As most of our friends know, on December 4th Joe Baker was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).  While he responded well to the first round of chemo he has unfortunately suffered multiple “catastrophic events” that put him in ICU for a month fighting for his life.  Stanford doctors and nurses alike are the first to say they did not think Joe could survive even one of the many setbacks, let alone survive them all.  Joe proved them wrong.   


Joe’s daughter Amanda, on behalf of her siblings Justin and Lindsay and their Mom Natalie, was kind enough to share some thoughts on what Joe means to them and how his illness has affected the Baker family. 

“When our Dad was diagnosed with AML, we didn’t know how our life would ever be the same.  He’s been through two very tough months and has battled every obstacle that this terrible disease has thrown at him.  A loving father and husband, our Dad has always been an amazing role model and someone that we look up to.  He has worked hard to always provide our family with the best life that we could have.  Whether a long-time friend or a well-liked businessman, our Dad is known by many for his ready smile, contagious personality, and corny jokes.  We love our Dad.  The house is not whole without him, and we are praying and looking forward to the day he can come home and be with us again.”

Our goal with GoFundMe is to provide financial support to the Baker family so they can focus on Joe’s health and not to worry about the  toll this will begin to take on the family.   Joe was released from Stanford on February 4th, which marked two full months that he has been hospitalized.  He is now in a rehab facility to get his strength back in order to return to Stanford for continued chemo treatments.  He is working hard with daily physical therapy as well as kidney dialysis to regain his kidney function, which was lost during one of those catastrophic events.  As a sole provider to the family they will need our help as he continues on this long, difficult road to recovery.  

By helping Joe’s family, you are in turn helping Joe.