Ensure a Peaceful Farewell for John

My name is Jeannette Ruemmler. My husband John, father of 5 with the youngest only being 13, grandpa to 4 little ones and 2 on the way, was diagnosed in August 2021 with stage 1 adenocarcinoma lung cancer. After the diagnosis, John had a wedge resection of his right upper lung that didn't go well. He then lost his job due to FMLA running out. He then found out the cancer had metastasized to his outer chest wall due to the surgery complications. He had that removed in March 2022. Then, in December 2022, we found out it had already spread to his axillary lymph node and a couple of new tumors in his lung. At that point, he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. He then went through 2 different types of chemo treatments over the 2023 year span, the first one included immunotherapy as well. Both times he had to stop treatment because it almost killed him due to chemotoxicity. Many transfusions, down times, treatments, hospital visits, and doctor's appointments throughout the whole year. In January 2024, they found the cancer was still growing, so they decided to try yet another type of chemo, but one that wasn't very potent and had the least side effects and wasn't supposed to affect his red blood cells. He did that for about a month and started building toxicity back up, so they had to stop yet again. The doctor continued following his condition. In June 2024, the cancer was found in more places: cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes, and 2 spots on his brain. At the end of June 2024, he started a 3-week aggressive course of radiation treatment to treat all areas except for the brain lesions. August 7th was his last radiation treatment. On August 13th, he went to Barnes and had gamma knife radiation on the 2 brain lesions. Within a week of that, he started having problems eating and drinking due to the radiation swelling and irritating his esophagus. He wasn't able to drink or eat anything for weeks. He lost 35 lbs. There were a lot of hospital visits for pain, dehydration, and malnourishment. He started recovering from that in mid-September 2024. He then started having breathing difficulties and started coughing a lot more, which led to more trips to the doctor and ER. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and pleural effusion on October 6, 2024. He then spent the next 6 days in the hospital getting oxygen, IV antibiotics, red blood cell transfusions, lots of testing, and imaging. On October 10, 2024, they did a thoracentesis and removed 3 cups of fluid from around his right lung. His pulmonologist sent the fluid off for testing to find the cause of the sudden fluid build-up. He was discharged on October 11, 2024. We then received news we didn't want to hear on October 14, 2024. The fluid around his lung had cancer cells floating around in it. So now he also has metastatic pleural effusion. The life expectancy for that is 3-12 months, with a median of 4 months. We then followed up with his oncologist on October 23, 2024, to hear even more devastating news. The doctor informed us that there isn't any more that can be done for his cancer and that it is now just treating the pain and that he will have a palliative nurse start coming out. He has been having a lot of nerve pain due to the cancer wrapping around the nerves in the spine and along the ribs. The doctor recommended him to try the TENS unit, which is helping him tremendously with that pain. He still has a lot of other issues, but we are trying to make the most of what we can.

Here is where the need for help comes in. Due to John's FMLA running out, he lost his job. When he lost his job, he lost his life insurance. We did not have the income source to keep it going. We just went to the funeral home and cemetery last week to speak with them about how it all works and how much it will cost. Unfortunately, we do not have the means to pay for it all at once, and we need to be making memories and not stressing over how to properly bury him. We were able to put some money down at the cemetery and are able to make monthly payments on that till the time comes. But, once the time comes, it all has to be paid in full before he can have the funeral and be buried. John does not want to be cremated, and he chose the cheapest way to possibly go about it other than cremation. So, we are asking if you could please help in making a donation for his funeral and burial expenses so we can spend the short amount of time we have left as a family making the most of every day with one less stress. Any and all donations will be going straight to the expenses for his funeral and burial. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers as the journey continues for now. John, the kids, and I are forever thankful for even just thoughtful words or prayers.