Shawn's Fight Against Leukemia
Donation protected
Urgent help needed for family of kind spirited, disabled Kentucky man diagnosed with a very aggressive form of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
Raymond “Shawn” Barnes, 37, having grown up in Ravenna/Irving KY area of Estelle County Kentucky, is a 1998 graduate of Powell County High School and currently a resident of Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Shawn is a charismatic, friendly, hip, fun loving, light hearted, bright-spirited, kind man with a humanitarian soul and a golden sense of humor. Having endured several surgeries for spinal issues through life, and enduring a horrific concoction of chronic illnesses, including a debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis from a young age, Osteoporosis, and Fibromyalgia Auto-Immune, Shawn is rarely seen without a smile on his face and love in his heart.
Shawn has always been a music fan, making his own music videos as a teen, shopping the coolest of the cool vintage clothing, always. He was making his own eco-friendly skin care products with essential oils, way back before it was even cool. He is a nature and animal loving, crafty, youthful fella who dons a tattoo of a statue. Artsy, this one. He also has a beautiful eye for capturing photos, and a gift to manipulate photography into art.
Between himself, his aging parents, Raymond, and Willa Barnes of Ravenna, KY who are also disabled, and his love, Kevin Re who lives with a treacherous autoimmune disease of his own, requiring constant companionship from his service animal, Oatmeal, Shawn is an endless support to those he loves, near and far, even through his own struggles. Shawn and Kevin have even, with their modest means taken on a feral cat community left abandoned in their neighborhood by a former caretaker, with no shelter or food. It’s truly Shawn’s mission in life to help those in need.
Recently confiding that he felt like he was dying, and something was terribly wrong, beyond his usual chronic illnesses, Shawn was taken in for Emergency Gallbladder Surgery on April 20, where further tests were run. April 21, 2017, a spinal tap confirmed the very worst. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. (A.L.L) This is a rare, and extremely aggressive form of Leukemia with a tormenting projection toward recovery.
At the discovery of A.L.L, Leukemia had overtaken over 90% of Shawn’s cells, and he was right in feeling as though he were dying. Without treatment, he may well have gone from this life very soon, but there is light in the dark, and on April 24, Shawn was taken to Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky where a very long, and aggressive plan was set in place
Prognosis: Long, Tough Battle!
Shawn is a warrior, ready to fight. Still recovering from the gallbladder surgery, he has started his long and painful road toward kicking Leukemia in its face! Shawn is facing chemo for 3 years, followed by radiation. They will not officially declare remission status until he is free from symptoms for a period of 10 years. Currently, Shawn has responded well to regular blood transfusions and will continue to receive them frequently for many years to come.
Shawn is anticipated to be hospitalized for 4-6 months now, with years ahead of intense treatments, and constant follow up.
Now, urgent financial support is needed for his support system, his small village of caregivers, (mother, father, and life partner), who are all of modest means, all of whom, living on disability. The Markey Cancer Hospital parking garage costs the family $20 per week, in addition to the expense of their 96-mile round trip each day. This is in addition to maintaining their current housing, livestock, and life expenses on their modest incomes. Most of the rest of Shawn’s family live in Ohio and are filtering in as able, and giving all they can to help.
If you can help in even the smallest way, please do. If you pray, those are welcome as well. So are cards, letters, and well wishes. Personal donations, gifts cards, gas cards, and gifts can be mailed directly to:
Shawn Barnes 2558 Tipton Ridge Rd. Ravenna KY 40472
If you can do nothing more than share this link, PLEASE SHARE and encourage all you know to share as well!
Please no candles, flowers, fresh fruit, etc. (Flowers and fresh fruit bear airborne mold spores which are not allowed on the cancer floor at all.) Family and friends coming to visit at the Cancer Hospital, please also be mindful of perfumes, lotions, etc.
Raymond “Shawn” Barnes, 37, having grown up in Ravenna/Irving KY area of Estelle County Kentucky, is a 1998 graduate of Powell County High School and currently a resident of Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Shawn is a charismatic, friendly, hip, fun loving, light hearted, bright-spirited, kind man with a humanitarian soul and a golden sense of humor. Having endured several surgeries for spinal issues through life, and enduring a horrific concoction of chronic illnesses, including a debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis from a young age, Osteoporosis, and Fibromyalgia Auto-Immune, Shawn is rarely seen without a smile on his face and love in his heart.
Shawn has always been a music fan, making his own music videos as a teen, shopping the coolest of the cool vintage clothing, always. He was making his own eco-friendly skin care products with essential oils, way back before it was even cool. He is a nature and animal loving, crafty, youthful fella who dons a tattoo of a statue. Artsy, this one. He also has a beautiful eye for capturing photos, and a gift to manipulate photography into art.
Between himself, his aging parents, Raymond, and Willa Barnes of Ravenna, KY who are also disabled, and his love, Kevin Re who lives with a treacherous autoimmune disease of his own, requiring constant companionship from his service animal, Oatmeal, Shawn is an endless support to those he loves, near and far, even through his own struggles. Shawn and Kevin have even, with their modest means taken on a feral cat community left abandoned in their neighborhood by a former caretaker, with no shelter or food. It’s truly Shawn’s mission in life to help those in need.
Recently confiding that he felt like he was dying, and something was terribly wrong, beyond his usual chronic illnesses, Shawn was taken in for Emergency Gallbladder Surgery on April 20, where further tests were run. April 21, 2017, a spinal tap confirmed the very worst. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. (A.L.L) This is a rare, and extremely aggressive form of Leukemia with a tormenting projection toward recovery.
At the discovery of A.L.L, Leukemia had overtaken over 90% of Shawn’s cells, and he was right in feeling as though he were dying. Without treatment, he may well have gone from this life very soon, but there is light in the dark, and on April 24, Shawn was taken to Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky where a very long, and aggressive plan was set in place
Prognosis: Long, Tough Battle!
Shawn is a warrior, ready to fight. Still recovering from the gallbladder surgery, he has started his long and painful road toward kicking Leukemia in its face! Shawn is facing chemo for 3 years, followed by radiation. They will not officially declare remission status until he is free from symptoms for a period of 10 years. Currently, Shawn has responded well to regular blood transfusions and will continue to receive them frequently for many years to come.
Shawn is anticipated to be hospitalized for 4-6 months now, with years ahead of intense treatments, and constant follow up.
Now, urgent financial support is needed for his support system, his small village of caregivers, (mother, father, and life partner), who are all of modest means, all of whom, living on disability. The Markey Cancer Hospital parking garage costs the family $20 per week, in addition to the expense of their 96-mile round trip each day. This is in addition to maintaining their current housing, livestock, and life expenses on their modest incomes. Most of the rest of Shawn’s family live in Ohio and are filtering in as able, and giving all they can to help.
If you can help in even the smallest way, please do. If you pray, those are welcome as well. So are cards, letters, and well wishes. Personal donations, gifts cards, gas cards, and gifts can be mailed directly to:
Shawn Barnes 2558 Tipton Ridge Rd. Ravenna KY 40472
If you can do nothing more than share this link, PLEASE SHARE and encourage all you know to share as well!
Please no candles, flowers, fresh fruit, etc. (Flowers and fresh fruit bear airborne mold spores which are not allowed on the cancer floor at all.) Family and friends coming to visit at the Cancer Hospital, please also be mindful of perfumes, lotions, etc.
Organizer and beneficiary
Carrie Johnson
Organizer
Alton, OH
Shawn Barnes
Beneficiary