit of Josh Shapera

I originally started this GoFundMe the week Josh was diagnosed with lymphoma. These updates go out to all the previous donors, so most of you that everything became much more serious quickly and we lost him on December 18. Josh left this world feeling happy and peaceful. He was overwhelmed by love. People contributed so much… but they also reached out to babysit, sent gifts for kids, brought meals, fixed things around the house and connected Alex with supports. They sent Josh video messages, stood outside the hospital with signs, sent texts that Alex would read to him or songs that she would play. Alex laughed and told me he had turned into such a crybaby. He spent his last days with Alex by his side every minute. On his last day his family and close friends were able to touch him and say good bye. He created so much in this world, and he left it feeling very loved.

I plan on keeping the Go Fund Me active for at least another year, while Alex finds her footing. I know the next holiday season will be hard, and I’d like to continue supporting the kids during that. I’ll post details here about any memorial that Alex does once its safe. She wanted to collect photos and memories for everyone to see, comment on, etc. I started a google photo stream which can be accessed here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QRXoDBsUo7xBnJP68  Please upload any pictures you’d like to share. She’d love it.

Alex told me she didn’t think she could do this on her own but I’ve been blown away with how great she has been with the kids during this. I know she’ll figure out how to stand on her own in but until then she still needs you. The pandemic has been hard… many of us are lonely and scared. This is compounded for a single mom of two, grieving. More than money, she needs a community for herself and her children, especially people that knew and loved their dad. Please text her, email her, call her, send her cards. If you’re local, think of ways to reach out and help. She needs all of us. 


Original Go Fund Me below

Hello friends and family... hoping to share a few words about our good friends Josh and Alex. A few years ago, Josh was the lucky recipient of a liver from an organ donor (donate!) and thus many extra years with his beautiful family. 2020 has hit them pretty hard.  A few days after celebrating his three year Liverversary and birthday he was diagnosed with a cancer commonly seen in transplant patients. He is currently at University of Chicago, and began chemotherapy treatment last night. A Caring Bridge account is being set up with a meal train for Alex and the kids. Josh will be in the hospital for a while and can't get any visitors, but Alex has asked everyone to call and text him as much as you can. 

As you can imagine, going through something like this once does't make it easier for them. The support Alex and the children need - mentally, physically, logistically, financially... everything is harder during Covid times. My hope is that they won't need to handle it on their own. Any contributions that you can make will go directly to helping them get child-care, house-care, head-care, grocery-care, cancer-care, etc. I understand that times are hard for so many of us right now. If you're able to help in any capacity, it is very appreciated.