Shawn Joyave Cancer & Funeral Fund
Donation protected
My dad lost his battle with cancer, he faught as hard as he could for us.
January 27, 1976- June 4, 2018
Within 2 months of my dad being diagnosed with cancer, he passed away. It all started when my dad had surgery April 9th for a tumor that they found on the lining of his brain. His neurosurgeon said the type of tumor he had would most likley not be cancerous but no way to tell for sure until the surgery. The next day, they told us it was cancerous but that was not the primary tumor. They found out the primary tumor was located in his lungs. He was then diagnosed with Non-small cell lung cancer- adenocarcinoma. We were hopeful because this was a small growing cancer. However, at that point it had spread to his brain, lymph nodes, and spine. He went through a course of radiation to his brain to kill the part of the tumor they weren't able to remove during surgery and any lingering cancer cells. Then, he got Legionnaire's pneumonia which hospitalized him for a few days. They had to drain 3 Liters of fluid from his lung and complete a course of antibiotics....he went home on oxygen and was on it ever since. Once all the tests came back for the specific antibodies he needed, he started chemotherapy. He kept having issues with his breathing. They said he was going to keep having the issue of fluid build up so they put a catheter in his lungs that my mom had to drain fluid from every morning. Then more breathing problems arose as a side effect to one of the chemotherapy drugs, it made his lungs inflamed. He also had a blood clot form in his lungs and my mom was giving him a needle in his stomach every day. It was just getting harder and harder for his lungs to contract.
At a follow up appointment, the cancer team told my mom that if the chemotherapy worked then he would have months. If the chemotherapy didn't work, he would have weeks. 2 days later, May 31st he was admitted to the hospital for dehydration and his sodium level was dangerously low. With the dehydration and sodium, they had to give him fluids but slowly because if he received them too fast it would drop his sodium even lower, which would result in seizures. He was on a CPAP breathing machine (on and off) because his body was working too hard to breathe. He was then transferred to the ICU because they weren't able to raise his sodium level. They also told us he had malignant fluid around his heart, "squishing" it as the doctors described. Eventually that fluid is going to lead to the heart not being able to pump properly. The doctors informed us, that he has days left, if that. They said we could ventillate him but he would never be able to come off of the machine that would be breathing for him. They also said if they did surgery for the heart issue that he would not be able to leave the hospital with what they would be placing in his heart; even if he was healthy. They also said he had really high risks for the surgery and it was not recommended for the condition he was already in. The other issue was if they did the heart surgery, he would not be able to recieve any more chemotherapy treatments. They said his cancer was really aggressive and his body was shutting down. My dad faught until his body just couldn't take it anymore....
My family doesn't like doing this, but under the circumstances. The funeral costs are high. Also, my mom is going to be out of work for some time while she copes the loss of her husband, that she has been with for 29 years. Our family is going to deal with a lot as this happened so fast. He was working and running around just 2 days before his surgery in April 9th and June 4th he passes away.
Anything would be greatly appreciated and we thank everyone for all the love & support that we have recieved. My dad was loved by so many.
January 27, 1976- June 4, 2018
Within 2 months of my dad being diagnosed with cancer, he passed away. It all started when my dad had surgery April 9th for a tumor that they found on the lining of his brain. His neurosurgeon said the type of tumor he had would most likley not be cancerous but no way to tell for sure until the surgery. The next day, they told us it was cancerous but that was not the primary tumor. They found out the primary tumor was located in his lungs. He was then diagnosed with Non-small cell lung cancer- adenocarcinoma. We were hopeful because this was a small growing cancer. However, at that point it had spread to his brain, lymph nodes, and spine. He went through a course of radiation to his brain to kill the part of the tumor they weren't able to remove during surgery and any lingering cancer cells. Then, he got Legionnaire's pneumonia which hospitalized him for a few days. They had to drain 3 Liters of fluid from his lung and complete a course of antibiotics....he went home on oxygen and was on it ever since. Once all the tests came back for the specific antibodies he needed, he started chemotherapy. He kept having issues with his breathing. They said he was going to keep having the issue of fluid build up so they put a catheter in his lungs that my mom had to drain fluid from every morning. Then more breathing problems arose as a side effect to one of the chemotherapy drugs, it made his lungs inflamed. He also had a blood clot form in his lungs and my mom was giving him a needle in his stomach every day. It was just getting harder and harder for his lungs to contract.
At a follow up appointment, the cancer team told my mom that if the chemotherapy worked then he would have months. If the chemotherapy didn't work, he would have weeks. 2 days later, May 31st he was admitted to the hospital for dehydration and his sodium level was dangerously low. With the dehydration and sodium, they had to give him fluids but slowly because if he received them too fast it would drop his sodium even lower, which would result in seizures. He was on a CPAP breathing machine (on and off) because his body was working too hard to breathe. He was then transferred to the ICU because they weren't able to raise his sodium level. They also told us he had malignant fluid around his heart, "squishing" it as the doctors described. Eventually that fluid is going to lead to the heart not being able to pump properly. The doctors informed us, that he has days left, if that. They said we could ventillate him but he would never be able to come off of the machine that would be breathing for him. They also said if they did surgery for the heart issue that he would not be able to leave the hospital with what they would be placing in his heart; even if he was healthy. They also said he had really high risks for the surgery and it was not recommended for the condition he was already in. The other issue was if they did the heart surgery, he would not be able to recieve any more chemotherapy treatments. They said his cancer was really aggressive and his body was shutting down. My dad faught until his body just couldn't take it anymore....
My family doesn't like doing this, but under the circumstances. The funeral costs are high. Also, my mom is going to be out of work for some time while she copes the loss of her husband, that she has been with for 29 years. Our family is going to deal with a lot as this happened so fast. He was working and running around just 2 days before his surgery in April 9th and June 4th he passes away.
Anything would be greatly appreciated and we thank everyone for all the love & support that we have recieved. My dad was loved by so many.
Organizer
Mercedes Joyave
Organizer
Millersville, MD