Joe LaValley

Welcome to our CaringBridge site. We've created it to keep friends and family updated. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement during this time when it matters most.

January 23rd, 2014 I went into the Emergency Room with what I thought was an Appendicitis attack, the doctors thought it was too so they removed my appendix. On January 27th I was told I have cancer and I would need additional surgery. As it has turned out it is a rare form of cancer called Appendiceal Cancer (Appendix). There are on average about less than 1000 cases of appendiceal cancer per year. There are several forms of cancer in the appendix and mine occurs about 20% of the time, so when you do the math less than 200 cases per year in the US are my kind of cancer.  On February 19th I was informed that my cancer had spread and now it just wouldn't be surgery needed but also a 6 month course of Chemotherapy.

I want to say that I will be healthy and happy when this is all through. There is only one outcome and that is I will be back to 100% soon down the road. I would like to thank all those of you that have already have passed along thoughts, offers to help out and prayers. It is very humbling to know that so many of my family and friends are offering support and prayers to help me along the way. Prayer is a powerful thing, I can feel it daily. I have not been down about this, but have approached it like it is just one more thing that needs to be taken care of. So when you see me or talk to me, be positive and have faith, like I do, that this is just a minor bump in a long road.

Jessica and Tim know that I have cancer, but at this time they do not know how bad it is. So when the time is right we will share with them what is in store for their dad.

Please keep the Three Amigos in your thoughts and prayers!

Peace
100% Joe