My name is Amber and most of you already know I am Dwaine’s “favorite daughter” as he called me! Never in a million years did I ever think I would write one of these asking for help so forgive me if I ramble on or leave something out!
Last Monday June 2nd my father, Dwaine Shirey was taken by ambulance to bwmc for a pulmonary effusion after what we thought was only an upper respiratory infection that he just couldn’t shake. They were able to remove a little over 2 liters of fluid from his chest. From there there they put him on high flow oxygen and gradually lowered it over the course of days. We were told of all of the possibilities then, and left praying for a miracle and the best case scenario.
The following days were a complete blur filled with testing and a roller coaster ride that no one is ever prepared for.
On Thursday June 6th we were hit with the devastating news that they found small cell lung cancer cells in the fluid that they removed. Everyone that knows Dwaine knows he’s a fighter and immediately he said he’s going to fight this fight as best he can.
Saturday June 7th we met with his oncologist and were told its stage 4 extensive small cell lung cancer meaning it has started to spread to his lymph nodes. He was crushed obviously but still wanting to fight his fight for as long as the good Lord allowed him to fight.
Over the course of the week they repeated the procedure multiple times to remove the fluid that continued to build around his lungs. He was a trooper through it all.
On Sunday 2 days after the diagnosis we were told that his right lung was no longer working and he had to be intubated. He is currently in the icu at bwmc on a ventilator and heavily sedated while today, Monday June 9th we start chemo with the goal being to only have him on the vent for a week to give his lungs a rest to heal themselves, make sure he continues to get oxygen to his other vital organs and really let this chemo work its magic against the tumor causing the fluid build up in his chest and get him back on oxygen/ breathing on his own.
Luckily small cell carcinoma is one of the cancers that they will start chemo bedside however once he starts to recover and gets back home he will continue his chemo and immunotherapy outpatient. If you have ever been to him home you know that it is not really made for all of this and over 2 years ago Dwaine lost his leg due to infection and other health issues. The chemo and this run in the hospital will make it harder for my father to move about using his prosthetic leg unfortunately. We are hoping to show support and raise money to get a stair lift and ramp for his front to make going to and from these chemotherapy appointments easier on my mother and his wife and ultimately give him the dignity of feeling a little more independent in this time when he’s going to need a lot of help and support. On top of that him and his wife are both on a fixed income, being retired and on disability and my mother who has been their unique Godsend helping take care of both of them for over two years since his amputation, will be taking time off of work to be there with him through every step of the way like she always has.
These next 2 weeks will be very critical in his care. Please please please pray for him and his family during this time. Pray for healing, pray for miracles, and pray for strength for his wives, 2 children and 7 grandchildren.
Thank you for taking the time to read this all and thank you for your support for my daddy!
Right now we need help for my dad but obviously above all we need all of your prayers for a miracle!
