Support Dave's Fight Against Cancer

Dave Jolicoeur is fighting a battle against Pancreatic Cancer. He needs your help to win!

Dave Jolicoeur is one of those people in Grand Rapids that everyone knows. Years ago he owned Central Photo in downtown Grand Rapids where folks went to have their film processed and prints made. From 2000 thru 2008 he owned and operated Rendezvous II where many of us spent evenings and weekends playing pool and darts, having a few drinks, and dancing to a DJ or favorite live band. Now he commutes to work every day as a laboratory tech for U.S. Steel's Minntac in Mountain Iron.

Dave and Missy have been together for more than eight years and are engaged to be married in 2016. Missy's daughters, Justyne, 15, and Hannah, 11, have both lovingly renamed Dave as Davey Daddy.

On February 10th, Dave Jolicoeur was at work when be became dizzy and short of breath. An X-ray at the emergency room of Grand Itasca showed nodules in his lungs and a pulmonary embolism. Early the next morning he was transferred to St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth.
At St. Luke's, a CT Scan of Dave’s torso showed a lesion on his pancreas, and multiple lesions on his lungs and liver. An ultrasound of his legs showed he had two blood clots in his legs.
The next day Dave underwent the first two of three surgeries. Surgeons biopsied his pancreas and removed three gallstones blocking his liver's bile duct. The following morning, he had an IVC filter inserted to reduce the chance of further pulmonary embolisms.
On Feb. 13, Dave was given the devastating news that he had Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer.
On Feb. 16, Dave and Missy met with their primary physician at Grand Itasca and were referred to a visiting specialist in oncology and hematology from the University of Minnesota. Following their initial meeting, the oncologist scheduled a PET scan and blood draw; the results confirmed the Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer diagnosis. The good news, however, was that it has not yet spread to his lungs or lymph nodes.
Dave begins chemo treatments March 12. He will have two rounds of chemo to begin, with a rotation of three weeks on and one week off for the next two months. He will be unable to work during this time. Dave, Missy and the oncologist are optimistic that Dave will respond well to treatment.

Dave and Missy are extremely grateful for all the help they have received already. "When something like this happens so suddenly, it feels like life has pulled the rug out from under you," Dave says. "The love, support and generosity we've experienced since this diagnosis is absolutely overwhelming. We are so very thankful! It's tough to put your family thru not only the emotional stress, but also the financial stress this causes. So I personally thank all of you for your financial help."

As friends of Dave and Missy, we ask you to donate your time, money and prayers to help them fight this battle and win! Thank you!!


Missy and Dave have opened up a bank account at American Bank in Grand Rapids. Any donations you wish to make can be dropped off there or sent to:
David Jolicoeur
Attn: Benefit Fund
428 NW 4th Street
Grand Rapids, MN 55744