My name is Jennifer and my husband Joseph was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. We have 2 teenage kids, Ethyn and Evelyn. Our world is shattered. I’m still in complete shock.
Around Thanksgiving, my husband started not feeling like himself. What we thought was just some sort of flu eventually turned into something much more serious. By Christmas, he was having pain in his leg and trouble swallowing, but he continued to push through and carry on as normal still thinking it was serious. We enjoyed Christmas together as a family, not knowing what was ahead.
As the weeks went on, he had increasing trouble sleeping due to severe leg pain and still didn’t feel right. January 13th he was very excited to start his new job at Le Grand elementary and enjoyed it very much. On January 20th, he went to the ER in Merced. At the time everything appeared okay, they did find lesions on his liver and he was sent home to follow up with his doctor. His bloodwork appeared to be normal, but was still awaiting for more results. He then had a doctors appt to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy done in March. Deep down, though, we knew something wasn’t right.
By late January, he had started losing weight and still wasn’t feeling well, yet he remained determined — especially because he was excited about his job. But his condition continued to decline. He struggled to eat and lost 30 pounds in just a few weeks. We didn’t know what to do. We didn’t know what was happening.
On February 9th, I rushed him to the ER at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, desperate for answers. His mother, Trish, quickly traveled from Oregon to be by his side. After numerous tests, doctors discovered multiple blood clots throughout his body caused by a rare condition called May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS). We were shocked. He underwent surgery the following day to place stents in his abdomen and leg. This was all happening so fast. They ran more tests.
Despite everything, he still could not eat or even drink while we waited for biopsy results. A PICC line was inserted for nutrition. On February 18, 2026, he was finally transferred to Sutter Hospital in San Francisco, still waiting for answers. By this point, he had lost 48 pounds.
That’s when our world shattered.
He was diagnosed with Stage 4 adenocarcinoma — esophageal cancer. I couldn’t believe it. Further testing, including additional MRIs and a PET scan, revealed the cancer had spread throughout his body — to his brain, bones, and multiple organs. We were in complete disbelief. We could’ve believe what we were seeing. This doesn’t seem real. This can’t be happening.
The doctor said he has 4 to 12 months to live. I just couldn’t believe those words. I was shocked, angry, upset. How do I tell our kids their father is dying.
Since then, he has received plasma, a feeding tube, and a procedure to place a stent in his esophagus so he can try to drink something again. Next will be chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and several more procedures as he fights this aggressive disease. He needs nutrition to gain strength. Please pray for him.
There are no words to describe the heartbreak of being told the person you love most has limited time left. He is a devoted husband, a loving father, a loyal friend, and our provider. Now he is facing the hardest battle of his life. We still cannot believe this is happening. This is a nightmare. He was planning on teaching our son to drive a stick shift soon, go on more dirt bike rides in La Grange, planning more camping trips, take the canoes out on a hot sunny day at the lake as a family. I just can’t believe this is really happening.
Our son is a junior and our daughter is a sophomore at Le Grand High School. They are devastated and struggling to comprehend what is happening to their dad. We are asking for prayers. We are asking for a miracle. This is unbelievable. He should be there to see our kids graduate high school . We can’t lose him.
As we focus on spending meaningful time together and keeping him as comfortable as possible, we are facing overwhelming medical bills, travel expenses, and the loss of income. The financial burden is the last thing we want to worry about during this heartbreaking time. He was so excited and proud to work at the elementary school .
We are humbly asking for help to ease this burden so we can focus on what truly matters — being together, creating memories, and surrounding him with dignity, love, and support. He is constantly surrounded by family, including his mother who has not left his side.
If you are able to donate, share this page, or simply keep us in your prayers, it means more than we can ever express. We are still processing all of this and still in complete shock. Thank you for standing with our family during the most difficult chapter of our lives.