Funeral Expenses for Earl Coburn
Donation protected
My name is Chastity Guevara and I am raising funds for my mom Kathleen (Kathy) Coburn. The funds would be used to help her provide my father, Earl Coburn, with a proper burial.
In Nov 2014 my dad, Earl Coburn, was diagnosed with stage 3 B lung cancer. In December 2014 he started agressive treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. In May 2015 he completed the treatments and continued seeing the variety of doctors he had. In Oct 2015 he was given the all clear cancer free he had so anxiously awaited. In Dec 2015 he went to the er with nauseousness and fatique. He was released after being rehydrated and tests were done.
One of the tests showed something on it that ER doc said needed to be reviewed by his primary oncologist. Aftervseeing the primary some more specified tests were done and again he was told no cancer. In January 2016 he continued having nauseousness, while also developing double vision, dizziness and weakness. He became really unable to do much of anything and regularly laid down and relaxed.
In Mid January the doc ordered a CT of his brain and discovered 4 tumors, 3 pretty small ones and 1 very large. The largest we were told is the size of a small golf ball or large walnut. He was referred to a neurosurgeon which he met with on Feb 3rd. He was then told he has 3 months probably less to live without brain surgery and that he should have it ASAP as within 2 weeks he would be too weak for surgery to be accomplished.
My father had been researching the Carbone Cancer Center at University Health in Wisconsin and wanted treatment there. My sister bought my parents plane tickets and they flew out to Wisconsin Feb 5th.
On Feb 5th my dad was still able to walk, but sometimes with an assist device like his walker. He arrived in Wisconsin and was still able to walk around. On Sunday the 7th he had some pretty bad dizzy spells and was unable to walk some of the time. On Monday the 8th he was unable to walk at all and had an appt with a neurosurgeon in Wisconsin at the Carbone Center.
That surgeon sent him to the ER for a full panel of tests and he has been hospitalized ever since. They determined he had pneumonia as well as the flu and some other bugs. They also found a relapse of cancer in his lungs and said his cancer in the brain was from the lungs and therefore said his cancer is incurable. They were still hopeful he could have surgery and afterwards radiation, but would need to get over the pneumonia first.
On Saturday the 13th the surgeon checked him out and said he was progressing and possibly the following Monday could get his surgery scheduled. While taking my mother to the doctor for her own illness, my dad had a stroke. The doctors came in to check on him and found him unresponsive. They sent him down for a CT scan and found a large blood clot in his brain. He was paralyzed on the left side and they said they could try a procedure to remove the clot. My mother agreed to the procedure and the clot was successfully removed and my dad did regain some use of his left side. He is very weak on that side, but is able to use it to some degree.
In order to have the procedure, a tube had to be inserted in my dad's mouth, a ventilator. My dad agreed for a short time to the tube. The doctors have checked him every day since. On Saturday night they did remove the tube for a few hours and found he was unable to oxygenate his lungs properly, maintaining levels in the low 80s and also had problems swallowing. They reinserted the tube on Sunday the 14th and have checked him for progress each day. Yesterday he really wanted the tube removed, but the doctors said he was unable to sustain his breathing.
During a meeting yesterday with the doctors, we were told my dad is not a candidate for surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. He is incurable and now they will shift focus to keeping him as comfortable as possible.
My dad agreed to leave the tube in for a bit longer. Today my dad decided to have it removed no matter what would happen. He said he has made his peace and is ready for whatever happens.
The tube was removed around 12:30 PM and thus far he is maintainging his breathing and has been able to swallow with some difficulty. The doctors have told us he probably has days, possibly a few weeks left at best if he continues to do well without the tube.
During this time, my mother has had to stay in a hotel because the university hospital is 2 hours away from the only person my parents know in Wisconsin, my sister. She needs to be close to the hospital to be available for the doctors and to be there for my dads comfort. Staying in a hotel has drained my parents financially as has my dad's doctors bills.
I originally set up this go find me to assist my parents in being able to spend their final moments together. My father was called to heaven yesterday morning after a long battle with cancer.
My father's wishes were to be buried in Michigan. He wanted his final resting place to be alongside family at Albion Memory Gardens next to his parents and siblings that preceded him in death.
The funds will be used to assist my mom with covering his final expenses as well as costs for lodging while in Michigan, food while there and any other costs to be able to have a proper good bye to my dad.
My dad was a very good soul and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He had asked me not to create a go fund me because he always wanted to make his own way, but everyone needs help once in a while. My mother and I would really appreciate any help you can offer to be able to properly say good bye.
In Nov 2014 my dad, Earl Coburn, was diagnosed with stage 3 B lung cancer. In December 2014 he started agressive treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. In May 2015 he completed the treatments and continued seeing the variety of doctors he had. In Oct 2015 he was given the all clear cancer free he had so anxiously awaited. In Dec 2015 he went to the er with nauseousness and fatique. He was released after being rehydrated and tests were done.
One of the tests showed something on it that ER doc said needed to be reviewed by his primary oncologist. Aftervseeing the primary some more specified tests were done and again he was told no cancer. In January 2016 he continued having nauseousness, while also developing double vision, dizziness and weakness. He became really unable to do much of anything and regularly laid down and relaxed.
In Mid January the doc ordered a CT of his brain and discovered 4 tumors, 3 pretty small ones and 1 very large. The largest we were told is the size of a small golf ball or large walnut. He was referred to a neurosurgeon which he met with on Feb 3rd. He was then told he has 3 months probably less to live without brain surgery and that he should have it ASAP as within 2 weeks he would be too weak for surgery to be accomplished.
My father had been researching the Carbone Cancer Center at University Health in Wisconsin and wanted treatment there. My sister bought my parents plane tickets and they flew out to Wisconsin Feb 5th.
On Feb 5th my dad was still able to walk, but sometimes with an assist device like his walker. He arrived in Wisconsin and was still able to walk around. On Sunday the 7th he had some pretty bad dizzy spells and was unable to walk some of the time. On Monday the 8th he was unable to walk at all and had an appt with a neurosurgeon in Wisconsin at the Carbone Center.
That surgeon sent him to the ER for a full panel of tests and he has been hospitalized ever since. They determined he had pneumonia as well as the flu and some other bugs. They also found a relapse of cancer in his lungs and said his cancer in the brain was from the lungs and therefore said his cancer is incurable. They were still hopeful he could have surgery and afterwards radiation, but would need to get over the pneumonia first.
On Saturday the 13th the surgeon checked him out and said he was progressing and possibly the following Monday could get his surgery scheduled. While taking my mother to the doctor for her own illness, my dad had a stroke. The doctors came in to check on him and found him unresponsive. They sent him down for a CT scan and found a large blood clot in his brain. He was paralyzed on the left side and they said they could try a procedure to remove the clot. My mother agreed to the procedure and the clot was successfully removed and my dad did regain some use of his left side. He is very weak on that side, but is able to use it to some degree.
In order to have the procedure, a tube had to be inserted in my dad's mouth, a ventilator. My dad agreed for a short time to the tube. The doctors have checked him every day since. On Saturday night they did remove the tube for a few hours and found he was unable to oxygenate his lungs properly, maintaining levels in the low 80s and also had problems swallowing. They reinserted the tube on Sunday the 14th and have checked him for progress each day. Yesterday he really wanted the tube removed, but the doctors said he was unable to sustain his breathing.
During a meeting yesterday with the doctors, we were told my dad is not a candidate for surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. He is incurable and now they will shift focus to keeping him as comfortable as possible.
My dad agreed to leave the tube in for a bit longer. Today my dad decided to have it removed no matter what would happen. He said he has made his peace and is ready for whatever happens.
The tube was removed around 12:30 PM and thus far he is maintainging his breathing and has been able to swallow with some difficulty. The doctors have told us he probably has days, possibly a few weeks left at best if he continues to do well without the tube.
During this time, my mother has had to stay in a hotel because the university hospital is 2 hours away from the only person my parents know in Wisconsin, my sister. She needs to be close to the hospital to be available for the doctors and to be there for my dads comfort. Staying in a hotel has drained my parents financially as has my dad's doctors bills.
I originally set up this go find me to assist my parents in being able to spend their final moments together. My father was called to heaven yesterday morning after a long battle with cancer.
My father's wishes were to be buried in Michigan. He wanted his final resting place to be alongside family at Albion Memory Gardens next to his parents and siblings that preceded him in death.
The funds will be used to assist my mom with covering his final expenses as well as costs for lodging while in Michigan, food while there and any other costs to be able to have a proper good bye to my dad.
My dad was a very good soul and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He had asked me not to create a go fund me because he always wanted to make his own way, but everyone needs help once in a while. My mother and I would really appreciate any help you can offer to be able to properly say good bye.
Organizer and beneficiary
Chastity Ann Coburn Guevara
Organizer
Arizona City, AZ
Kathleen Coburn
Beneficiary