Kirk's battle with Carcinoid Cancer
Donation protected
Hello -
The Family of Kirk Vannausdle is here today asking for help on behalf of all who love Kirk dearly. Prayer Warriors are needed, but also funds to go towards medical treatment, travel to doctor's appointments, and living expenses. Kirk is a self employed contractor and works part time for the post office. He is unable to work as much as normal.
Kirk has been battling Carcinoid Cancer, sometimes called Neuroendocrine, since 2002, when he was first diagnosed. At that time they performed a bowel resection and a biopsy of the tumors. Two months later he had his second surgery where they took more bowel and part of the mesentery where there were a lot of tumors in his lymph nodes behind his bowel. This is called "debulking", taking as much of the carcinoid tumor out. The tumors are mainly metastasized in the lymph node system which spreads through your body by the bloodstream. The good thing about his cancer is it is slow growing. The bad thing is it secretes hormones that cause damage to the other parts of his body causing diarrhea, heart valve disease and weight loss.
Kirk has been taking an expensive injection once a month in Omaha that basically fights the chemical damage the tumors secrete but only slows the growth of the tumors, it does not shrink them. In 2011, he had his first GI Bleed that required seven blood transfusion units before they would release him from the hospital. Since then he has had multiple trips to the hospital to be treated for these bleeds. The past few years Kirk has become increasingly weak, suffered weight loss and other issues. The doctors were unable to find a cause for his deterioration. Last spring he was again in the hospital with pneumonia and found to have AFib and high blood pressure. It was finally decided to send him to Iowa City for a special scan.
In August Kirk finally got in and the scan showed multiple large tumors, mainly in the lymph nodes throughout his gut. There are also tumors on his liver and a larger one pressing against the main arteries that go into the gut. The doctors were hoping for another "debulking" surgery but it is too dangerous. They fear the tumors themselves are causing his GI Bleeds. The Plan of Attack now is Chemo Treatment to shrink them. He begins treatment next week.
There is a new treatment for Carcinoid Cancer in Europe that has shown great success, but it has not been approved in the USA yet. They are hoping to start a trial here and Kirk has been placed on a list of possible candidates. Some are able to travel to Europe but it is very expensive and insurance will not cover it.
There is the medical story, now we would like to share with you their faith story. Kirk and Kelly are both believers of the Lord and have been sharing their faith with family and friends for years. They have given so much to our family and their friends that we think it is time for their Warriors to come out of the woodwork and help them fight this battle! Let them know that they are not alone! God is with them and working through us for them!
They need Prayer Warriors most of all! But if you feel you can spare some money to help them with their battle that would be great! We need to Stand Up and PRAY! Stand Up and PAY! The road has been long and hard but we know through Christ all things are possible.
Thank you so very much for your help!
The Family of Kirk Vannausdle is here today asking for help on behalf of all who love Kirk dearly. Prayer Warriors are needed, but also funds to go towards medical treatment, travel to doctor's appointments, and living expenses. Kirk is a self employed contractor and works part time for the post office. He is unable to work as much as normal.
Kirk has been battling Carcinoid Cancer, sometimes called Neuroendocrine, since 2002, when he was first diagnosed. At that time they performed a bowel resection and a biopsy of the tumors. Two months later he had his second surgery where they took more bowel and part of the mesentery where there were a lot of tumors in his lymph nodes behind his bowel. This is called "debulking", taking as much of the carcinoid tumor out. The tumors are mainly metastasized in the lymph node system which spreads through your body by the bloodstream. The good thing about his cancer is it is slow growing. The bad thing is it secretes hormones that cause damage to the other parts of his body causing diarrhea, heart valve disease and weight loss.
Kirk has been taking an expensive injection once a month in Omaha that basically fights the chemical damage the tumors secrete but only slows the growth of the tumors, it does not shrink them. In 2011, he had his first GI Bleed that required seven blood transfusion units before they would release him from the hospital. Since then he has had multiple trips to the hospital to be treated for these bleeds. The past few years Kirk has become increasingly weak, suffered weight loss and other issues. The doctors were unable to find a cause for his deterioration. Last spring he was again in the hospital with pneumonia and found to have AFib and high blood pressure. It was finally decided to send him to Iowa City for a special scan.
In August Kirk finally got in and the scan showed multiple large tumors, mainly in the lymph nodes throughout his gut. There are also tumors on his liver and a larger one pressing against the main arteries that go into the gut. The doctors were hoping for another "debulking" surgery but it is too dangerous. They fear the tumors themselves are causing his GI Bleeds. The Plan of Attack now is Chemo Treatment to shrink them. He begins treatment next week.
There is a new treatment for Carcinoid Cancer in Europe that has shown great success, but it has not been approved in the USA yet. They are hoping to start a trial here and Kirk has been placed on a list of possible candidates. Some are able to travel to Europe but it is very expensive and insurance will not cover it.
There is the medical story, now we would like to share with you their faith story. Kirk and Kelly are both believers of the Lord and have been sharing their faith with family and friends for years. They have given so much to our family and their friends that we think it is time for their Warriors to come out of the woodwork and help them fight this battle! Let them know that they are not alone! God is with them and working through us for them!
They need Prayer Warriors most of all! But if you feel you can spare some money to help them with their battle that would be great! We need to Stand Up and PRAY! Stand Up and PAY! The road has been long and hard but we know through Christ all things are possible.
Thank you so very much for your help!
Organizer and beneficiary
Kerin Wright
Organizer
Red Oak, IA
Kirk Vannausdle
Beneficiary
