Donation protected
Hello everyone! MJ here.
I will start my story by telling you I never wanted charity or sympathy. This page was created as a result of discussing with my children, a way to get family and friends up to speed and updated with my condition and offer those who wish to give, an outlet to lend a helping hand for my fulltime nursing expenses. There is a lesson in my story too, so I would encourage all to read on and take what you will learn with you and to carry it to others, so that they may learn.
You may not have known I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in my twenties. I have been very fortunate to have lived a life where many of my MS symptoms have been masked. I never wanted the sympathy of others or charity, so my MS condition was rarely discussed.
On January 28, 2017 after a night of perfect sleep, I awoke to find my left leg paralyzed from knee to toe. I assumed this was an MS exacerbation and worked around the house with a walker. Stubbornness and a fighting spirit found me shopping and getting the car smogged in spite of my mobility issue. The walker was an adjustment, but not letting MS slow me down had been life I had known, so carry on it was!
On Feb 6th my left arm began suffering from a lack of mobility. Because I could not use my arm, the walker became useless for standing and I began using it to sit on and scoot around the house, propelling myself with my 'good leg'. Eventually even this became impossible.
At the request of family, I was taken to the ER on Feb 9th. A work up of a CT scan and EKG led doctors to believe I may have suffered a stroke. With my symptoms, this made sense. Again, my fighting spirit had me planning for rehab and recovery. I was committed to not let this take my independence. I waited patiently for the next test, an MRI. The MRI revealed that a stroke was probable, but a tumor or possibly MS damage may have been present. A second MRI (with contrast) was ordered to provide further detail.
The MRI with contrast revealed a tumor and I was transferred to Kaiser Morse Ave where the Neurosurgery Team could provide me with better care.
I underwent surgery to perform a biopsy on the mass in my brain, the results of which left my speech a little impaired. My leg continued to be useless and my arm digressed a point where with great effort, I had 0-5% mobility.
As I waited for the biopsy results I was optimistic about treatment of the tumor and discussed with doctors and family the path of acute rehab. My will to put this hiccup behind me.
On Feb 17th in the late afternoon the biopsy results revealed I have a primary, Glioblastoma (GBM) grade 4 brain tumor. The cancer mass is currently about the size of a walnut, located a little offset to right, but basically, center, center in the brain, above the brain stem. It is in a very sensitive area of the brain that controls motor movement.
My will to live is strong, but I also have to be realistic. The tumor is non-operable and will continue to grow, even if treated. It is the worst type of cancer, having stem cell like properties, it will grow at a rapid pace. Treatment of the tumor with radiation and chemo will not kill the tumor and comes with great risk as it will exacerbate my MS, causing unknown side effects which could instantly have a negative impact on my quality of life. The best guess is with treatment, I might have a year to a year and a half of life.
I have considered all options and have elected not to have treatment as it comes with heavy risks and does little to provide a long-term solution. It is estimated I have 3 - 6 months to live.
I need to use my stubbornness to work on therapy. My left arm is moving just a bit more, and if I can get it working more, I might gain some mobility and a little freedom.
Please understand it takes great strength to talk and I need the strength for physical rehab. I'm Italian and have a hard time keeping conversations short, so please help me, help myself, by allowing me some time to get some rest. If I don't call you, it's not personal. Please also understand, I'm a unique set of circumstances.... as much as I wish there was a "cure", I need you to understand there isn't. I will ask you to be respectful of my decision to forego treatment. I don't want to hear about creams or salves or magic jelly beans or some special moon rock cure you read about on the internet. Keep your posts positive, so that I can remember the happy times we shared together.
I am not sad that I'm leaving. My heart is heavy and it is with great sadness that I know my daughter, Meghan, and sons, Tim and Coran will forever miss me and the vacancy I will leave in their lives will never be filled. I will miss my Granddaughter's, Sarah, life events and that will be no biggie, but she will know my absence and that saddens me.
My message to you is often overstated, "Life is short". I will add to that, "Don't be a poop". So, I leave you with "Life is short, don't be a poop". Realize that like me, someone you know may be close to their last day and you may not know when that time is coming. Be your best and live a good life, assuming that this may be your last chance to see someone you care about. You will learn too late when 'good-bye' is forever.
I do not need flowers or chocolates. For those who wish to help, donations raised here will be used to offset the costs of fulltime nursing care. Insurance doesn't cover much.
I love you and thank you for reading the opening pages of my final chapter.
Gratzi, ti amo. Miei ultimi giorni di vita. - MJ
Go-Fund-Me Transparancy Disclosure:
1. Who you are you
--- This go-fund-me was created by Tim McEvilly (son)
2. Where you're from
---Sacramento, CA, USA
3. Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for
--- She is my Mother and the Mother of Meghan and Coran McEvilly
4. How the funds will be used (be specific as possible)
--- To pay for 24 hour Nursing not covered by insurance
We'll also buy one pack of wet wipes with the donations. Probably one, but maybe two packs if Mom makes a big mess.
5. If you intend to withdraw the money, how you plan to send the funds to the parties you're raising money for or use the money on their behalf
--- Held in joint trust bank account by Tim and Meghan McEvilly to used to pay for Mom's medical bills.
As I side note, I'm a Libra. I enjoy days on the beach and sleeping in. I usually do laundry on Sundays. Hopefully, this answers all the questions, but feel free to reach out if there are more.
If you got this far, you can see I have MJ's sarcasm.
We love our Mom and thank you for supporting her. We know she will be missed by many.
I will start my story by telling you I never wanted charity or sympathy. This page was created as a result of discussing with my children, a way to get family and friends up to speed and updated with my condition and offer those who wish to give, an outlet to lend a helping hand for my fulltime nursing expenses. There is a lesson in my story too, so I would encourage all to read on and take what you will learn with you and to carry it to others, so that they may learn.
You may not have known I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in my twenties. I have been very fortunate to have lived a life where many of my MS symptoms have been masked. I never wanted the sympathy of others or charity, so my MS condition was rarely discussed.
On January 28, 2017 after a night of perfect sleep, I awoke to find my left leg paralyzed from knee to toe. I assumed this was an MS exacerbation and worked around the house with a walker. Stubbornness and a fighting spirit found me shopping and getting the car smogged in spite of my mobility issue. The walker was an adjustment, but not letting MS slow me down had been life I had known, so carry on it was!
On Feb 6th my left arm began suffering from a lack of mobility. Because I could not use my arm, the walker became useless for standing and I began using it to sit on and scoot around the house, propelling myself with my 'good leg'. Eventually even this became impossible.
At the request of family, I was taken to the ER on Feb 9th. A work up of a CT scan and EKG led doctors to believe I may have suffered a stroke. With my symptoms, this made sense. Again, my fighting spirit had me planning for rehab and recovery. I was committed to not let this take my independence. I waited patiently for the next test, an MRI. The MRI revealed that a stroke was probable, but a tumor or possibly MS damage may have been present. A second MRI (with contrast) was ordered to provide further detail.
The MRI with contrast revealed a tumor and I was transferred to Kaiser Morse Ave where the Neurosurgery Team could provide me with better care.
I underwent surgery to perform a biopsy on the mass in my brain, the results of which left my speech a little impaired. My leg continued to be useless and my arm digressed a point where with great effort, I had 0-5% mobility.
As I waited for the biopsy results I was optimistic about treatment of the tumor and discussed with doctors and family the path of acute rehab. My will to put this hiccup behind me.
On Feb 17th in the late afternoon the biopsy results revealed I have a primary, Glioblastoma (GBM) grade 4 brain tumor. The cancer mass is currently about the size of a walnut, located a little offset to right, but basically, center, center in the brain, above the brain stem. It is in a very sensitive area of the brain that controls motor movement.
My will to live is strong, but I also have to be realistic. The tumor is non-operable and will continue to grow, even if treated. It is the worst type of cancer, having stem cell like properties, it will grow at a rapid pace. Treatment of the tumor with radiation and chemo will not kill the tumor and comes with great risk as it will exacerbate my MS, causing unknown side effects which could instantly have a negative impact on my quality of life. The best guess is with treatment, I might have a year to a year and a half of life.
I have considered all options and have elected not to have treatment as it comes with heavy risks and does little to provide a long-term solution. It is estimated I have 3 - 6 months to live.
I need to use my stubbornness to work on therapy. My left arm is moving just a bit more, and if I can get it working more, I might gain some mobility and a little freedom.
Please understand it takes great strength to talk and I need the strength for physical rehab. I'm Italian and have a hard time keeping conversations short, so please help me, help myself, by allowing me some time to get some rest. If I don't call you, it's not personal. Please also understand, I'm a unique set of circumstances.... as much as I wish there was a "cure", I need you to understand there isn't. I will ask you to be respectful of my decision to forego treatment. I don't want to hear about creams or salves or magic jelly beans or some special moon rock cure you read about on the internet. Keep your posts positive, so that I can remember the happy times we shared together.
I am not sad that I'm leaving. My heart is heavy and it is with great sadness that I know my daughter, Meghan, and sons, Tim and Coran will forever miss me and the vacancy I will leave in their lives will never be filled. I will miss my Granddaughter's, Sarah, life events and that will be no biggie, but she will know my absence and that saddens me.
My message to you is often overstated, "Life is short". I will add to that, "Don't be a poop". So, I leave you with "Life is short, don't be a poop". Realize that like me, someone you know may be close to their last day and you may not know when that time is coming. Be your best and live a good life, assuming that this may be your last chance to see someone you care about. You will learn too late when 'good-bye' is forever.
I do not need flowers or chocolates. For those who wish to help, donations raised here will be used to offset the costs of fulltime nursing care. Insurance doesn't cover much.
I love you and thank you for reading the opening pages of my final chapter.
Gratzi, ti amo. Miei ultimi giorni di vita. - MJ
Go-Fund-Me Transparancy Disclosure:
1. Who you are you
--- This go-fund-me was created by Tim McEvilly (son)
2. Where you're from
---Sacramento, CA, USA
3. Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for
--- She is my Mother and the Mother of Meghan and Coran McEvilly
4. How the funds will be used (be specific as possible)
--- To pay for 24 hour Nursing not covered by insurance
We'll also buy one pack of wet wipes with the donations. Probably one, but maybe two packs if Mom makes a big mess.
5. If you intend to withdraw the money, how you plan to send the funds to the parties you're raising money for or use the money on their behalf
--- Held in joint trust bank account by Tim and Meghan McEvilly to used to pay for Mom's medical bills.
As I side note, I'm a Libra. I enjoy days on the beach and sleeping in. I usually do laundry on Sundays. Hopefully, this answers all the questions, but feel free to reach out if there are more.
If you got this far, you can see I have MJ's sarcasm.
We love our Mom and thank you for supporting her. We know she will be missed by many.
Organizer
Tim McEvilly
Organizer
Florin, CA