Caregiving Fund for the Shaw/Lesser Family
Donation protected
2019 has been a year of incredible challenges for the Shaw/Lesser family. While we have tried to support them, we hope that sharing their story will impact others to help as well.
In January, Barb was diagnosed with Endometrial cancer. With the most aggressive and rare form of endometrial and uterine cancers, in February she had a radical hysterectomy. In true "Barbie" style she, powered through the surgery. Due to the extremely aggressive nature of the cancer, she also had to be treated with 6 rounds of chemo followed by daily radiation treatments for 7 weeks at the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. Barb spent a couple of days prior and up to 7 days after each of the treatments at Angie, Mike & Sophie's house, fortunately not too far from Siteman. Not only did Ang take Barb to all of her treatments, she was also her in-home nurse, chef and general provider of positivity and love. After surgery, rounds of chemo, radiation, CT scans showed that she could be on the way to recovery.
As Barb was going through what everyone in the family hoped would be her final stages of treatment in St.Louis, Dale became very ill. Thank God Justin happened to be home for a few weeks as Dale suddenly had to be rushed to the hospital.
Then the unimaginable happened... doctors discovered that Dale had a malignant tumor blocking almost 100% of his colon. For now Dale is back at home awaiting surgery, while Barb rang the bell this past Friday to mark the end of her radiation treatments.
As so many of you know, Barb, Dale and their whole family are the kindest, most thoughtful, giving and happiest people you'll ever meet. As children, our brother, Adam, and Justin spent every day together with Dale learning to hunt, fish and everything they love most. He inspired both of them to excel to the most elite levels of military service possible.
For all 3 of us, spending time at the Shaw home was many of the happiest times of our childhoods. Smelling of delicious food, there was always room for us and others at their table. Barb made the best fried potatoes and sweet iced tea, a.k.a. "Barbie Tea!" She even read and quoted Shakespeare to me (Katie) when I was in tears from frustration in high school (and of course Barbie made me turn the tears of frustration to tears of laughter!). And, as Rach always says....she has always been known for the best hugs ever!
Who knew that Dale had his own driving academy? Yes! He taught Ang & I (Katie) how to drive stick shift in the red Jeep... only the pillow height had to be adjusted. :) He was a stickler on skills (and spending time with us kids)...boy or girl it didn't matter, EVERY ONE needed to learn how to hunt. We remember freezing cold mornings in a deer stand trying not to laugh so Dale wouldn't get "mad" because we'd scare the deer away! He'd take us fishing, we have spent hours watching the red & white bobber float! And, Dale always had a bucket of puppies for Rach to cuddle (sounds like little girl heaven, right? It was.)
This horrific ordeal has put an unimaginable amount of stress and anxiety on Barb, Dale, Angie, Justin and their entire family. Angie has been a full-time caregiver for her mom for the last 8 months, taking Barb to every chemo and radiation treatment and therefore being unable to work and as a result, has not gotten paid. Now with Dale's upcoming surgery and cancer treatment, neither Barb nor Angie will be able to return to work as planned.
Our hearts are broken for this beloved family so we want to help in any way we can, beginning with creating this page. We know there are so many of you who would like to help and contributing to this fund is one way to do just that. What we've heard the most is "there are no words." Yes, there are no words, so we ask if you can contribute, please do. Please pray. Please keep this amazing family in your hearts and minds as they so often do for all of us.
With the deepest gratitude,
Kate (Downs) Salsman & Rachel (Downs) Buser
In January, Barb was diagnosed with Endometrial cancer. With the most aggressive and rare form of endometrial and uterine cancers, in February she had a radical hysterectomy. In true "Barbie" style she, powered through the surgery. Due to the extremely aggressive nature of the cancer, she also had to be treated with 6 rounds of chemo followed by daily radiation treatments for 7 weeks at the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. Barb spent a couple of days prior and up to 7 days after each of the treatments at Angie, Mike & Sophie's house, fortunately not too far from Siteman. Not only did Ang take Barb to all of her treatments, she was also her in-home nurse, chef and general provider of positivity and love. After surgery, rounds of chemo, radiation, CT scans showed that she could be on the way to recovery.
As Barb was going through what everyone in the family hoped would be her final stages of treatment in St.Louis, Dale became very ill. Thank God Justin happened to be home for a few weeks as Dale suddenly had to be rushed to the hospital.
Then the unimaginable happened... doctors discovered that Dale had a malignant tumor blocking almost 100% of his colon. For now Dale is back at home awaiting surgery, while Barb rang the bell this past Friday to mark the end of her radiation treatments.
As so many of you know, Barb, Dale and their whole family are the kindest, most thoughtful, giving and happiest people you'll ever meet. As children, our brother, Adam, and Justin spent every day together with Dale learning to hunt, fish and everything they love most. He inspired both of them to excel to the most elite levels of military service possible.
For all 3 of us, spending time at the Shaw home was many of the happiest times of our childhoods. Smelling of delicious food, there was always room for us and others at their table. Barb made the best fried potatoes and sweet iced tea, a.k.a. "Barbie Tea!" She even read and quoted Shakespeare to me (Katie) when I was in tears from frustration in high school (and of course Barbie made me turn the tears of frustration to tears of laughter!). And, as Rach always says....she has always been known for the best hugs ever!
Who knew that Dale had his own driving academy? Yes! He taught Ang & I (Katie) how to drive stick shift in the red Jeep... only the pillow height had to be adjusted. :) He was a stickler on skills (and spending time with us kids)...boy or girl it didn't matter, EVERY ONE needed to learn how to hunt. We remember freezing cold mornings in a deer stand trying not to laugh so Dale wouldn't get "mad" because we'd scare the deer away! He'd take us fishing, we have spent hours watching the red & white bobber float! And, Dale always had a bucket of puppies for Rach to cuddle (sounds like little girl heaven, right? It was.)
This horrific ordeal has put an unimaginable amount of stress and anxiety on Barb, Dale, Angie, Justin and their entire family. Angie has been a full-time caregiver for her mom for the last 8 months, taking Barb to every chemo and radiation treatment and therefore being unable to work and as a result, has not gotten paid. Now with Dale's upcoming surgery and cancer treatment, neither Barb nor Angie will be able to return to work as planned.
Our hearts are broken for this beloved family so we want to help in any way we can, beginning with creating this page. We know there are so many of you who would like to help and contributing to this fund is one way to do just that. What we've heard the most is "there are no words." Yes, there are no words, so we ask if you can contribute, please do. Please pray. Please keep this amazing family in your hearts and minds as they so often do for all of us.
With the deepest gratitude,
Kate (Downs) Salsman & Rachel (Downs) Buser
Organizer and beneficiary
Kate Salsman
Organizer
Kirkwood, MO
Angie Lesser
Beneficiary