Support Wally Johnson’s Battle for Life vs Stage 4 Melanoma

We all know Wally is a people-person, friendly to everyone, joyful, big-hearted, extremely generous with his time and know-hows, a super smart problem-solver, and always ready to help anyone in need in any way he can.

Dear friends and family, many of us have received Wally’s help in our time of need. NOW Wally needs our support and help as he and his family face many unknowns while fighting for his life.

This Gofundme is organized by Wally’s brother Jim and sister-in-law Melissa to more efficiently communicate updates about Wally’s critical medical crisis and give you all – the many friends and family who love and care about Wally, his wife Lori, and their son Josh – a way to provide them with ongoing support in the midst of their serious health and financial challenges. Here is a brief summary of their situation:

February 2024, Wally was diagnosed with a melanoma cancer tumor that was surgically removed. Their family hoped Wally was cancer-free.

However, fall 2024, Wally was diagnosed with melanoma cancer again. Now the cancer is stage 4 metastatic melanoma which means the melanoma cells are multiplying and spreading through Wally’s body. This time the treatment plan is immunotherapy. Melanoma cancer cells trick the body’s immune system into thinking they are friendly cells. Immunotherapy drugs are designed to strengthen Wally’s immune system into an army able to recognize melanoma cells anywhere in his body as enemies and destroy them.

Early December 2024, Wally received his first immunotherapy treatment. He, Lori, and Josh were hopeful because Wally experienced manageable side effects, and the treatment seemed to already be boosting his immune system.

Then the last week of December 2024, Wally’s stage 4 cancer battle became more complicated, escalating into an urgent medical crisis. Just a few days before his second treatment was scheduled, Wally rapidly became seriously ill and needed to immediately be hospitalized. He was diagnosed with an aggressive bacterial infection. The root cause of the infection is not known.

On December 31, 2024, while hospitalized many of Wally’s vital signs were still not stable. In just a few days he also lost a lot of weight. His medical team decided they were unable to provide the higher level of care Wally desperately needed, so they transferred him to a hospital with more specialization and advanced technology.

Today, January 1, 2025, Wally is being treated in a different more equipped hospital’s intensive care unit for his life-threatening condition.

Under normal circumstances, Wally, Lori, and Josh manage life’s ups and downs incredibly well. And Wally helps others too. But this is an unusual point in their lives involving many unknowns and stresses.

Here are some things we can do to help them. Lift Wally, Lori, and Josh up in your daily prayers. You can express words of support for them through your social media accounts. You can share the link to this Gofundme on your social media accounts so those who would want to know about Wally's critical situation are looped in and have access to future updates about his condition which we will be posting through the Gofundme. If you are able, feel free to donate through this Gofundme to help with increasing medical bills. The Gofundme donations go directly to Wally and Lori’s checking account. Or, if you prefer, you can mail a check to Wally and Lori’s home address.

Thank you for loving and helping Wally, Lori, and Josh during a very difficult time of need. In their honor, here is our 2025 New Year’s prayer for all reading this:

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord

Who abide in His shadow for life

Say to the Lord, "My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!"

And He will raise you up on eagles' wings

Bear you on the breath of dawn

Make you to shine like the sun

And hold you in the palm of His hand.