Ilwaco fishing family struggles against waves of bad news
ILWACO, Wash. – A Washington family is at the breaking point after a series of tragedies and the latest round of bad news has hit them especially hard.
“It’s all… happened so quickly,” Bea Shedore said.
In 2011, Bea’s husband Mike was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, rendering the long-time fisherman into a dependent who must type his words into a computer to communicate.
In 2012, his fishing boat, the Two Mikes, named for father and son, was involved in an accident and sank while employees were at the helm. The family’s life savings and economic stability sank along with it.
"I have to depend on people for everything. I was independent,” Mike tapped out on his computer when KATU News talked to him in July of 2012.
This past fall, Mike suffered a heart attack and had more medical complications. He is now in a care facility.
Then last month, during Christmas break, young Mikey, age 6, complained of pain in his back. The heart-breaking diagnosis: Leukemia.
Bea has been by his side in the hospital for a week as he undergoes blood draws and sits in a hospital bed, an IV dripping nearby. Mikey struggles to walk.
"I feel so helpless because you want to do everything to make him better, but you can't,” Bea said.
Bea had been hoping for a respite from the bad news piling up against her family. "New Years I prayed: 'Please, God, let this be a good year.' This was like [January] 8th when it happened,” she said.
"I'm falling apart, but I gotta be strong for everybody,” Bea added. She is also taking care of twin babies, which Mikey was helping with before he fell ill.
Mikey is going through treatments twice a week for a month, but they expect he'll be dealing with his cancer for more than three years.
The Shedore's say their community in Ilwaco has stepped up to help them out by starting a donation account at the Bank of the Pacific and creating a benefit to help the family financially.
There is also a Facebook page dedicated to Mikey’s struggle with cancer.
Not sure if you have been notified but this family was in a car accident on the way home from Portland Hospital & Micky was injured - Please put this information out again - this family & the community needs all the help you can give them.Â
My thoughts and prayers go out to this family. If anyone needs them, they do. Stay strong Bea. The Lord has put a heavy burden on your shoulders but he doesn't give you more than you can bear.Â
Not a good year for any Local Commercial Fishermen but I really feel for these people. Thanks to Gov. Palpatine 200 Families are losing thier Family Businesses as well because of his Gillnet Ban. To have both Father and Son stricken with these awful diseases and lose your boat as well is just unfathomable. I hope the Mother asks the Boys Dr. about Rick Simpson Oil to help with the treatments the boy will have to go through. I never say this but I have these folks in my prayers.
Here is a link to the local ALS association (the Lou Gherig's disease the dad has) in case anyone also besides donating to the family wants to ski to help raise funds  or other activities like that: http://webor.alsa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=OR_homepage  This group has support meetings and resources for families  like the Shedores facing this awful currently 100% fatal disease.
Donations to the Shedores can also be made online at www.giveforward.com/sunshinefortheshedores
 @Nicole I wonder if someone connected to the family could also set up an account through their bank. Some people won't contribute because of the 7% that GiveForward deducts. I realize it's a lower percentage than what other sites take, but knowing that ALL the money contributed will go to the Shedores might loosen people's purse strings a bit more.
If ya ever think things in your life are really messed up.......... Just think of this family and be grateful. Words cannot express my hopes and prayers and best wishes for them and the future !
I can't begin to imagine what this family has faced in the past few years. Bad things happen to good people, I wish them all the best, I just wished there were things that could be done to make the bad things go away for a bit for them.
"The Shedore's say"
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And here I've been feeling sorry for myself because I broke my foot and can't walk for a while. This puts things into perspective. I hope things turn around for this family soon, and little Mikey kicks his cancer to the curb.
 @QuandoQuandoQuando Broke my toe and am limping around the past few days in pain.  (live on the 3rd floor with no elevator and dog whose powder room is 3 floors down in the bushes.). Puts it in perspective for me too.
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Wow!!! What have these people done to deserve this, nothing. God give them a break.
 @dkgiovenco The first thing I thought of when I read this article was the story of Job.
 @gofigure Their family is truly enduring the test of patience, but WOW that is one hard test.
Wow. I feel horrible thinking my years were bad. 2011 and 2012 were the worst years of my life medically, financially, and emotionally. Yet this family had so much more put on their shoulders then I had to complain about. Bea is the type of woman I would want as my mother or a friend when I am in crisis...caring, strong, and determined. She deserves a day of pampering to keep her spirits high and her soul energized. I wish this family not just the best on luck but best of everything. It's time they get the goodness they deserve.
How sad, I can't imagine the stress these people must be under :( Stories like this serve as a great reminder that the things we all stress out and worry over are usually small, relatively speaking. I'll remember this family next time I get bent out of shape over a minor problem. Good thoughts and hopes for a better 2013 for this poor family.
No one should have this much to deal with.
A little over a year ago, I was talking to a friend about the health of his son. He said his boy was in remission for leukemia. A week later, he passed away from a heart attack, leaving his son, his wife, and two teenaged stepsons behind. A week after his passing, his widow's sister passed away. Two weeks later, his son found out that his cancer returned in his bones. A few months later, he passed away. His mother has been stoic through it all and has been struggling as well. Â I'm glad that they live in a community that steps up, as they too, live in a fishing area.Â
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I hope that this family gets the same kind of support and is able to find a way to get through all of this. Â It's not about pity, but being able to go through this life, knowing that someone cares to let you know that you're not alone.
Wow all I have to say is, I am sorry.
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They must have gotten some of my bad fortune as on balance I have no serious complaints and these folks have nothing but.
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Good luck to you. There isnât anything worse than seeing a child suffering from leukemia.
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 @Repoman except for watching someone go through ALS (Lou Gherig's disease like the dad is)
When I was a kid, one of my best friends died from Leukemia. My eyes water every time I think of him.
 @swimbad sorry for your loss, swimbad. : (
 @whirledworld Thank you whirledworld, thank you for your thoughts and also bringing me back to this story.Â