Author: integritivity

Teresa Marsh has Stage 4 Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma cancer and 10 tumors. It is rare, so she has to travel back and forth to Philadelphia to the University of Pennsylvania hospitals and to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

Her son is a junior in high school. This year has been especially hard for them. Teresa had to take early retirement from her school principal job.The oncologist said she might be able to see her son graduate from high school in a year, but they aren’t sure. He’s been very worried.

Next fall, both of her kids will be in college, and she will miss them a lot. Teresa wished for a MacBook or laptop so that she can FaceTime them and stay connected, hopefully something that she can carry between her craft room and bedroom.

Teresa’s wish is being granted and an Ipad is being sent to her!

Colton has stage 4 metastatic brain melanoma and this past year has been pretty rough with it getting more so. He has 8 tumors in his brain and is beginning radiation again. This is the only treatment they can do as Immunotherapy almost killed him back in April. Colton’s parents made a wish for him to see Dermot Kennedy, but he was too ill to travel.  So instead, Stella’s Wish arranged with the family to cover the expenses for them to go on a local dinner cruise in Iowa City.

 

Jason Braesch, age 48, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer, which has spread to his lymph nodes and multiple bones, including his spine. His wife says, “He is an amazing man. I met him too late in life so I feel like my time with him is running out to make memories. We got married shortly after he was diagnosed because his prognosis was grim.”  The couple just moved into a home that was supposed to be their lifelong home together.

Jason is a HUGE Chicago Cubs fan so he collects everything and they have made a whole lower level living room into his “Cubs Room” and that is where they spend most of their time together now.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is sending some special Cubs merchandise sent directly to enhance his living space.

 

On March 18th, Wendell Olson was taken to the ER after falling in the shower. He was just so tired tha this family knew something was wrong. The hospitalists immediately found a tumor and took him by ambulance to OHSU. Two days later, he had surgery and his surgeon told us that what she found was no doubt a high-grade, aggressive brain cancer. Pathology confirmed their worst fears, Glioblastoma Grade 4. Due to delays by the insurance and a referral not being sent, his chemo and radiation was delayed. His head swelled until his eye couldn’t open and they took him to the ER again. His tumor had grown back in only a month. He had another craniotomy only a month and a half after his first. He has since started his first round of chemo and radiation.

Wendell Olson has worked for The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for nearly 30 years. He is the hardest working man his daughter knows and was putting off “fun” for retirement. He had made so many plans for his retirement in 10 years. He wanted to take trips and work on cars and build a shop and do gun-smithing. He has always put his family first. He would never drive a car nicer than his wife’s and would never do anything for himself. He was saving spoiling himself for retirement. He was counting down the years and talked about being on the home stretch.

After his second surgery, his doctors didn’t want to release him to go back to work, but he insisted. He still feels like he needs to take care of his family, but they want him to be able to do something that is just for him.  He would have loved to go to a NASCAR race but is to ill to travel far.  Instead the family asked to go on a local Christmas dinner boat cruise for one evening.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is sending Wendell and his family on a Christmas dinner boat cruise for one evening near where they live in Oregon.

Jack Eldredge’s daughter submitted a wish on his behalf. Jack has been recently diagnosed with stage 4 small cell lung cancer that has metastasized to his hip, shoulder, and brain.  He received his first chemo treatment in June 2022 through August 2022. It was a great response. However, in October 2022 the doctors found that the cancer had spread in his brain. Therefore, his whole brain radiation treatment started in October as well.   Jack has been a life-long Chiefs fan, born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri.  His daughter asked for a special experience at a Chiefs home game. Due to his condition, he would need a handicap parking spot and wheelchair, and would need to be seated in a weather-protected area.

Stella’s Wish Foundation has arranged for Jack and six family members to attend the Kansas City Chiefs game on Dec 24^th and two people will also get to go on to the field before the game!

 

Kile has been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer, Glioblastoma. She has worked her entire life in the medical field as a microbiologist/etc.  Her daughter says “She’s a very smart lady that I’m proud to call my mom.”  Kile has grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Arkansas that should would love to meet and have a special Christmas gift for.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is providing gifts for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Charles was just diagnosed with inoperable, Stage IV Carcinoid Cancer in his bones and multiple organs. This cancer has no cure, is very rare, and for Charles progressed quickly. To try and slow its progression and add a couple more years, they are trying different hormone injections. Friends of Charles submitted a wish for him to help him live life to the fullest now. They described Charles as dependable, loyal, a buddy that a friend can always confide in.

Stella’s Wish has arranged for on-field passes to a Miami Dolphins game plus a VISA gift card for related expenses.

It started as small cell lung cancer medistatic into his adrenal glands. Chemo seemed to work, then Martin had a brain MRI and found it hd spread to his brain. He is going through radiation therapy right now.

Martin has not seen his son in a couple years and made a wish to see him before his health degrades much more and while he is lucid.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is providing an airline ticket so this Martin’s son can visit his dad!

At 39 years old in 2019, Kelly was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Soon after, COVID-19 struck and her family became homebound for almost 2 years. Fast forward to 2022 and she’s still battling cancer and recently had a metastasis to her liver.  Kelly has 3 beautiful kiddos and a wonderful hubby. Through all the highs and lows, her sweet family has been right behind her.

Kelly made a wish is to take the family to a place where they can spend time laughing, playing together, and making memories together as a family.

Stella’s Wish Foundation has arranged for Kelly and her family to stay in a cabin in Allergan, Michigan.

 

Amanda has been battling metastatic colon cancer that has moved to her liver and lungs. Over the past three years, she has been through multiple surgeries, several rounds of chemo, and radiation. Last night the doctors have stated her cancer is very aggressive and has worsened over the past two months despite her many treatments she has gone through. She is in pain every day and her cognition is declining.

Her sister wrote, “My sister is one of the kindest people one would ever meet. She loves her kids and grandkids. Has never smoked, never partied, and believes in the good Lord above. Life for her hasn’t always been easy but she has made the best with what she has.”

When Amanda found out her cancer had spread to her liver, she mentioned that she wants to see the ocean before she passes and enjoy spending time on the beach with her family. Financially, she will be unable to do this without assistance. Her sister submitted a wish on her behalf.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is granting her wish: Amanda and her husband will travel to Myrtle Beach after Thanksgiving.