Care for Chris
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once wrote, “ You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” It is our dearest, best friend, Chris Medeiros, who brings this quote to mind as we create this page. Chris is one of those rare, genuine, kind-hearted people who enhance our lives in a unique and positive way. He’s both the friend and stranger who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, without question or expectation of reciprocity. To know Chris is to know a vibrant, bubbly, communicative soul, who is always caring, respectful and kind to everyone and all living things. He’s fiercely devoted to family, a nurturing friend, a contributing community member and a colleague who demonstrates a wonderful balance of personable professionalism. Whether you’re a relative, a friend, a colleague or an acquaintance, Chris stands out with his contagious laugh, fantastic smile and eagerness to help those in need.
It is an unfortunate reality that the nicest of people are afflicted by the worst of circumstances; Recent events in Chris’s life have proven that he is no exception. A long time sufferer of epilepsy and no stranger to severe headaches, Chris lacked concern when headaches began plaguing him in late May and he continued to function normally. Chris is adept at brushing his physical pain aside; He’s well practiced after decades of returning to his responsibilities, including work, shortly after being struck by Grand Mal seizures and related injuries. It wasn’t until June 8th when he had difficulties putting on his left shoe that he noticed something was amiss. He suddenly felt as if his brain had forgotten the simple process of tying his shoe and he wasn’t feeling like himself, but he went to work, anyway. He continued to feel “off” at work, but when he discovered he was making uncharacteristic and significant typos, he decided to seek medical attention. Upon examination, his physician noted that Chris’s left eye was not responding to light, there was droopiness to the left side of his face and he was also exhibiting weakness on his left side. Concerned about the possibility of stroke, his physician ordered a CT scan. Chris’s CT scan revealed a mass in the right, frontal lobe of his brain. A subsequent MRI indicated that the mass was not only large and malignant, but creating pressure and edema in his brain. Chris was admitted into the hospital, where he was met and cared for by a reputable neurosurgeon and her team.
On 6/21, despite additional heart complications which increased his surgery risks, Chris bravely underwent an eight hour craniotomy to remove the large, malignant tumor that had taken up residency in his brain. Upon waking, Chris declared to his wife, “I’m alive,” before drifting back into unconsciousness. While the tumor was larger and more complicated to remove than expected, his neurosurgeon remains confident that 99% of it was successfully extracted. The pathology reports which followed provided the additional information necessary to diagnose Chris with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is a rare, complex, aggressive and deadly type of brain cancer. GBM’s are considered grade IV tumors, due to their rapid growth rate, invasion of brain tissue and tendency to reoccur. Chris will meet with an oncologist on July 6th to discuss treatment options moving forward.
Due to the tumor, surgery and the edema in his brain, Chris has expectedly suffered adverse physical and mental effects. Currently, he is unable to walk unassisted, he still struggles with weakness and loss of mobility on his left side, he experiences malaise and he suffers severe, debilitating head pain. While his cognition is impressive for someone who recently endured a craniotomy, he has difficulties focusing, processing thought, recalling short term memories and has bouts of confusion, anxiety and depression. Chris requires assistance for most tasks, is bedridden and sleeps as much as his pain will allow. He is unable to have visitors or speak to anyone outside of a select, few people at this time. It is vital that we all show Chris love and support from afar, since we are still in a pandemic with new variants and he is on medications which lower his body’s ability to fight infections.
GBM has created the necessity of a day-by-day outlook for Chris. It is possible that he will suffer more delayed physical and mental effects from his surgery, as well as the side effects of further treatments; These are likely to include chemotherapy and radiation. As you can imagine, Chris’s healthcare will be costly and he will need things to help him function with his new disabilities. He is currently unable to work and there is a very strong possibility this will not change. Chris has limited financial assistance options available to him, none of which will compensate for his impending loss of salary. This is a shocking, unexpected situation for him and his family, both emotionally and financially. As Chris has so accurately stated, “I feel like I aged from 57 to 87 overnight.”
Please help Chris by contributing to this GoFundme; Even the smallest donation makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. Chris has given to his community over many decades, which includes being a member of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer for the Beaverton Police Department and a volunteer for various events hosted by the American Cancer Society, just to name a few. It is our hope that we can all be his angels now and show him the same love he has selflessly shown us.
Kate & Van Wolfe
