JoeFundMe for Brain Cancer Treatment

In the afternoon of September 14, Joe had a sudden seizure at his desk while working from home. Vanita rushed him to the Vanderbilt ER and after many scans in the early hours of the next morning, it was discovered that Joe had a brain tumor.

 

Two days later it was surgically removed. In the coming weeks the tumor was discovered to be a grade 3 anaplastic oligodendroglioma and malignant. Now in late October, Joe has now started his 6 weeks of radiation to be followed by 6 months of chemotherapy, with treatment to proceed from there.

 

As many of you know, Joe is a director and filmmaker and a beloved part of our freelance artist community here in Nashville. Being self-employed, he and Vanita fully pay for their insurance instead of accessing benefits others may have through their employers. Joe and Vanita's family and friends are asking for help in supporting them in whatever way possible, no matter how large or small. These funds raised here will help to pay their medical bills, insurance premiums and help with cost of living while Joe is going through treatment.

 

A note from Joe --

"Thank you all so much for the love and support that you have generously given through this last month already. Between visits, text messages, meals, gifts, donations and an overwhelming response to the t-shirt campaign that my dear friend Natalie set up (which has helped cover some medical costs already), Vanita and I have felt so surrounded through such a long and exhausting time.

 

My oncologist encouraged us that this specific kind of tumor/brain cancer is known for long periods of inactivity. It most likely will come back, so we’re cleaning up as much as we can of it now and hoping for more discoveries and advancements by that time.

 

Our close community and family encouraged us to doing this fundraiser as the road ahead of us will be long and uncertain. We already have been so supported by all of our friends and family near and far and cannot be more grateful for the love. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you <3"