Team Joe Brown: Defeat Gallbladder Cancer!

Valentine’s Day forever changed the lives of my friend Lisa & her husband Joe. Lisa took Joe to the emergency room due to his excruciating abdominal pain – thinking it may be an appendicitis. Multiple hospitalizations, CT scans, MRIs & biopsies diagnosed Stage 4 Cancer in his gall bladder & lymph nodes which had already spread onto his liver. Sadly, later scans revealed the cancer had metastasized into lymph nodes along his bile ducts, too. Joe also suffers from gall stones which cause constant, severe pain but are inoperable right now because of how the cancer has spread.

In March, Joe began receiving aggressive chemotherapy treatments in an attempt to shrink the lymph nodes enough to remove his gall bladder + 40-50% of his liver. Joe’s chemotherapy regimen has been brutal on his body so he’s bedridden & unable to work. After exhausting all forms of unpaid leave at his employment, he was told his job at Wayfair could no longer be held so he was terminated. This meant his health insurance, life insurance & all other benefits also ended. Joe & Lisa must now pay the exorbitant costs of COBRA coverage in addition to his medical bills, cost of living, etc. Lisa is legally disabled so isn’t able to work (other than being Joe’s 24/7 caregiver). And if all of this wasn’t stressful enough, the house they’ve been renting is being sold so they’re also preparing to move!

The stress is taking a toll on all aspects of their life: physical, emotional, psychological & of course, financial. My goal is to help alleviate the financial burden in their lives. In addition, Joe & Lisa have asked for your prayers: for healing & for comfort during their uncertain journey.

For anyone who may not feel comfortable donating online, a bank account has also been created to accept donations. Checks can be made out to the "Joe Brown Cancer Fund" & can be accessed at any Wells Fargo Bank branch - nationwide.