TEAM JEFF
Donation protected
I know what your thinking, "another Gofundme account" as you scroll past it on facebook and settle on watching a cat video instead of reading the story. I've done it too. But i am begging you to read this story and if you're not able to donate, at least consider sharing the page.
I've worked with this man and his wife for the past 15+ years that I have been at the Warehouse. Jeff and Lisa are two of the hardest, dedicated workers that I know. If anyone knows warehouse work...it's LONG hours and very HARD work...Jeff makes this job ENJOYABLE because he's just a JOY to be around! He's SO funny that he makes 10 long hours go by fast because he's all about working hard and having a good time!
In October 2015 Jeff Adams was diagnosed with Stage 3 Esophageal Cancer. He underwent 6 weeks of chemotherapy and 36 radiation treatments before he could have his first surgery. All during this time he continued to go to work, he works in a warehouse where he is on his feet for 10 hours a day. Of course, there were days when he would have to leave early because he was so sick, but every morning he got up and gave it his all. In February 2016 he had an open esophagectomy which is a procedure in which they removed his entire esophagus(throat) and moved his stomach up. His stomach was now serving as his esophagus. He was off work for 8 weeks after this procedure and then returned to work with a feeding tube in place to provide him with nutrients. He could swallow some blended food and liquids but almost always threw up after meals because food would get caught in his new "throat". They did 22 separate procedures over the next year to try and stretch his new throat to keep it open enough for him to swallow. None of them worked. He could swallow for a few days and then he was back to blending all his food into a liquid, and sometimes even that wouldn't go down.
Even while Jeff was hungry because he couldn't eat half of the time and always in pain...he still put in the long 10 hour days...unloading trucks while getting sick in trash cans next to his door...still pulling his weight around the dock. While all of us on the dock looking out for Jeff because we all knew his condition wasn't good...he kept pushing on...even coming by to check on everyone once in awhile to see if WE were doing ok.
Finally Dr. said enough. The plan was to go in and remove the portion of the throat that had formed all the scar tissue and was causing the stricture which was not allowing him to swallow. Unfortunately 2 hrs into a 10 hour surgery they discovered the scar tissue had adhered to his heart and aorta and moving any portion of this would almost certainly cause him to bleed to death on the table. The only option was to create a fistula coming out of his neck that would allow his spit to drain into a bag, and this required a plastic surgeon to perform a skin graft and of course replace the feeding tube. He went into this surgery thinking he would wake up and be able to FINALLY eat again and now he will not be able to have anything by mouth for at least 3 months. After the 3 months they will then attempt to use his colon as his new esophagus. This is obviously another very serious surgery. He will not be able to return to work for another 6 months at minimum. His wife, Lisa, has exhausted all of her vacation and paid time off taking care of him and taking him to Dr. appointments. This family needs some help. They are truly two of the most hardworking and selfless people i know. They would literally give a stranger the shirt off their back. They have had so much heartbreak over the past year and a half and this most recent set-back has left them feeling hopeless. If your able to donate to help with the their everyday bills while Jeff is off work over the next 6+ months it would mean the world to them. They deserve to catch a break. Thank you for taking the time to read their story and if your not able to donate, prayers are also greatly appreciated. God Bless. Donations may also be mailed to their daughter Stephanie Redding.
(1250 Homestead Rd SW
Burlington, KS 66839
I've worked with this man and his wife for the past 15+ years that I have been at the Warehouse. Jeff and Lisa are two of the hardest, dedicated workers that I know. If anyone knows warehouse work...it's LONG hours and very HARD work...Jeff makes this job ENJOYABLE because he's just a JOY to be around! He's SO funny that he makes 10 long hours go by fast because he's all about working hard and having a good time!
In October 2015 Jeff Adams was diagnosed with Stage 3 Esophageal Cancer. He underwent 6 weeks of chemotherapy and 36 radiation treatments before he could have his first surgery. All during this time he continued to go to work, he works in a warehouse where he is on his feet for 10 hours a day. Of course, there were days when he would have to leave early because he was so sick, but every morning he got up and gave it his all. In February 2016 he had an open esophagectomy which is a procedure in which they removed his entire esophagus(throat) and moved his stomach up. His stomach was now serving as his esophagus. He was off work for 8 weeks after this procedure and then returned to work with a feeding tube in place to provide him with nutrients. He could swallow some blended food and liquids but almost always threw up after meals because food would get caught in his new "throat". They did 22 separate procedures over the next year to try and stretch his new throat to keep it open enough for him to swallow. None of them worked. He could swallow for a few days and then he was back to blending all his food into a liquid, and sometimes even that wouldn't go down.
Even while Jeff was hungry because he couldn't eat half of the time and always in pain...he still put in the long 10 hour days...unloading trucks while getting sick in trash cans next to his door...still pulling his weight around the dock. While all of us on the dock looking out for Jeff because we all knew his condition wasn't good...he kept pushing on...even coming by to check on everyone once in awhile to see if WE were doing ok.
Finally Dr. said enough. The plan was to go in and remove the portion of the throat that had formed all the scar tissue and was causing the stricture which was not allowing him to swallow. Unfortunately 2 hrs into a 10 hour surgery they discovered the scar tissue had adhered to his heart and aorta and moving any portion of this would almost certainly cause him to bleed to death on the table. The only option was to create a fistula coming out of his neck that would allow his spit to drain into a bag, and this required a plastic surgeon to perform a skin graft and of course replace the feeding tube. He went into this surgery thinking he would wake up and be able to FINALLY eat again and now he will not be able to have anything by mouth for at least 3 months. After the 3 months they will then attempt to use his colon as his new esophagus. This is obviously another very serious surgery. He will not be able to return to work for another 6 months at minimum. His wife, Lisa, has exhausted all of her vacation and paid time off taking care of him and taking him to Dr. appointments. This family needs some help. They are truly two of the most hardworking and selfless people i know. They would literally give a stranger the shirt off their back. They have had so much heartbreak over the past year and a half and this most recent set-back has left them feeling hopeless. If your able to donate to help with the their everyday bills while Jeff is off work over the next 6+ months it would mean the world to them. They deserve to catch a break. Thank you for taking the time to read their story and if your not able to donate, prayers are also greatly appreciated. God Bless. Donations may also be mailed to their daughter Stephanie Redding.
(1250 Homestead Rd SW
Burlington, KS 66839
Organizer and beneficiary
Lacey Coyer
Organizer
Parker, KS
Stephanie Redding
Beneficiary