May 21st 2024 is the day that our lives were forever changed. It is the date that the Dr. called to talk to my husband Joe. I knew instantly that it was bad news, because they only call when it is. We were told that he has a very rare, very aggressive form of cancer called Nevoid Malignant Melanoma and that they were sending in a referral to Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland Oregon.

This type of cancer is only diagnosed with special genetic testing and of all the cancer diagnoses less than 1% are this kind.

The next few weeks were a blur of shock, tears, disbelief, phone calls to get everything scheduled as well as hours and hours of research for this cancer and treatment options.

We went to OHSU on June 6th, 2024 to meet with the surgical oncologist and to discuss the best course of action going forward. While at this visit Joe had 2 series of blood work, an EKG and a chest X-ray done. The Dr. said that we should expect a call in a few weeks to get Joe scheduled for surgery that would take place at the end of July.

We drove home that night expecting that we would have some time to try and figure out how we were going to pay for all of these medical bills that are coming in. We have insurance with a very high yearly deductible to meet as well as co-pays for each appointment. Like everyone else these days we live paycheck to paycheck.

Unfortunately, we didn't have much time to think about anything because the surgery coordinator called the next morning and told us that they would be scheduling Joe for surgery in a couple of weeks because they are worried that it has already spread to his lymph nodes.

We will go down to Portland this week so that they can administer the dual tracer dye and do a scan to see exactly where the cancer has spread to. Joe will have surgery early the next morning where they will remove a large section of skin and tissue down into the first layer of muscle on his back. It will be approximately 6 inches across. This process should take 2.5 - 3 hours to complete. They will then do sentinel node biopsies where they remove lymph nodes that the cancer has spread to. They are unsure on how long this will take because it will depend on where they are and how many they need to remove. Joe will most likely spend that night in the hospital to recover and if all goes well that night then we can come home the next day.

He will have a follow up 2 weeks later in Portland where they will remove the large amount of stitches from his back, talk about the results of the biopsies, what course of action will be needed as well as when he will start immunotherapy and radiation/chemotherapy.

We live 9 hours away, round trip, from where all of his appointments, surgeries and treatments will be. We have already used up our savings and the fight is just beginning.

We are not ones to ask for help, but we really need your help so Joe can fight this cancer!!!

If you are not comfortable donating via go fund me there are other options for donating that I will list below. No donation is too small! We appreciate each and every one of them!!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this! If you could add our family to your thoughts and prayers we would very much appreciate it!!!

Love,

Joe and Jenny Leroue

*Venmo @Jenny-Leroue

*Cash app $JennyLeroue

*Sending it to our P.O. Box listed below

Joe & Jenny Leroue

P.O. Box 162

Waitsburg, WA 99361