Dean Monette—Scientist, Wrestler, Fighter
Donation protected
I am starting this funding effort on behalf of the family of Dean Monette. Dean has been diagnosed with Stage 3 throat cancer and is going in for surgery on Tuesday (11/12/19). Dean’s cancer battle began 6 months ago when he started feeling a lump in his throat and had difficulty swallowing. Following a visit to the doctor, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 throat cancer, despite never smoking and living a healthy lifestyle. A regimen of aggressive chemotherapy and radiation over 8 weeks initially seemed promising but, unfortunately, a PET scan a few weeks ago revealed that the cancer is radiation-resistant and still there.
Dean is now facing the biggest fight of his life and going in for the 12-14 hour surgery to remove the aggressive cancer. This will mean removing parts of his throat, a large portion of his tongue, and the lymph nodes in his neck. He will require reconstructive surgery to replace the parts of his tongue being removed; he will be breathing out of a tracheotomy tube and will be getting fed via a feeding tube while his body heals and recovers. He will have to learn how to eat, drink, and speak again.
Since his diagnosis, Dean has received an outpouring of love and support from family and friends near and far, which is because he has made a positive impact on the lives of so many people locally and abroad. Dean grew up in Williamston, a small town in Michigan an hour from Ann Arbor, and embodies the midwestern heart and soul.
He has touched countless lives in the communities he has lived in, always being a positive force and an agent for good. In addition to caring for his wife, Barb, and son, Jake, Dean volunteers with the local high school wrestling team and at his church. A few times a year, he heads off to Haiti to volunteer at a non-profit offering medical care and support to the people there; recently, he initiated another effort in Haiti to improve agricultural diversity and yields and provide food for children’s school lunches. He is generous with his time and is ready to listen, extend himself, and lend a hand. There are too many examples of this, but most recently he was asked to volunteer as a wrestling coach for the Williamston High School team, and a group of the team was able to make the state finals this year—kudos, Dean!
Dean also lived in South Florida for 15 years while working full time and completing his PhD. Despite knowing that a PhD in biology was probably not the path to financial security, he wanted to arm himself with knowledge and tools to help make this world a better place. This is where I met Dean, and I have been proud to call him my friend and colleague for over a decade.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. Dean and Barb are not comfortable asking for financial help; however, the medical bills are mounting and it is unknown how long Dean will be unable to work. In addition, Barb cannot work due to debilitating headaches. As a friend and part of his broader network and community, I felt compelled to reach out and let you know about the Monettes’ situation and their needs.
Dean was a high school champion wrestler and has been a fighter all his life—he knows all about getting knocked down and getting up again—but this will be Dean’s biggest fight, yet. Your help/support/love for Dean and his family is very much appreciated.
Dean is now facing the biggest fight of his life and going in for the 12-14 hour surgery to remove the aggressive cancer. This will mean removing parts of his throat, a large portion of his tongue, and the lymph nodes in his neck. He will require reconstructive surgery to replace the parts of his tongue being removed; he will be breathing out of a tracheotomy tube and will be getting fed via a feeding tube while his body heals and recovers. He will have to learn how to eat, drink, and speak again.
Since his diagnosis, Dean has received an outpouring of love and support from family and friends near and far, which is because he has made a positive impact on the lives of so many people locally and abroad. Dean grew up in Williamston, a small town in Michigan an hour from Ann Arbor, and embodies the midwestern heart and soul.
He has touched countless lives in the communities he has lived in, always being a positive force and an agent for good. In addition to caring for his wife, Barb, and son, Jake, Dean volunteers with the local high school wrestling team and at his church. A few times a year, he heads off to Haiti to volunteer at a non-profit offering medical care and support to the people there; recently, he initiated another effort in Haiti to improve agricultural diversity and yields and provide food for children’s school lunches. He is generous with his time and is ready to listen, extend himself, and lend a hand. There are too many examples of this, but most recently he was asked to volunteer as a wrestling coach for the Williamston High School team, and a group of the team was able to make the state finals this year—kudos, Dean!
Dean also lived in South Florida for 15 years while working full time and completing his PhD. Despite knowing that a PhD in biology was probably not the path to financial security, he wanted to arm himself with knowledge and tools to help make this world a better place. This is where I met Dean, and I have been proud to call him my friend and colleague for over a decade.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. Dean and Barb are not comfortable asking for financial help; however, the medical bills are mounting and it is unknown how long Dean will be unable to work. In addition, Barb cannot work due to debilitating headaches. As a friend and part of his broader network and community, I felt compelled to reach out and let you know about the Monettes’ situation and their needs.
Dean was a high school champion wrestler and has been a fighter all his life—he knows all about getting knocked down and getting up again—but this will be Dean’s biggest fight, yet. Your help/support/love for Dean and his family is very much appreciated.
Fundraising team: Team Dean (2)
Sharon Ewe
Organizer
St. Petersburg, FL
Dean Monette
Beneficiary
Bruce Sharfstein
Team member
