Jamey's Journey: Overcoming Brain Cancer

My name is Braxton Qwuduvmas and I am raising funds for my father, Jamey Quelle. On April 1st, he had a seizure while on a work call. MRIs revealed a 3 cm tumor in his brain. This would go on to be diagnosed as a Glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

Prior to his seizure, Jamey was an active man and lived life to the fullest. In January of 2024, he started a consulting firm, connecting various manufacturing firms around the country together to help bolster everyone's productivity. He was a football and basketball ref for the last 15 years, being on a crew that officiates D2 football games across the Midwest. From family, to friends, to fellow community members, Jamey has always been loved and valued by those around him.

His seizure was the beginning of his journey through the darkest of places. Jamey was having a business call with Jake Hurley, a client in North Carolina; they were discussing new verticals for a solar panel and water heating company. Jamey started speaking gibberish. He kept talking like he knew what he was saying and he was making sense, but to Jake, sentences weren't even being formed. Jake had worked as an EMT previously, he recorded the conversation, and was able to contact emergency services in Kansas City to come help Jamey. By the time emergency services had arrived, the seizure had passed and Jamey was back to normal. They left and said he was okay. The client used the recording to get Jamey in the hospital quicker, stating, "he obviously is not okay." He saved Jamey's life.

The first 72 hours were a series of doctors' meetings trying to figure out what happened. Was it a seizure? Was it a stroke? Why did this happen? A tumor was found on Broca's area of the brain, an area responsible for speech production. An area where a resection would be possible. Jamey was put on anti-seizure medications and arrangements began happening for a craniotomy. Less than a month later, the surgery was a success. Jamey was fortunate enough to have one of the best neuro surgeons in the country, Dr. Singer. They were able to remove the majority of the tumor and sent it away for a biopsy so we knew what we were dealing with. Preliminary results were suggesting a high-grade Glioblastoma.

Jamey spent a week in the ICU. He had another seizure on the way to ICU but thanks to the nurses in ICU, or rather the Angels taking care of him as Jamey puts it, he recovered from brain surgery and was sent home. He spent less than a month recovering and then began his treatment. Radiation 5 days a week for six weeks, then no more radiation. Chemo pills 7 days a week for six weeks. During this first round of treatment, the biopsy results came back confirming that this is at least a Grade 3 Glioblastoma.

After the 28 days off, another MRI was taken. Things were looking good! No new growth! Moving forward, treatment will be a triple dose of chemo pills for 5 days followed by 28 days of normal living, and repeat. Every three months, Jamey gets an MRI to check on the progression of the treatment. As of writing this (11/24/2024), he recently had his first 3-month follow-up and there may be shrinkage happening.

This is the darkest of places to be. My dad has been nothing but a bright light of optimism through the entire process. Excuse my language, but cancer F-ing sucks. This is fighting a long, hard battle. It has been continual good news since the battle started, but this is still a dark place. Jamey has been strong! His hair is growing back! He hasn't had a seizure since the ICU and recently got his driver's license back! He's visited family and been to sporting events. When watching games together, it's real easy to forget the battle is being fought. Yet on he fights. Unable to work, unable to ref. On he fights.

We are fundraising to support Jamey's medical expenses and ongoing treatment.