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My name is Elena Rosa Machado-Gyoerkoe, and my father is Elio Elias Machado. For those of you who know my father, you know how steadfast and proud he can be. Because of this, I apologize that now is the first time you are hearing of this news. He chose to withhold his health status in hopes that he would improve, and ultimately fight this, and not have to tell anyone at all. But here we are…
Elio currently has stage IV malignant colorectal cancer that has metastasized to his lungs and liver. Along with this, he has cancer-induced Cachexia wasting syndrome which has made him very weak from all the weight he has lost. The cancer has caused an immense amount of physical pain for him. His wife (my mom), Yvonne Rosa-Machado, has been an incredible support and caretaker, yet there is only so much that can be done. The doctors have not given a time-frame of prognosis, but after reviewing the past three years of his medical records, labs, tests, and exams, it is in my professional opinion - with nursing medical knowledge, AND after speaking with him for his birthday last week and hearing his voice (a broken-spirited voice that I have never heard coming from him before), there is the possibility his body may not have enough strength to continue functioning beyond the next 2-6 months. I hope I am wrong. We hope that time is greatly extended.
Because Elio chose to withhold telling everyone about his health, he has been alone in this process for the past three years, aside from Yvonne, Damian, and I. It is my wish now, that you all call him often… plan visits to see him… and spend as much time with him as you can… as soon as possible.
Elio currently has stage IV malignant colorectal cancer that has metastasized to his lungs and liver. Along with this, he has cancer-induced Cachexia wasting syndrome which has made him very weak from all the weight he has lost. The cancer has caused an immense amount of physical pain for him. His wife (my mom), Yvonne Rosa-Machado, has been an incredible support and caretaker, yet there is only so much that can be done. The doctors have not given a time-frame of prognosis, but after reviewing the past three years of his medical records, labs, tests, and exams, it is in my professional opinion - with nursing medical knowledge, AND after speaking with him for his birthday last week and hearing his voice (a broken-spirited voice that I have never heard coming from him before), there is the possibility his body may not have enough strength to continue functioning beyond the next 2-6 months. I hope I am wrong. We hope that time is greatly extended.
Because Elio chose to withhold telling everyone about his health, he has been alone in this process for the past three years, aside from Yvonne, Damian, and I. It is my wish now, that you all call him often… plan visits to see him… and spend as much time with him as you can… as soon as possible.
Elio is an only child with no siblings. Yvonne is the eldest of four. Her siblings are Maria Rosa Rudes (R.I.P.), Efrain Rosa, and Paul Rosa.
At this time, Damian and I are desperately asking for your help. Our parents have used up just about all of their financial savings and reserves on doctors and treatments. Yvonne even had to sell Elio’s life insurance plan early, for a fraction of its worth, so they could have funds to live off of. We are asking for any donation that you can afford. These funds will go towards further cancer treatments in an attempt to extend his life, or if the worst comes to fruition sooner than later, this money will help Yvonne pay for Elio’s final arrangements. If any is leftover, the rest will be put aside for her living expenses for the remaining part of her life without him.
Sadly, because Covid-19 came around not long after he was diagnosed, they have not gone anywhere except to purchase groceries and necessities, attend doctor’s appointments, and get treatments. This breaks my heart since my parents are unable to enjoy going out and doing things with the time he has left; they are unable to cross things off his bucket list. Having such a compromised immune system makes it nearly impossible to do anything, especially if it involves close proximity to other people.
Our parents have always valued family and friends. I added some photos below that show just how much they love to spend time with them. When Damian and I had our first sons, our grandfather Elio Machado Sr. was alive (he passed at the age of 90, as did Yvonne's father). He was able to meet them and spend time with our boys. I was hoping the same would be true with our father. Elio is only 73 years-old! I would love for him to be a great-grandfather to his children's children's children. Damian's son, Evan, is 17 years-old. My oldest son, Logan, is 15 years-old, Connor is almost 14 years-old, and Leila Rose is 9.
Please donate and pray for him. Pray for them both.
I hope we can raise this fundraiser amount for them, but our mom will probably need more if she is going to stay retired and live a healthy life for another 15-25 years. So... let's try and exceed it if we can!
For those who would like to know the medical history: Elio was diagnosed with cancer in April of 2019 after a colonoscopy revealed a mass. It was removed that day via polypectomy and he was told it was stage 1 since it appeared, at the time, that it had not invaded beyond the mucosa. That following June, it was discovered via another colonoscopy that a larger mass had returned. This time it was removed with surgery in July 2019. Another biopsy in February 2020 confirmed recurrence of a fairly large tumor, so chemotherapy and radiation was recommended. That March, an MRI displayed a moderate growth in the lower colon/rectal area and wall thickening causing narrowing of the lumen. In April 2020, Elio began chemotherapy, which ended in July of 2020. In the last month of his therapy, a CT scan miraculously showed no more evidence of cancer! We thought our prayers had been answered! Because of this discovery, Elio requested to postpone the final two remaining chemo treatments that were scheduled. The chemotherapy caused weakness, nausea, vomiting and extensive pain, so the decision to postpone the remaining two treatments was completely warranted. Almost a year later, in June 2021, a repeat MRI showed the cancer had returned and had increased in size. At the same time, a CT scan unveiled new nodules that developed in his lungs consistent with metastasis. In October 2021, another CT showed evidence of more wall thickening of the rectal area and tiny spots in the liver that they wanted to continue to monitor, and an overall increase in size of the lung nodules. In September 2021, he received local radiation to the colorectal area, and a CT scan showed an increase in size of the lung nodules and of the liver nodules. For three weeks in October and November of 2021, Elio and Yvonne perilously took a trip to a holistic cancer treatment center in hopes that it would help in a way that traditional medical treatments did not. He underwent a myriad of daily 8-hour therapies, including sonograms, laser therapies and heat treatments. Everything they did, and everything he learned, was in hopes to possibly help slow the cancer progression. This endeavor ended up depleting much of the last of their financial reserves.
Below, enjoy a trip down memory lane....
At this time, Damian and I are desperately asking for your help. Our parents have used up just about all of their financial savings and reserves on doctors and treatments. Yvonne even had to sell Elio’s life insurance plan early, for a fraction of its worth, so they could have funds to live off of. We are asking for any donation that you can afford. These funds will go towards further cancer treatments in an attempt to extend his life, or if the worst comes to fruition sooner than later, this money will help Yvonne pay for Elio’s final arrangements. If any is leftover, the rest will be put aside for her living expenses for the remaining part of her life without him.
Sadly, because Covid-19 came around not long after he was diagnosed, they have not gone anywhere except to purchase groceries and necessities, attend doctor’s appointments, and get treatments. This breaks my heart since my parents are unable to enjoy going out and doing things with the time he has left; they are unable to cross things off his bucket list. Having such a compromised immune system makes it nearly impossible to do anything, especially if it involves close proximity to other people.
Our parents have always valued family and friends. I added some photos below that show just how much they love to spend time with them. When Damian and I had our first sons, our grandfather Elio Machado Sr. was alive (he passed at the age of 90, as did Yvonne's father). He was able to meet them and spend time with our boys. I was hoping the same would be true with our father. Elio is only 73 years-old! I would love for him to be a great-grandfather to his children's children's children. Damian's son, Evan, is 17 years-old. My oldest son, Logan, is 15 years-old, Connor is almost 14 years-old, and Leila Rose is 9.
Please donate and pray for him. Pray for them both.
I hope we can raise this fundraiser amount for them, but our mom will probably need more if she is going to stay retired and live a healthy life for another 15-25 years. So... let's try and exceed it if we can!
For those who would like to know the medical history: Elio was diagnosed with cancer in April of 2019 after a colonoscopy revealed a mass. It was removed that day via polypectomy and he was told it was stage 1 since it appeared, at the time, that it had not invaded beyond the mucosa. That following June, it was discovered via another colonoscopy that a larger mass had returned. This time it was removed with surgery in July 2019. Another biopsy in February 2020 confirmed recurrence of a fairly large tumor, so chemotherapy and radiation was recommended. That March, an MRI displayed a moderate growth in the lower colon/rectal area and wall thickening causing narrowing of the lumen. In April 2020, Elio began chemotherapy, which ended in July of 2020. In the last month of his therapy, a CT scan miraculously showed no more evidence of cancer! We thought our prayers had been answered! Because of this discovery, Elio requested to postpone the final two remaining chemo treatments that were scheduled. The chemotherapy caused weakness, nausea, vomiting and extensive pain, so the decision to postpone the remaining two treatments was completely warranted. Almost a year later, in June 2021, a repeat MRI showed the cancer had returned and had increased in size. At the same time, a CT scan unveiled new nodules that developed in his lungs consistent with metastasis. In October 2021, another CT showed evidence of more wall thickening of the rectal area and tiny spots in the liver that they wanted to continue to monitor, and an overall increase in size of the lung nodules. In September 2021, he received local radiation to the colorectal area, and a CT scan showed an increase in size of the lung nodules and of the liver nodules. For three weeks in October and November of 2021, Elio and Yvonne perilously took a trip to a holistic cancer treatment center in hopes that it would help in a way that traditional medical treatments did not. He underwent a myriad of daily 8-hour therapies, including sonograms, laser therapies and heat treatments. Everything they did, and everything he learned, was in hopes to possibly help slow the cancer progression. This endeavor ended up depleting much of the last of their financial reserves.
Below, enjoy a trip down memory lane....