Shawn Foley Benefit for Brain Cancer

On Saturday, March 12th Shawn woke up early to head to Homefield Instruction. Halfway through coaching, he found himself stumbling over his words. Even though Shawn figured he just needed to eat or rest, he was willing to go get checked out to put his kids’ minds at ease. There is very little Shawn won’t do for his four kids. 

His kids describe the next few weeks as a complete blur of tests, doctors’ worried looks, and total terror. Within days, Shawn was hardly able to speak or move the right side of his body. Running out of less invasive options, his doctors decided they needed to lay eyes on what was going on. Shawn bravely underwent brain surgery on March 22nd and was diagnosed with a Grade 4, “inoperable,” glioblastoma - the most aggressive form of primary brain cancer. 

Although Shawn has returned home and (thanks to his medication) regained his ability to speak and move, his life has drastically changed. Shawn loved his job. But more than that, he loved his players. He believes in the impact a coach can have and did not take this responsibility lightly. His tumor has taken his ability to coach. Shawn is an artist and a craftsman. The walls of his children's homes are filled with originals. His tumor has taken his ability to create. Shawn is a true lover of nature. He has been known to take his players fossil hunting and fishing. Shawn is an excellent chef. You haven’t tasted a burger until you’ve had his. Shawn is brilliant and expressive; he thinks deeply and speaks poetically. His tumor will try to take these things, too. 

Glioblastomas are rare, research is underfunded, and sufferers are normally gone before they have the chance to fight back. The “standard of care” for brain cancer is bleak, to say the least. We are determined for Shawn’s story to be different. This fight will be exhausting and wildly expensive, but we are hoping it will also be long. We are humbly asking you to join Shawn’s army as we raise money to help him and his family fight this horrific disease. 

At 54 years old, Shawn is far too young to give this anything less than all he has. He still has fish to catch, grandkids to meet, baseball swings to fix, and advice to give. We want him to beat the unbeatable, to survive the terminal - but we can’t do it alone. Any amount you can donate to Shawn’s fight is deeply appreciated. Let’s surround him with love and prayer, just like he would do for us. 

Thank you - from the bottom of our hearts - thank you.