Debra’s Story

Site created on April 28, 2018

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Debbie has been diagnosed with a rare form of bile duct cancer called Hilar cholangiocarcinoma. this form of cancer affects both the bile duct and liver.


After meeting with the specialists it has been determined that the best course of treatment would be a liver transplant. She will undergo some radiation then chemo until a liver becomes available.

This will be a long uphill journey given the wait time on getting a liver. She’s not yet been approved, but once she is she will have to undergo frequent scans to make sure the cancer has not spread in order to remain eligible.

Please continue to keep Debbie and our family in your thoughts and prayers that things go as hoped.

September 18, 2018 Update: Debbie was approved and is starting her 4th month on the transfer list.  She has been having a lot of infections that she gets when the stent gets plugged and the bile backs up.  She is currently on daily oral antibiotics to help with the infections.  This along with the chemo will be happening until the liver transplant.  Now having an issue with the insurance companies. They are forcing the Green Bay Catholic Diocese to put Debbie on COBRA which means our insurance premium will be increasing  to over $1000 per month.


Debbie passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2020 after a two year battle with bile duct cancer.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Steve LeSage

Hello dear family and friends. This will be my final journal entry regarding Debbie's long journey with bile duct cancer. Her mass was last Saturday, September 19, at 10:00am. The mass was recorded by Resurrection Catholic Parish. You can go on their website at www.gbres.org. If you go to the life section on there then select their YouTube link to their channel. There you will find her mass and you can watch it. It was wonderful seeing Father Paul and Father Tim, with Father Tom. It was a very nice mass. Sheila also participated with the service. My grandkids and my brother Todd were involved with the readings. And everyone else involved. John Hansen was a good friend and help also. Debbie would have loved it. She was praised for what she did for Resurrection Catholic Parish the 30 years she was there. So many things she accomplished for them. Her work with Stewardship was known world wide thru The International Catholic Stewardship Council. Bishop Bob was her mentor with this. 

The church is helping us setup a Debra LeSage memorial fund for the church. The money that will be received will go towards some of the improvements that Debbie started and still need to be finished. They already know where the money will go first. 

Debbie was also interested in helping people out who needed. It could be a family that needs funds, a homeless person, the elderly and so on. She could not send people away. I will continue  some way for this myself in her name. 

I have moved to a new home. If anyone would rather send a donation to me for either of Debbie's funds they can also send it to me. I live at w11140 Halhweg Rd., Athelsatane, WI 54104. Any funds will be used in the Green Bay area only. 

Thank you father Tom, Sheila and the rest of Resurrection Parish for being with us during this jouney with prayers and in other ways. It was really help full.

Thank you, all and God Bless you.

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