SUMMARY: I'm launching this fundraiser to support Shawn and Tim, who have faced significant health challenges. Married for 24 years, they recently moved to Webster, WI for retirement. In March 2025, Tim was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer and underwent treatment; by October 2025, his scans showed no remaining cancer. Shortly after, Shawn was diagnosed with Stage 3 pancreatic cancer and is currently undergoing chemo and radiation in Rice Lake, WI, preparing for the Whipple Procedure. They’ve incurred over $10,000 in out-of-pocket expenses for accommodations, plus additional costs for gas, copays, and other necessities, which have strained their retirement savings. Their resilience is evident, and any support is greatly appreciated. #DOOSESTRONG #FCANCER
THEIR FULL STORY:
Shawn and Tim have been married for 24 years, having met 28 years ago. They met in 1998 in Prescott, WI. At the time, they both had children and lives of their own, but over the last 28 years, they have built a beautiful life together. Having both put in 40+ years working demanding careers and raising three children, two years ago they moved into their dream home in Webster, WI in preparation for a quiet and peaceful retirement in the woods. Then, in 2025, the proverbial floor dropped out from underneath all of us.
March 2025: Tim was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer. While Tim focused on surgery and cancer treatments, Shawn worked on information gathering, management of the bills, insurance, treatment schedules and care taking. They have always been a great team, but even more so during this time.
October 2025: Tim is looking at only two chemo treatments left - all scans show no remaining cancer. While celebrating this good news and starting to breathe again, Shawn was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer; unfortunately, the fight wasn't over. Shawn and Tim literally swapped roles, with Tim now taking on day to day caretaking while Shawn focuses on recovery.
It was surreal to say the least. At first, the weight of Shawn’s diagnosis seemed too much to bear, but God never gives us more than we can handle. Against the odds, after 16 weeks of biweekly, brutal, chemo-therapy treatments, Shawn is now living in Rice Lake, WI for an additional 6 weeks of daily radiation/chemo combo treatment. All scans are showing the tumor is shrinking, so we as a family are preparing for the Whipple Procedure and the caretaking that will follow. This procedure will remove the tumor, thereby increasing her long term chances dramatically.
Shawn is one of the 20% of patients that qualify for this life saving procedure, but it does not come without cost. With Shawn moving temporarily to Rice Lake for daily radiation/chemo treatments and doctor appointments, Tim and Shawn have incurred over $10,000 in out-of-pocket expenses for accommodations alone.
This, along with gas, copays and all other secondary expenses, has put an enormous dent in their retirement savings. The cruel irony of this of course, is that retirement is more important for them now more than ever. And although they would never admit it, they need to slow down and care for themselves. T
hey deserve to reap the benefits of a life well lived. We, as a family, do not let all of this get us down. We often joke that there must be something in the water. We are a family that believes that in laughter there is hope. Hope rooted in community and an agreement that we will not be broken by fear of a thing, but instead bonded by it. It is the strength of those bonds that hold us up in times like this. Thank you so much for reading and for all your prayer, love and support! #DOOSESTRONG #FCANCER
Organizer and beneficiary
Shawn Doose
Beneficiary