Row for Joe! MHS teacher and coach needs stem cell transplant

Ways to Help “Row the Boat”

1- Donate through Venmo-  Send money directly to Joe and Jessica @JoeSisson

2- Donate to the GoFundMe:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-joe-battle-scleroderma

3. Buy a T-shirt  Contact Bradi Saunders to order and purchase a Row the Boat T-shirt. Cost is $25 per shirt.  Call or text Bradi to order (801) 710-2127

4. Buy a “Row for Joe” bracelet.  Call or text Chandler and Boston Saunders (801) 829-8894

For 15 years Joe Sisson and his family have called Morgan home.  When a teaching position opened in 2008, Sisson and his wife Jessica moved with their one-year-old son to their current home in Morgan City.  Since arriving the Sissons have added three children to their family, and Joe has taught and coached hundreds of Morgan High students.  As a teacher, Joe instructs young minds in psychology, sports psychology, geography, US History, and weight training. As a coach, he develops football players and works with athletes as a strength and conditioning coach. For 15 years the Sissons have contributed to the Morgan community, and now Joe needs the community to join him and “Row for Joe!”

Joe’s diagnosis of systemic scleroderma has rocked their family’s plans and put his health in the forefront. Last month Joe and Jessica traveled to Duke University to determine if  he would be a candidate for a lifesaving stem cell transplant that would give him a shot to overcome the disease that has ravaged his uber healthy body.  The Sissons were cautiously optimistic when given approval to participate in the stem cell transplant.  With an initial report date of July 10 that has now been moved up to July 7, Joe and Jessica will travel to Durham, North Carolina in less than two weeks to prepare for the procedure. Joe’s parents will also travel out to relieve Jessica and allow her to return home to be with their children.   A caregiver is required to be with Joe during his entire procedure.

During the treatment, Joe’s stem cells will be harvested and then sorted into good and bad.  The good cells will be frozen while Joe undergoes chemotherapy and radiation to kill off his immune system.  On or about July 24, the doctors will reintroduce his good stem cells and hope that it “resets” his immune system.  After his cells return to a certain level, this takes roughly two weeks while he remains hospitalized, he will then be able to transition to a “day hospital” status where he stays offsite, but he returns for daily checks.  Best estimates tentatively schedule his release for Aug. 30.  

Nearly two months away from their four children, Den’ja, 16; Kohana, almost 13; Cash, 10; and Dresdyn, 7, will be a challenge for Joe and Jessica.  Joe commented,  “It will be hard during, but good when it’s over.  It’s a temporary setback.”

Jessica, who has become an expert on the disease that daily threatens her family’s security, shared their family’s journey to a diagnosis on Facebook in June for Scleroderma Awareness month.   “As many of you know my husband was diagnosed with this disease in June 2022 after a few months of being sick. When I first heard about this disease, it was terrifying.”

“Despite being an irregular poster and someone who doesn’t love attention, I will be posting about our little journey we’re on because, when he was first diagnosed, I was desperate to find hope through someone else living with this. If our story is a lifeline to just one person, I feel it is worth it!”

Jessica detailed how Joe began feeling “a little off shortly after Christmas 2021,” and his feet and hands were swollen, stiff and sore. Consultation with different doctors showed a possible autoimmune disease, and one suggested gout.  Joe, an elite athlete who trained for the Olympics as a bobsledder before a near-death sledding accident halted his career, was soon unable to walk up stairs and participate in many everyday activities.  “It was crazy how fast he went downhill, “ Jessica shared. 

In April 2022, after a very trying night with Joe struggling to breath as he slept, Jessica took him to the emergency room where doctors started treating him for rheumatoid arthritis.  Medications including steroids were prescribed.  

Jessica detailed, “The steroid did wonders for the pain, and he slowly started to feel a little better. He was happy when he was finally able to get back to teaching and back to working with the kids in the weight room. There were days he had to coach from sitting in a chair, but he was there! Weeks went by, and although things were a bit better, something was still off. His hands were getting worse.”

Joe’s rheumatologist continued to investigate, and in June 2022, Joe was finally diagnosed with “systemic (widespread)-diffuse (fast progressing) scleroderma.”  Knowing that they were dealing with a fast-progressing disease, the Sissons chose to pursue aggressive treatment.  Jessica tirelessly researched and found that there were “no longer any experts in the state of Utah” and there are only a “handful of doctors in the country who really focus on scleroderma.”  They finally found an expert, Dr. Shah, at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, who was able to help them.  Jessica reported, “It was so nice to finally talk to someone who knew more about this disease than I did.”

Sisson is insured through the school district, and insurance will cover much of the 300K plus in medical expenses, but transportation, living and other costs associated with traveling so far from home for nearly two months will cause severe financial hardship for the family. 

The community has rallied to help this family who has given so much to the Morgan community.  Joe reported, “All of this support has been absolutely mind blowing to us!”  For those who wish to contribute, Venmo and GoFundMe accounts have been created for direct donations (see sidebar). As of Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe account tallied over $9,400. T-shirts and bracelets are being sold, and children are hosting lemonade and hot dog stands to contribute. 

Monday evening Noah Birkeland and his teammates who play for Coach Sisson brought Birkelands’ churro truck to Hind’s Quick Stop for a few hours and donated all of the profits to the Sissons.  Sales and donations totaled $1,000 including generous assistance from Lars Birkeland and Gary and Dalynn from Hinds.

Bradi Saunders, a mom who reported that Joe has taught/coached seven of her children, organized a T-shirt fundraiser.  “The shirts were designed with Joe’s help and use his mantra from P.J. Fleck,  ‘Row the Boat.’” she explained.  “Mandy Covill, who lives across the street from the Sissons, is making them for us locally at a great price.  Each shirt will be $25 with all profit going directly to the Sissons.”  Interested parties can contact Bradi Saunders to order a shirt (see sidebar).

Saunders’ son, Boston and his wife Chandler are preparing “Row for Joe” bracelets to sell because “they wanted to be involved in giving back to Coach Sisson.”

On Friday, June 23 Joe posted a vulnerable request for financial support to help him take advantage of the life-saving stem cell transplant at Duke University.  Within hours the Morgan community responded and has continued to respond.

“Thank you from the depths of my heart for being a part of my story,” Sisson concluded his post. “Your love, prayers, and generosity give me strength and hope beyond measure.  I know I can overcome this obstacle and that I’ll be back teaching, coaching and being a dad again soon!” λ