4 minute read
Hoover Teacher Update: Fight For His Life
Fight For His Life
Local Family Hit Hard by Stage 4 Colon Cancer by Amanda Daniels
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On November 22, Keith and Christy arrived in my classroom to present me with the November bmonthly Teacher of the Month award. During our visit, they inquired about a Hoover teacher whose husband has Stage 4 cancer. At that moment, I realized there was an opportunity to get Alex’s story out. I shared how I organized “Alex” days at Hoover, where students and staff support the Meijer family by wearing blue and paying a dollar to wear a hat with all proceeds going to the Meijer family to pay for Ember’s childcare.
When Alex’s health declined in January, his father told me he had said his goodbyes while visiting them in the fall, and that did not sit well with me. I made it my mission to raise funds to bring his family to Oklahoma from the Netherlands. I started a GoFundMe account, and along with Channel 2 News and social media, we raised the funds needed to get his family here. The GoFundMe is still active and any additional funds raised will be used for Alex’s eventual funeral and other expenses that his wife, Tori, will incur.
Alex and Tori met online through an art website called DeviantArt. After talking for a while, Tori flew to the Netherlands to meet Alex. Alex said Tori was crazy to board a plane and fly 15 plus hours to be face-to-face with someone she met over the internet. However, he says he will forever be grateful that she did, because that's where their love story began.
They continued their long-distance relationship for five years before Alex moved to Oklahoma to begin their life together. They were married on October 18, 2013. In March of 2018, they welcomed a beautiful daughter, Ember. Without a doubt, Ember is the sunshine in their home. According to Eric, Alex’s brother, Ember is Alex’s greatest treasure. Alex was a stay-at-home dad for Ember from the time she was born. Needless to say, Alex is a very family-oriented man. I have messaged back and forth with him the past several months and he always replies with, “As long as Tori and Ember are happy, I will be fine.” Throughout all of this, his only concern is his wife and daughter, which is something that I greatly admire about him.
Alex was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer this past June, after an extended period of time experiencing stomach issues and doctor visits. Alex began the journey of chemotherapy treatments in the fall of 2019, and continued until January. Because he wasn’t able to eat, he made a trip to the ER, hoping to get a CT scan for some answers. The scan revealed that it was due to a very large blockage created by the cancer. He later visited his oncologist and they looked into procedures that might help his ability to eat and drink. He then met with Dr. Fisher at Surgical Associates of Tulsa to review his scans and review options. They decided on surgery to bypass the blockage, allowing him to eat, and giving him a few more months with his family. Alex had surgery on February 3 at St. Francis Hospital. The surgery was risky, but thankfully the outcome was successful. Dr. Fisher was able to remove a softball-size mass as well as several other tumors. Following surgery, Alex did not make the expected recovery and his health declined. On February 12, his CT scan showed his cancer had become very aggressive and nothing more medically could be done. Alex was discharged from St. Francis on February 13 and returned to Bartlesville as a guest at The Journey Home facility.
I had the honor of visiting with Alex late last month. He felt well enough to go for a drive with Tori. After they returned, I was able to visit with him, and even though he was exhausted and in pain, he still told me that as long as Tori and Ember are happy then there is nothing else that needs to be done.
Regardless of how he feels or what is going on in his body, he just wants to make sure his girls will be taken care of properly. I have assured him that we will always uphold his wish and make sure his girls are provided for in every way possible.
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