Goodness Gracious Great Vase of Fire!

Here at MakeZaneBetter, our first auction item is brought to us by Tournage Dubois from Topeka, Kansas.

If you don't wish to bid on Goodness Gracious Great Vase of Fire, but would just like to support Zane's medical expenses, donations can be made to MakeZaneBetter here (see green DONATE button above) or at
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-zane-fight-cancer-amp-his-way-back-to-health

Daniel Dubois, the artist/owner of Tournage Dubois has created a monthly challenge in 2021 of global artists in his trade to each create a handcrafted "themed" wood piece. Please visit YouTube Cross Channel Challenge 2021 #YTCCC2021 at https://www.youtube.com/c/tournagedubois to follow this exciting year-long challenge.

January's theme was FIRE! Mr. Dubois has graciously donated his January creation titled "Goodness Gracious Great Vase of Fire" to MakeZaneBetter, as he will donate his monthly challenge creations to a charity of his choice each month in 2021.
See how this vase was made here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoGUf0948iM

We are very honored and humbled to be the first recipient of Tournage Dubois's first #YTCCC2021 creation. Thank you very much to Mr. Dubois for this generous auction donation!

About the piece:
The Vase is made from a spalted elm tree that was taken down in Topeka, Kansas. The vase is 10.5" tall, and 5.25" wide at the widest part. There is a bark inclusion on one side, and on the other side it was burned with a blow torch and then painted with an airbrush and red, yellow, and orange paint to make it look like the base is on fire. There was also some gray added into the burned area to give some extra dimension in the dark area, making it look more like smoke than just burned wood.

This vase would normally retail for $175. This auction will have an opening bid of $45. This auction will open at 10am (EDT) on Feb-01-2021 and close at 12pm (EDT) Feb-18-2021 which is Zane's Birthday!

Zane (The Rocker) Tyson has always been a fighter. Let's help him fight his way back to health!

On November 16, 2019, Zane Tyson was admitted to AdventHealth Hospital in Orlando after experiencing intense headaches for 2-3 weeks. CT and MRI scans revealed a posterior fossa tumor (brain tumor) that was blocking drainage of his spinal fluid, causing the intense pressure he had been feeling in his head. On Tuesday, November 19th, surgeons successfully removed the tumor, however, subsequent scans and biopsies revealed the tumor to be cancerous (medulloblastoma) and show that it has already spread to his cervical fluid and spinal column and that a few deposits were still present in his brain.

While medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children, it is somewhat rare in adults like Zane (age 20). Zane was lucky enough to be accepted as a patient to the world-renowned St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and arrived in Memphis, Tennessee on December 8th, where his cancer treatment started right away.

Things were going rather well for Zane at St. Jude after a rocky start with treatment. Initially, it was discovered that he had disease spread into his pelvic and pubic bone area, but two initial “emergency” rounds of chemo cleared that up. He then had 6 weeks of radiation (20 session of photon, 10 more of proton therapies). He champed through all of this and was then able to enjoy a month break from mid-March to mid-April of 2020, escaping to the mountains of Virginia and relaxing in a beautiful log cabin with dear family friends.

The next phase of treatment started up straightaway upon our return from the break on April 24th and then another unexpected blow was dealt. Zane suffered a cardiac arrest event on May 12, 2020 and was rushed immediately to Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, and suffered three more cardiac arrests in the days that followed. Zane then spent six weeks in the hospital, working hard to first get off a ventilator, then was downgraded to a trach and underwent several cardio and pulmonary procedures along the way. There were many doctors overseeing Zane’s case and we are grateful to them all for the great care he received. Once the hospital couldn’t do anymore for Zane medically, St. Jude arranged for a survival jet flight to bring Zane and Sherri home to Orlando.

Zane is currently home on hospice care for now. Zane still remains mostly unresponsive. His eves move but they aren’t necessarily tracking any one thing, and he hasn’t been able to walk, talk or swallow. He has a PEG G-tube (stomach tube) that all his meds and feeds are given through. Sherri is still fighting hard for Zane, working to get his Florida insurance reinstated, but for now they are completely on their own, with Sherri providing all of Zane’s care, with the help of family and friends. The goal is to get him home health and rehab services that will help him thrive to survive. He’s at a crucial place at this moment and he needs all the support he can muster.

If you have ever met Zane or Sherri you know a) you are already considered family to them, and b) that they would do anything for anyone and anybody within their means. Now, the tables have turned, and it’s our time to help them. Treatment will likely be intense and long and there will be little time or energy for either Zane or Sherri to work and bring home an income. We can help them focus on this fight by making sure they have enough funds to cover medical expenses, mortgage, food, etc. during this time.

In the meantime, Zane and Sherri (and all of us) want to thank each and every one of you who has expressed their care, positive thoughts, and prayers for Zane during this time. It may be an uphill battle, but he has his family (that means you!) behind him.

Sincerely,

Zane’s Family
#MakeZaneBetter