Joey Burrage was a father, husband, brother, son, uncle and friend to so many people. He was the most caring and down-to-earth person with such a kind way of always making everyone feel important, seen, and loved. His heart was bigger than life. 

I first met Joey on a date for a walk around Lake Merritt on 11/22/15; half way around the lake, I knew I was going to marry him. It was an instant connection. Our relationship grew and so did my relationship with his son, Kevin. We eventually moved in with each and talked about marriage in the near future, but then this life-changing cancer came into our lives in June 2019. I proposed to him during the many tests even while we were waiting for the results, which we already knew what the doctor would tell us. We got married 2 weeks later on 07/01/19, this was the happiest day of my life, of course, tempered because we were already 3 days into our first chemo. 

Joey was so strong and courageous and fought like hell to see our son grow up, and to live a long married life with me. Things were going well for the first 6+months, but then things slowly started to take a turn and the chemo eventually stopped working. Our last chemo was Valentine's Day 2020, and this followed a series of hospital stays. A month later, just as the pandemic hit and the quarantine/lockdown, we went into hospice on the exact same day, March 17, 2020. Our world was moving so fast and yet standing still and our heart and spirit was broken. 

Joey passed away in my arms just 24 days later on Friday, April 10, 2020 at 12:28pm. Our world was shattered and will never be the same.

Kevin and I have formed a beautiful bond over these last few years and my adoption of him went through in December 2020. We talk about Joey every single day and we know that he is with us, and I'm proud he is my son, our son. 

One of the ways we are moving through grief and toward healing is by participating and raising funds for the PanCAN's PurpleStride event this year. With the pandemic, this is a virtual on your own walk, but we'll do a socially distant walk with friends and family around Lake Merritt, the scene of our first date, and many family outings over the last 5 years. 

I love you Joey, to the moon and back, forever and ever. Love always, your husband, Paul

** SUPPORT TEAM JOEY BURRAGE **

Please consider making a donation to support PanCan PurpleStride on Joey's behalf, and/or joining us for our 5K walk around Lake Merritt on Saturday, June 5, if you are local, or on your own. We'll share love for our wonderful Joey, he'd be so proud and happy that we are trying to heal as family and friends, and that we'll make a difference for others in the future. 

** SUPPORT TEAM JOEY BURRAGE **

The PanCan’s PurpleStride is a year-round national movement that funds life-changing programs and services for pancreatic cancer patients and their families.

Every dollar you give means more patients can benefit from PanCAN’s free, one-on-one support, personalized information, service and resources that can make a real difference in their lives. 

Please join our team as a participant, or make a gift of any size to get us one step closer to our fundraising goal and improving more patients’ lives. You can donate to a team member or make a general donation to the team.

Patients and families need us now more than ever.

Thank you for your support.