Honoring Craig's Legacy: Help Dawn Thrive

Support for Craig and Dawn Downum

In less than two months, the life of Craig and his family has been turned upside down. Craig courageously fought a very aggressive stage IV brain tumor (a glioblastoma) and spent the end of his life reaching out to family and friends in person and by phone with words of love and gratitude. With his beloved wife Dawn at his side, Craig died peacefully at home on September 22. We have created this Go Fund Me to help Dawn as she navigates the challenge of managing his extraordinary medical and end of life expenses as well as preparing for life on her own without Craig.

Craig was diagnosed with prostate cancer early last spring and had prostate surgery on July 9. While recovering from surgery, he began having balance issues, which he thought was related to an old back injury. After falling and hitting his head, he underwent a CT scan and MRI which showed a large tumor.

Following three weeks of aggressive daily radiation and chemotherapy, treatment was stopped due to the extreme toll it was taking on Craig. In the short time since July 26, he endured a biopsy of the brain tumor, two hospitalizations, a short stay in a rehabilitation facility, and several medical transports when he was too weak to travel to and from the hospital for treatments. He was in hospice care at home for less than four days before he passed. Throughout this unwanted journey, Craig regularly expressed his love of his family and his determination to live for at least a year and a half in order to help plan and prepare for the end of his life.

Craig was giving in all ways. He spent his adult life as the provider for his family and had many hopes of continuing support for his wife. With the loss of Craig, Dawn’s financial situation is radically changed. She is now faced with a cascade of financial worries, including medical and funeral expenses and planning for a future without her husband and partner of thirty years.