This non profit organization is going to give other families fighting cancer the help they need. Zachary Salewski has had his fair share of life challenges. He was a cognitively disabled adult. He was born 15 weeks early on December 24th 1987. He was a micro preemie and survived at a time when 25 weeker’s didn’t survive. He spent his first 515 days in the NICU between three hospitals: Saint Vince
nt’s in Green Bay, Meriter’s in Madison and then finally Children’s in Milwaukee. Once he was finally home he was re- hospitalized many times. He came home with a trach, oxygen, g-tube and many other health issues. He had many challenges all his life but with the right doctors, nurses, therapist, teachers, and family support he overcame them all. He was enjoying trips, movies and spending time with family. Our extended family and friends have been great with Zach and include him in many activities. He was having a great quality of life and giving back whenever he could. He loved donating to Children’s Hospital, The Ronald McDonald House and Sting Cancer (a group he belonged to in high school). Most of all he loved making and buying gifts for family and friends. He was so kind and puts so much thought into everything he does. He alone could have kept the postal service in business because he loved sending cards to everyone for everything. Zachary Salewski was diagnosed with stage IV Colon Cancer in June 2013. We thought we would lose him when he was diagnosed. After 11 rounds of chemo and a 14 hour surgery, with a 22 day stay in the hospital, he was in remission for 9 months. A follow up CT Scan on September 18th, 2014 showed a spot in his right lung. After a surgery to remove the spot on his right lung, he had stable scans for 7 Months. In June 2015 Zach had another surgery to remove another spot in the same area. This time he went on a maintenance chemo to help stop the cancer from coming back. In spring 2016 there was another growth near the surgery site in his lung. That summer we tried radiation which didn’t work. That fall we started stronger chemo because another surgery was off the table. We again had mild growth so we have tried 2 other chemo treatments in 2017. So far nothing has stopped the cancer. The next fall we tried two different immunotherapy trial at the Mayo Clinic, after 14 treatments we found that wasn’t working either. Next, we did two clinical trials at the University of Chicago. After those didn’t work we found a clinical trial at the University of Michigan. Zach was only months away from leaving us he was so sick. This new targeted drug worked and his numbers got better he got off oxygen and his tumors in his lungs shrank 20%. He was doing great and as a family we planned a trip to Disney World for March 2020. Because of his fast reaction to this new drug AMG510 the trail opened 30 more spots to that clinical trial for others that had colon cancer. Zach was the first one on the at trail and he was only 1 of 8 getting that new drug. Unfortunately, Zach had 2 seizures in December 2019, and we found out that the cancer has now spread to his brain. This new drug only worked to attack tumors below the neck. He was kicked off the trial. One of the tumors was pressing on a spot that affects his swallowing and he is unable to eat and had a NG Tube for nutrition. We tried to get him back on the trial drug with compassionate care. It would have helped his lungs while he fought the tumors in his brain. That never happened. He next did 10 total brain radiation for those small tumors in his head. As you can imagine this has been a very long and tough fight for Zach. He never complains and is the bravest and strongest fighter anyone has ever met. Every time a trial didn’t work, and we moved on to the next fight he would say to me “That is okay mom, hopefully I helped someone else trying that new treatment”. During all these treatments he has only had one request. He wants a trip to Disney World to watch his then 3-year-old niece with his family. Zachary declined too quickly and never got that trip. He was home on hospice the day we were supposed to leave for our trip we planned. It had been his Christmas Present from us. The day Zachary passed away Disney World closed for the first time in history because of Covid 19. We thought that was pretty appropriate that the happiest place on earth close when the happiest young man on earth left us.! Zachary John Salewski lived his life with such brave and happy outlook no matter what was thrown at him. As a baby and young toddler, he was years and years behind cognitively and physically but that never stopped him from trying. As a high school young man, he did so much for other. He sold snacks in the teacher lounge to give donations for his charities. He would make tie blankets for all his new cousins born to the family. It took him weeks and days of shopping to pick out the perfect patterns for each baby or person. He must have made 30 quilts for others. He also loved pottery and made his aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents’ special mugs. He worked at Festival Foods in Green Bay and his customers just loved him. He always engaged in conversation with everyone that came through his line. He is so missed by everyone that knew him because he was such a wonderful angel here on earth. On the day he passed, March 23rd, 2020, he looked up at a window and said “WOW look at that! WOW!” We said Zachary what do you see? and then he repeated “WOW look at that! WOW!” We said yes Zachary WOW! He passed away an hour later and became our special angel in heaven. We miss him with every breath we take and trying to live without our Angel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDbJ7GcZfG0 Before Cancer Journey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UzqKb0Mn2M Cancer journey the first year
Obituary
Every child is a gift from God, and every child is special. But some children are angels that God sends down from Heaven to change all of us here on earth. Such is the case with Zachary John Salewski, born on December 24, 1987. From the moment he arrived 15 weeks early, his parents knew that he had a special purpose, and that purpose was realized from the start. To inspire others! After spending 515 days in the hospital he finally came home with a lot of medical issues. The doctors didn’t know if he would walk or talk. Through hard work, great teachers and therapists he surpassed all expectations. He graduated from Preble High School in 2007. Shortly after he started working for Festival Foods as a bagger for over 10 years. First at West Mason then Bellevue and then finally at the new store on University. On June 12, 2013 Zachary was diagnosed with stage 4 small bowel cancer Zachary endured 6 years and 9 months of strenuous treatment, including 6 different chemotherapy’s, surgeries, and countless blood transfusions, 2 clinical trials at The Mayo Clinic, 2 clinical trials at The University of Chicago and finally a clinical trial at The University of Michigan that worked great to clear the cancer from his lungs. He was 1 of only 80 patients on this trial. Because of Zachary’s fast and great results the drug AMG510 opened 30 slots world wide for other colon cancer patients. Even though it worked for his lungs, cancer is smart and this new drug didn’t protect his brain. Through what seemed to be impossible odds, Zachary fought with tenacity and overcame obstacles that at times had his doctors dumbfounded. For many years, Zachary’s health and happiness was nothing short of a miracle, and his family relished every opportunity to make memories. He enjoyed movies, plays, reality T.V. Shows and celebrities. A few of his favorites were the Kardashians, Jessica Simpson and Teen Mom. He read every celebrity tabloid there was. His biggest wish was to go to Hollywood. With the help of friends and family we were able to make that wish come true in May 2018. He had the best time and made so many memories. On March 23rd 2020 Zachary met Jesus, and at once his cancer disappeared as if it had never happened. All his tumors, all his scars, all his pain, all his tears are now gone, and he will have everlasting life with his Creator. He passed in his own home surrounded by his loving family. We will never be the same. In just 32 short years, Zachary touched more lives than many would hope to do in a lifetime through his strength, his kindness, and his perseverance. Despite his own pain, he would try and make everyone around him happy especially his niece Gwendolyn. Zachary never stopped fighting, and in his gracious fight, he demonstrated what it means to be joyful regardless of circumstances. He showed the world what it means to never give up, to never lose hope, and to never take a single moment for granted. Though cancer took his body, it never took his spirit. Cancer did not win – Zach defeated it every single day with his ever-present smile and contagious laughter. No, cancer could not win against Zach, for he took the darkest circumstances and turned it into a glorious light for all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His light was his purpose, and he fulfilled it with excellence. He has been welcomed into heaven and greeted by his Father and the words “Well done, my good and faithful child.”
Zachary is survived by his loving parents Kevin and Susan, his second mother Ellen Flick, his brother Joshua and Nicole Salewski, his very special niece that meant the world to him, Gwendolyn. His grandparents Patricia and Chuck Steiner. His Aunts and Uncles, Laurie and Andy Pfotenhauer (really his other mother), Tim and Terri Steiner, T.J. (Mindy) Steiner and Kim and Randy Ronsman. First Cousins who were a huge part of his life Emily Burkel, Kayla (Kyle) Steiner, Katy and Kelley Krouth and Alex Ronsman. He is further survived by Great Aunts and Uncles he was very close to. Many second cousins that were a big part of his day to day life, Angie, Tricia, Missy, Jenny and Brent. Waiting in heaven with open arms is his Grandma Bev and Grandpa Jack. His great grandparents Grandma Elly, Grandma and Grandpa Steiner and Grandpa and Grandma Salewski and Great Uncle Gary Ashley and Great Uncle Tom Piontek. Special thank you to so many people they cannot all be listed. Green Bay Oncology, especially Nicole Spaith, Froedtert Hospital, Mayo Clinic, The University of Chicago, The University of Michigan and all the special doctors and nurses we met along the way.
