MUSCATINE, Iowa — Muscatine’s Kim McCleary thought her mother, Donna Shaw, had suffered a stroke when Donna seemed disoriented in August 2008.

But after a medical checkup, Donna was diagnosed with stage 4 uterine cancer that had metastasized to her lungs, brain and kidneys.

“It sucked all the wind out of my sails,” recalls McCleary, 42. “I don’t think there was enough oxygen in the room.”

But more bad news was to come.

In January, McCleary’s father, James Shaw, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Recently, the prognosis for Donna, 67, and James, 72, has been hopeful, as their conditions improve.

“It’s like a weight lifted off our shoulders,” said McCleary.

Although James’ cancer has metastasized to his bones, McCleary said doctors told her it is probably not life-threatening. Metastatic tumors are common in the late stages of many cancers. The lungs, liver, brain, and the bones are the most-common places for the metastases to occur.

Surgeons removed the tumor from Donna’s brain and chemotherapy shrank the tumors in her lungs and kidneys. McCleary said  her mother doesn’t have to have more chemotherapy at this time. 

“Fortunately, for us, there have been several advancements in the fight for these cancers,” said McCleary. “But they all come at a cost. This is having a huge financial impact on their lives.”

James, who’s retired, pays $1,500 a month out-of-pocket for prescriptions, said McCleary, and her parents drive to Bettendorf for checkups and treatment. Donna’s medications have been covered by insurance.

McCleary and several of her friends are hosting a fundraising auction Saturday, June 13, at Muscatine’s Plamor Lanes to help raise money for her parents’ medical expenses.

McCleary said Plamor Lanes is donating space for the event and Last Call Auctions of Muscatine and A & H Karaoke and DJ service of Wapello are donating their services.

McCleary’s long-time friend, Angie Kirk, is  assisting with the event because she wants to give back to the couple, who she said treated her like one of the family when she was growing up.

“They have been like parents to me,” said Kirk, 41. “If I wasn’t at my own house, I was at theirs.”

Donna and James also have  a son, Tim Shaw, 46, of Muscatine.

Donna was a Muscatine parking meter attendant for more than 20 years, retiring in 1991, and James retired from Occidental Chemical Corp. in Buffalo in the late 1990s.

McCleary said her parents are wonderful grandparents to her three sons, Sean, 23, Jacob, 20, and Brenden, 17.

“My kids have spent as much time at my parents’ house as they have at mine,” said McCleary.

Kirk said there will be an additional fundraising opportunity for the Shaws from 5-7 p.m. Monday, June 1, at the Farmer’s Table, 3103 U.S. Highway 61 North. A percentage of the proceeds from sales will be donated to her parents’ benefit.

Details

What: A benefit to help raise money for Jim and Donna Shaw’s medical expenses.

 When: 4 p.m.-?,  Saturday, June 13,

Where: Plamor Lanes, 1411 Grandview Ave., Muscatine

Admission: $1 donation at the door

Details: Live auction by Last Call Auctions, prize raffles and a 50/50 raffle; live deejay from A & H Karaoke and DJ service, food sales.

Contact: Kim McCleary at 563-263-2384 or 563-506-3780 or Angie Kirk   563-571-6334