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In Memory of Joe Yap (Family Fund)

Joe was an amazing father and husband who doted on his family. He was taken far too soon at the young age of 43. 

On August 2, within just weeks of a cancer diagnosis, Joe Yap passed away leaving behind his beautiful wife Megan and their two children Jack (8) and Maddie (5).

We are raising money to help cover funeral costs, family expenses and the trip out east that was Joe's last wish for Megan and the kids.


JOE'S STORY

On June 2, Joe complained of a sore back and was having trouble walking.  An ambulance took him to emergency where he was told it was "just a pulled muscle" and he was sent home. 

Joe took the week off work to rest his back and during that week he was tired and felt a bit weak.  He also started to hear a crackling sound in his breathing. Another doctor’s visit a couple of weeks later ended in a diagnosis of pneumonia and some antibiotics to clear it up just before their family vacation.

In early July, Joe, Megan and the kids took a trip to BC to enjoy some family time and hang out at the lake.  While they were there, Joe was short of breath once again.  A trip to the emergency room resulted in an x-ray and a diagnosis of likely pneumonia but a precautionary CT scan was performed to rule out anything else. 

THE UNTHINKABLE 

The results of that CT scan showed the possibility of lung cancer and Joe was to get a biopsy as soon as he got home 2 days later. 

On July 10 Joe, Megan and the kids returned home to Edmonton and ended up at the U of A hospital. They were informed that the prognisis was not good and it was potentially stage 4 cancer with a life expectancy of 1 to 2 years.  

Joe and Megan spent that night in a tiny hospital bed talking the entire night about upcoming year (and beyond).  It was very important for Joe that he and Megan take the kids on a trip out east to see family and spend the year making memories.

They met with an oncologist on Monday to start radiation for Joe’s back pain (the pain from the initial hospital visit, which was caused by the cancer).  Joe was sent home the next morning, Tuesday, and with the expectation to begin chemo on Wednesday. 

Joe ended up back in the hosipital via ambulance on Wednesday as he was having trouble breathing. Merely weeks after the initial diagnosis, it was determined that the cancer was progressing so rapidly that instead of beginning chemo that day, Joe had only hours left. 

During those final hours, on August 2, Joe and Megan (who were engaged) were married at the hospital. Joe had also told Megan that he wanted her to take the kids out east to see family. 

Joe spent his last hours with his family and had the chance to tell the newly married Mrs. Megan Yap and his kids how much he loved them.

Surrounded by his loving family, Joe gave Megan three gentle squeezes of her hand, their secret symbol of love, and with his children sunggled at his side, he took his final breaths.


REMEMBERING JOE


The world is a better place for having had a man like Joe in it.  

He will be forever remembered as a wonderful father to Jack and Maddie, an amazing husband to Megan, an incredible son-in-law and nephew, a wonderful and kind friend and just an all around great guy.  

May we come together in this difficult time and support the things that meant the most in the world to Joe; Megan, Jack and Maddie.  

Your contributions will be going towards funeral costs, family costs to help Megan with the bills as well as allowing Megan to fulfil Joe's wish of taking the kids out east.
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Donations 

  • Ashley Tham
    • $50 
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Holly Nilsson
Organizer
Parkland, AB
Megan Smith
Beneficiary

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