Shawn Overholser To See Another Day
Donation protected
Shawn Overholser has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. This fund has been set up to help alleviate medical expenses and enable him to experience some of his life dreams while creating memories with his family.
On August 10th, Shawn Overholser, my dad was admitted to the Montevideo Hospital because he was experiencing arm pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness. At first they suspected he was having a heart attack. They did 3 EKG tests and they all came back normal. They did a blood test to test for proteins that could indicate a heart attack--This also came back normal. The doctor decided to do an upper chest CT scan because his O2 stats were reading at about a 92, which is low. They put him on 100% oxygen and his stats were still reading about 96-97. A normal person at rest should have 97-99 without oxygen. They also found that he had multiple lymph nodes in his neck/collarbone region that were extremely swollen and tender.
When the CT scan results came back, they found multiple nodules on both of his lungs. The doctors were pretty sure it was cancer, but they didn't think it was lung cancer and that it had originated from a different organ and had metastasized to the lungs. They did another CT scan of the full lower body to look for a mass. No masses were found.
A week later they did a biopsy on his lymph node and a colonoscopy.
On August 28th, the colonoscopy came back clean. We have pictures. However, the results from the biopsy confirmed that the lymph node contained cancer cells, but they couldn't confirm what type of cancer it was. They were referred to the U of M.
On Sept 12th, they met with of U of M doctors who reviewed previous scans and tests with them. They still thought the cancer originated from somewhere besides the lungs. They ordered several more tests. Brain MRI, PET/CT, etc. He knew it was cancer, so they were going to do chemo, he just wasn't sure until what type yet until the results came back.
On Sept 21st, Dad had a chemo port put in, PET/CT, and Brain MRI performed.
On Sept 26th, Dad received his first round of chemotherapy which was supposed to target most cancers. On this same day, they got the results from the PET/CT scan which confirmed he had cancer in both lobes of the lungs, his neck and chest lymph nodes, left shoulder bone, and in his liver. With no other possible sources, they diagnosed him with Stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
On October 17th, Dad did his 2nd round of chemotherapy and 1st round of Immunotherapy. The doctors wanted to do Immunotherapy on the first round, but could not is because the insurance company had not approved it. They received approval two hours after they left the doctor's office.
On November 2nd, another PET/CT scan was performed to see how the cancer was reacting.
November 7th, the cancer appears to be not as active and some of the tumors have decrease slightly in size but none of the original tumors have disappeared . The doctors are predicating he has 12-18 months to live.
He will be on chemotherapy and Immunotherapy until the cancer no longer responds or he cannot handle the side effects any longer. He is considered a terminal cancer patient and can no longer work.
Shawn Overholser is my step-dad, but I have never considered him to be my step-dad. He is and will always be my father. When I was about 3 years old, I met this man who I didn't know at the time would change my life forever. My mom was a single mother at the time. She was raising my older sister who had Cerebral Palsy and myself. My mom and him had been dating for no more than 3 weeks when he came to stay with us over his fall break. My mom had to work one day and she told him that she'd get a babysitter to watch us kids. My dad told my mom that she didn't need to do that and he was okay with watching us while she was working. She asked him if he was sure because she had no problem getting a babysitter, but he didn't mind. My mom was also having car troubles at the time so my dad let her take his car to work and he spent the day fixing her car while he watched us. So that's when, while he was trying to fix my mom's car, I would follow him around the yard, wearing a little pink jacket and I told him repeatedly that nobody wanted him here and that he should go away. This man stuck around for my whole life after that. I do not remember a time where he was not apart of it. He has always been there for me and supported me as if I was his own.
My dad is one of the greatest men I have ever known. He quit smoking 11 years ago. He has been a hard worker for 30+ years. He has a Bachelor’s degree in History with an emphasis on World War I & II and a minor in English. He supported my mother and our family for 4 years while my mom worked towards earning her Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science Bachelor Degrees. He just turned 52 at the end of October. He is the most caring, compassionate, funny, sweet guy and he has been one of the best role models in my life.
My dad and mom met on Halloween in 1998. They had their first date on November 4th 1998 and were married on August 19th 2000. Their marriage resulted in me gaining two more sisters.
My mom and dad went from a two income family to living on one income in the matter of a week. Dad will not be able to receive his first disability check until March of 2019. Currently they are paying $1,564 in insurance premiums per month. They also have a deductible of $6,000 per year. Plus any co-pays on any of the meds that Dad is prescribed. They are driving to Princeton, MN--which is about a 3 hour drive--at least 3 times a month.
Shawn will be leaving behind a very loving wife, 4 daughters, two of which are living on their own and two who are still living at home, and one granddaughter. Please consider taking the time to donate, even a little, to help alleviate some of these medical expenses for my family.
One of my dad's dreams is that he wants to see and tour Europe for a little bit. My mom and him are planning a trip to see Paris, London, Munich, and Vienna in December. This is something my dad has wanted to see and experience for his whole life. To help fund this trip, they will be liquidating a lot of their assets (selling cars, possessions, etc) and pulling money out of dad's 401K retirement plan. These are funds he will never get to use to retire and enjoy life. He deserves to use them to take a vacation and create memories with my mother.
We also would like to take a family trip to Key West, FL some time in March.
Please note, all proceeds donated to this fund will be used for medical, family/life experiences, quality over quantity of life, and/or funeral expenses.
Please note, if you would like your donation to go towards a specific use (EX: Medical only), you may specify or contact me.
Thank you very much for you consideration and time. My family and I greatly appreciate it.
On August 10th, Shawn Overholser, my dad was admitted to the Montevideo Hospital because he was experiencing arm pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness. At first they suspected he was having a heart attack. They did 3 EKG tests and they all came back normal. They did a blood test to test for proteins that could indicate a heart attack--This also came back normal. The doctor decided to do an upper chest CT scan because his O2 stats were reading at about a 92, which is low. They put him on 100% oxygen and his stats were still reading about 96-97. A normal person at rest should have 97-99 without oxygen. They also found that he had multiple lymph nodes in his neck/collarbone region that were extremely swollen and tender.
When the CT scan results came back, they found multiple nodules on both of his lungs. The doctors were pretty sure it was cancer, but they didn't think it was lung cancer and that it had originated from a different organ and had metastasized to the lungs. They did another CT scan of the full lower body to look for a mass. No masses were found.
A week later they did a biopsy on his lymph node and a colonoscopy.
On August 28th, the colonoscopy came back clean. We have pictures. However, the results from the biopsy confirmed that the lymph node contained cancer cells, but they couldn't confirm what type of cancer it was. They were referred to the U of M.
On Sept 12th, they met with of U of M doctors who reviewed previous scans and tests with them. They still thought the cancer originated from somewhere besides the lungs. They ordered several more tests. Brain MRI, PET/CT, etc. He knew it was cancer, so they were going to do chemo, he just wasn't sure until what type yet until the results came back.
On Sept 21st, Dad had a chemo port put in, PET/CT, and Brain MRI performed.
On Sept 26th, Dad received his first round of chemotherapy which was supposed to target most cancers. On this same day, they got the results from the PET/CT scan which confirmed he had cancer in both lobes of the lungs, his neck and chest lymph nodes, left shoulder bone, and in his liver. With no other possible sources, they diagnosed him with Stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
On October 17th, Dad did his 2nd round of chemotherapy and 1st round of Immunotherapy. The doctors wanted to do Immunotherapy on the first round, but could not is because the insurance company had not approved it. They received approval two hours after they left the doctor's office.
On November 2nd, another PET/CT scan was performed to see how the cancer was reacting.
November 7th, the cancer appears to be not as active and some of the tumors have decrease slightly in size but none of the original tumors have disappeared . The doctors are predicating he has 12-18 months to live.
He will be on chemotherapy and Immunotherapy until the cancer no longer responds or he cannot handle the side effects any longer. He is considered a terminal cancer patient and can no longer work.
Shawn Overholser is my step-dad, but I have never considered him to be my step-dad. He is and will always be my father. When I was about 3 years old, I met this man who I didn't know at the time would change my life forever. My mom was a single mother at the time. She was raising my older sister who had Cerebral Palsy and myself. My mom and him had been dating for no more than 3 weeks when he came to stay with us over his fall break. My mom had to work one day and she told him that she'd get a babysitter to watch us kids. My dad told my mom that she didn't need to do that and he was okay with watching us while she was working. She asked him if he was sure because she had no problem getting a babysitter, but he didn't mind. My mom was also having car troubles at the time so my dad let her take his car to work and he spent the day fixing her car while he watched us. So that's when, while he was trying to fix my mom's car, I would follow him around the yard, wearing a little pink jacket and I told him repeatedly that nobody wanted him here and that he should go away. This man stuck around for my whole life after that. I do not remember a time where he was not apart of it. He has always been there for me and supported me as if I was his own.
My dad is one of the greatest men I have ever known. He quit smoking 11 years ago. He has been a hard worker for 30+ years. He has a Bachelor’s degree in History with an emphasis on World War I & II and a minor in English. He supported my mother and our family for 4 years while my mom worked towards earning her Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science Bachelor Degrees. He just turned 52 at the end of October. He is the most caring, compassionate, funny, sweet guy and he has been one of the best role models in my life.
My dad and mom met on Halloween in 1998. They had their first date on November 4th 1998 and were married on August 19th 2000. Their marriage resulted in me gaining two more sisters.
My mom and dad went from a two income family to living on one income in the matter of a week. Dad will not be able to receive his first disability check until March of 2019. Currently they are paying $1,564 in insurance premiums per month. They also have a deductible of $6,000 per year. Plus any co-pays on any of the meds that Dad is prescribed. They are driving to Princeton, MN--which is about a 3 hour drive--at least 3 times a month.
Shawn will be leaving behind a very loving wife, 4 daughters, two of which are living on their own and two who are still living at home, and one granddaughter. Please consider taking the time to donate, even a little, to help alleviate some of these medical expenses for my family.
One of my dad's dreams is that he wants to see and tour Europe for a little bit. My mom and him are planning a trip to see Paris, London, Munich, and Vienna in December. This is something my dad has wanted to see and experience for his whole life. To help fund this trip, they will be liquidating a lot of their assets (selling cars, possessions, etc) and pulling money out of dad's 401K retirement plan. These are funds he will never get to use to retire and enjoy life. He deserves to use them to take a vacation and create memories with my mother.
We also would like to take a family trip to Key West, FL some time in March.
Please note, all proceeds donated to this fund will be used for medical, family/life experiences, quality over quantity of life, and/or funeral expenses.
Please note, if you would like your donation to go towards a specific use (EX: Medical only), you may specify or contact me.
Thank you very much for you consideration and time. My family and I greatly appreciate it.
Organizer
Maranda Alderson
Organizer
Plummer, MN