My husband Shane and I Sarah  we are friends of Natasha and Joel are starting this Go Fund Me for a very special family. I work with Joel at the Kids' HOPE Center. My husband works with Natasha at Bay Area Hospital in the Ultrasound department. Please help these great friends of ours as they have had their lives turned upside down in a matter of days. Any amount will help them.

Joel McDonnell is a beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend. Joel is 37 years old and married with two amazing children. He works as a Victim Support Specialist at the Kid’s Hope Center, a Child Advocacy Center located in Coos Bay, Oregon. Joel has proven to be a staunch advocate for the well-being of children in Coos County and beyond, by supporting families and child abuse victims.

Recently, Joel was rushed to Bay Area Hospital, in Coos Bay, by ambulance to discover that he had suffered a dissection of his vertebral artery, resulting in a disruption of blood flow to the back of his brain causing a stroke. Joel was rushed up to OHSU, in Portland and diagnosed with a vertebral artery stroke and pneumonia.

As if this wasn’t enough for the young family to deal with, Joel’s bloodwork was abnormal and after further testing the McDonnell family received a devastating diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), an aggressive, rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

The McDonnell family faces a challenging road ahead. For the next six weeks, Joel will undergo intensive treatments. All while remaining hospitalized at OHSU. Unable to work during this time, he’s determined to push through with resilience.

However, this battle comes with heavy financial burdens: the hospital stay, medical treatments, transportation, food and housing to name a few. That’s where the McDonnell family needs your help. No contribution is too small – every dollar and bit of kindness will lighten their load and fuel their fight.

Please consider donating or sharing this page to help Joel beat this. Together, we can make a difference.