Meet Joyce
While this philanthropic endeavor intends to help shed light on Joyce’s esophageal cancer journey, she was so much more. Joyce was a beloved wife, sister, mother, GiGi, aunt, and friend. Her loyalty and love were both fierce and strong. She enjoyed spoiling those around her, especially her grandkids Jackson and Kennedy.
Joyce was a master in the kitchen, a travel lover, and a year round Christmas prepper. She would ALWAYS delight and surprise folks with an extra large tip, a random gift, or a special outing because that is just who she was. Simply put, Joyce was delightful and surprising. Board Member and Joyce's Niece, Kathryn Haun, poignantly put it, "She put the JOY in Joyce." She exhibited class, sass, care and love in every relationship and setting. Our hope is that this organization lives up to her legacy.
Joyce's Esophageal Cancer Journey - Fall 2020 - July 31, 2023
Prior to Cancer Diagnosis
Joyce retired on December 31, 2019. She was so thrilled to have her working years behind her. She was looking forward to spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren Jackson and Kennedy. In December 2021, her husband Ron gave a 20 month notice to his employer that he would be retiring on August 1, 2023. Joyce and Ron planned to
spend time traveling and hopefully taking the entire family on some of those trips. Unfortunately, those dreams would not come to fruition.
Symptoms
Joyce began to occasionally choke when eating. She also developed a dry cough which typically would start after lying down to sleep. She kept cough drops on her night stand and over the upcoming months used
them frequently.
Fall 2020
January 2021
Joyce tells her primary provider that she is having difficulty swallowing her food and that at times it feels like she is choking on her own saliva. Joyce is prescribed an antacid. Despite the medication Joyce's symptoms persist throughout 2021.
Prediagnosis
Feb 2022 - June 2022
February 3, 2022:
Joyce is put under anesthesia for an Upper Gastrointestinal Scope procedure by her G.I. doctor. The doctor takes 4 biopsies of cardia and middle third esophagus and all 4 specimens are submitted entirely on one cassette. The doctor notes that "diffuse
gastritis was noted cardia worse than antrum. This had an atypical appearance." The biopsies are sent to the lab for testing. The results of the biopsied tissue were considered "normal".
Prediagnosis
Feb 2022 - June 2022
February 14, 2022: Joyce has an abdomen CT scan with IV contrast performed. Pertinent Comments: Development of marked thickening of the distal esophagus and a spacer is a chronic reflux although soft tissue mass cannot be excluded. Stomach otherwise normal.
NOTE: By this point in Joyce's journey she is choking and at times regurgitating at nearly every meal.
March 11, 2022: Joyce goes through a Modified Barium Swallow Study that was videotaped. Chief complaint: difficulty swallowing, globus
sensation, regurgitation. Results of that test were normal with a side note that a "cursory esophageal sweep did indicate retained contrast
throughout the esophagus. Recommend follow up with GI (physician)."
Assessment/Findings:
Speech Clinical/Assessment Summary: Mild
Oropharyngeal Dysphagia with flash penetration thin liquids. Improved with chin tuck. No aspiration or penetration observed with mildly thick liquids, pudding, or solids."
Prediagnosis
Feb 2022 - June 2022
May 13, 2022: Joyce visits her Gastrointestinal doctor. After that
meeting the G.I. doctor notifies Joyce's primary caregiver that his
impression is that Joyce has "Dysphagia possible esophageal
dysmotility." His Plan: "Esophageal manometry, my concern is ruling
out achalasia. Continue current medications. Return to my office 1-2
weeks after esophageal manometry."
NOTE: During the spring of 2022 Joyce is now excusing herself from the
table at every meal to throw up. Her last meal consumed was in May
2022.
June 1, 2022: Joyce is given a High-Resolution Esophageal Motility
Study. The procedure included running a catheter into Joyce's nose and
down her esophagus. The doctor administering the test thought that
Joyce had dysphagia and also suspected that she may have achalasia?
Conclusion: "Most consistent with Type II achalasia. Absent peristalsis, panesophageal pressurization in 6/10 swallows." Recommend: "Timed barium esophagram with tablet. Treatment options
include myotomy, pneumatic dilation, botox injection (temporary)."
June 2022: Joyce takes what will end up being her last Ferris Family Vacation. The vacation was spent in Suttons Bay, MI in a large home on
5 acres overlooking Suttons Bay. Joyce thoroughly enjoys being around her entire family in the beautiful upper peninsula of Michigan and
even taking a day trip to Mackinac Island. The rest of the family notices that Joyce is not eating or getting sick each time that she attempts to swallow food.
July 20, 2022: Ron takes Joyce to the hospital for an Upper Gastrointestinal Exam with the same doctor that performed the Upper
G.I. Exam in February. Post exam Joyce and Ron wait to visit with her doctor in the recovery room. The doctor's face is white as a sheet as
he enters the room. The doctor says, " I am sorry to tell you that the esophagus that I saw today looks a whole lot different than the
one that I saw in February. Looking back there were a couple of things that I should have questioned. This is bad. Real bad. I'm sorry. I
only see a case like this every 10-15 years and mostly in men.
(Joyce responded, "Oh, lucky me.")
The doctor continued to say that he had
taken a couple of biopsies and would call us in a couple of days to confirm. The doctor mentions the "C" word, but Ron and Joyce knew
anyway.
​
July 22, 2022: At 1:50pm, Joyce received the call from the doctor
that Ron and Joyce had been dreading. With Ron holding her hand, the
doctor confirmed that Joyce had advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma
cancer. "You should contact an oncologist immediately. We'll pull your
records together to hand over to your oncologist. We wish you luck."
Cancer Diagnosis
July 20 - 22, 2022
Treatment
Aug 2022 - June 2023
Joyce first meets with her KU Medical Center team; Dr. Anwaar M. Saeed, her oncologist, and Lori Poteet, her oncology RN. Through a port placed in her chest, Joyce undergoes approximately 20 chemotherapy sessions. Throughout her treatment, Joyce experiences hospitalization multiple times due to complications. Despite the difficulty, she persists and tries to tend to her familial duties to the best of her capabilities.
Final Days
July 2023
No longer strong enough to further undergo Chemo treatments, a hospice organization begins providing final stages of care. As fate would have it, Lori Poteet, RN, transitioned her care arena to hospice care. Lori Poteet becomes Joyce’s hospice nurse, grateful to be together in Joyce’s final days.
Passing
July 31, 2023
After a painful battle and quick decline, at 2:12 a.m. Joyce passes peacefully with Ron by her side, surrounded by family, and with her exceptional hospice nurse, Lori.
Lasting Legacy
Aug 2023 - Present
Joyce’s earthly journey may be over, but her light shines on through all those that remember her. That is how we ended up here. Her loved ones wish for her legacy and light to shine on. At first, the family established a fund, the Joyce M. Ferris Esophageal Cancer Fund, through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. After deep consideration and planning, Ron Ferris along with family members establish the Joyce Ferris Esophageal Cancer Foundation, an independent 501c3.
About the JFECF Brand Style
Joyce Ferris (née Haun) was classy, fancy, elegant, and regal. In fact, one of Lauren’s friends in college said, “Oh my gosh, your mom [Joyce] is so fancy!” With that in mind, we strove to create a brand matching those qualities. Every color, image, logo, and font matches that aura.
Joyce loved her costume necklaces, especially those with pearls; she rocked them often. What a perfect encapsulation to represent her fanciness and also highlight the area of esophageal cancer? With those thoughts in mind came the idea of a costume pearl necklace logo. The shape of the logo has a few inspirational shapes; one is the costume necklace, the second is an angel with her wings spread, and the third portrays a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Colors:
- Black - Joyce’s main wardrobe color was black (for every season).
- Pearl Gray - Joyce’s costume jewelry pearl necklaces.
- Periwinkle Blue - The official color of esophageal cancer.
- White Diamond Gold - Joyce’s perfume of choice.
- Perennial Plum - Joyce’s popping lipstick color.
- Royal Blue - as a Kansas City area native and as a Jayhawk, Joyce used royal blue as mandatory accessory color.
To honor Joyce's legacy, the team created a font from her handwriting for the JFECF logo. The team spent hours scouring her handwritten stationary, cards, notes, and recipe cards in order to accomplish this classy touch.
Joyce exuded kindness, fun, lovingness, and so much more; through this organization, and the brand created, we endeavor to live up to and honor her legacy.
