Joe’s health challenges began in September 2021, when he went to the ER three times within four days. On his third visit, after developing a cough during a 15-hour stay, doctors discovered a complete blockage in his descending colon. He underwent emergency surgery for a colostomy and spent 17 days in the hospital. Recovery kept him out of work for nearly two months.

In March 2022, Joe returned for a planned surgery to reverse the colostomy, remove his gallbladder, spleen, tail of his pancreas, and a large abdominal mass. His recovery was difficult, requiring a 30-day hospital stay during strict Covid restrictions. Music therapy became a highlight for him during that time. Thankfully, the mass was benign, and oncology estimated less than a 4% chance of recurrence. Follow-up scans at one year were clear, and another was scheduled for year three.

In April 2025, Joe’s three-year MRI revealed a new growth near his small intestine. A biopsy in May confirmed the need for surgery, and in August 2025, his trusted surgical team removed the tumor along with part of his small intestine. However, after this surgery, a series of issues have kept Joe in the hospital with multiple more surgeries.

Hospital Course After August 2025 Surgery:

Aug 19 – Initial tumor removal surgery.

Aug 22 – Transferred to Regions Hospital due to internal bleeding.

Aug 23 (3am) – Second open surgery to wash out a liter of blood from his abdomen.

Aug 26 – Severe pain prompted Casey to stay overnight by his side.

Aug 27 – Third open surgery after endoscopy revealed bleeding ulcers; surgeons also discovered gangrene in part of his colon, requiring another colostomy and further resections. Surgery lasted over 6 hours.

Sept 4 – Emergency endoscopy to address internal bleeding; multiple ulcers and clots found.

Sept 5 (3am) – Additional procedure to coil off a bleeding vein.

Sept 11 – Moved from SICU back to the surgery floor.

Sept 15 – Scheduled endoscopy to assess healing and determine readiness for tube feeding.

Currently, Joe has been unable to eat since his surgery on August 19. He remains on TPN (IV nutrition) due to malnutrition risk. Doctors hope to begin tube feeding soon, depending on his next endoscopy results. His discharge date is still uncertain, but the plan includes a stay in Transitional Care (up to four weeks) once he leaves the hospital.

Joe has been through an incredibly difficult medical journey, with multiple major surgeries, long hospital stays, and ongoing complications that have kept him from working and put a heavy strain on his family. As he continues to fight through recovery, the medical bills, travel costs, and everyday living expenses have quickly added up. We are asking for your support to help ease the financial burden so Joe and Casey can focus on his healing instead of the mounting stress. Any donation—big or small—means so much and will go directly toward Joe’s care and recovery.