Some people call him Big Joe, but to us he is always Papa. This is the first "Papa Joe" story of the caring bridge journal. In our house a "Papa Joe story" is something akin to telling a tall tale. I'm Joe's niece and years back after the untimely death of his daughter Anita, my husband and I adopted his grandson Lucas. Now Lucas goes to see his papa once a year for an extended visit in the magical land of Wyoming, and when he returns he is FULL of Papa Joe stories... that really just seem too hard to believe. 

Joe does have some pretty interesting tales, that often defy the odds. There are not many people who walk around to tell you about the 5 heart attacks they survived, or the time the tractor fell on him and he had an out of body experience but lived. Or the time he drove a 1950 Plymouth into the bridge pillar on Hennepin Ave in Minneapolis, and was revived by an EMT on the scene. 

This winter shortly before Christmas, Papa Joe was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The initial prognosis was that even with chemo and radiation he would not have very good odds of increasing longevity. However after meeting with a second doctor, he was given a more hopeful outlook and will now undergo a 6 week intensive treatment of radiation five days a week, with one day a week chemo & radiation. 

Joe & Denise are now living in Spearfish, SD, with their grandson Nate. He will need to make a 100 mile drive roundtrip each day to Rapid City VA for treatment.

The good people of his previous home in Upton WY are throwing him a Spaghetti Diner benefit, Saturday February 15th at 6:00 PM (photo of the Ad in the paper attached here). If you are in that neck of the woods (or mountains I suppose), stop in and show some love. There is contact information there also for Nicki Toth who is organizing the event and also an address for Joe and Denise. The could use help with funding for gas money to make the trek to chemo. 

Thank you for stopping by, leave Joe a note of support while your here so we know you stopped in! Maybe you have a good Papa or Big Joe story?