Keep John Bernick Joking!

Meet Jokster J.O.H.N. 


My dad is a father of 5 and grandfather of 7. He has a few favorite things in life and (not in any particular order) they are Pepsi, goofing off, and telling story after story to anybody willing and unwilling to listen. If you're ever lost he's always a phone call away. If you have car trouble he will get there faster then AAA. He is by far the most selfless person you could ever hope to know. 

Routine Biopsy
On April 6, 2017 John Bernick went into Resurrection Hospital in Chicago for what  was supposed to be a routine biopsy of a mass and to remove a tongue lesion. He was aware that he might have trouble talking afterwards so, the day before he bought a small board to write on. He also assumed that he would have to stay overnight for observation, because of his sleep apnea, so he let his jobs know that he would miss  a maximum of 2 days. 
Joking around before his "routine" biopsy. John woke up with an unexpected and unwanted early birthday gift. A feeding tube and emergency tracheotomy were performed soon after his biopsy started. He woke up confused and unable to talk. "Abby Normal" (aka John) has a very narrow larynx to begin with.  When  the ENT inserted the breathing tube it causes excessive bleeding and a decision had to be made quickly. They decided a tracheotomy was the best course of action to ensure he would continue breathing without any obstruction.



Diagnosis @ Resurrection Medical Center
When you hear "mass" and "growth" you cannot help but think of that terrible word CANCER. John had cancer?!   Throat and neck cancer?!   A man that never smoked and barely drank?? As the week in the hospital went on it kept sounding worse. Extensive growth, spreading, lymph nodes, etc.,etc. Right before he left Resurrection his chemo oncologist told him he has a 50/50 chance and the radiation oncologist told him it was Stage 4a throat and neck cancer. Thank God we live in Chicago where there are countless top rated hopsitals to go to for a 2nd Opinion. 

John finally got that Pepsi! 1 week later

Back Home!
John was so eager to get home that he showed up like this. We are still worried that he used bed sheets to escape out of Resurrection's 2nd floor.

University of Chicago Medical Center
NEW Prognosis
After poking and prodding at Resurrection, Northwestern, and UofChicago hospitals it was determined and confirmed that John did not have normal throat and neck cancer. A "lucky" break! He had the cancer as a result of the HPV virus. That's automatically a 20% increase of a normal recovery. His PET scan showed no spreading either! A plan of attack was put in place involving 9 weeks of Chemo and hopefully only 5 weeks of Radiation. The nurse sounded hopeful but reminded him it would be around 6 months until he was fully back to his normal self.

Let's turn John's luck around!
It is time for John to get a good dose of luck in his life. If he can survive losing the most important person, his Dad at age 11, being almost swept down the Mississippi River, wrapping a car around a tree, and a Chloride Channelopathy (among countless other examples) then there is no way that Cancer is going to stop him!

So....why are we here?
Having to put your life on hold unexpectedly is a massive shock to one's core. John woke up not only not being able to talk but thinking that he will be out of the hospital and back to work in a few days. As the weeks have dragged on it has become clear that he will be severely limited at being able to work while he's going through treatment. He is a DOT truck driver and DOT policy prohibits him from perform his driving job while in treatment.

He feels more at ease when he's busy busy busy despite all of the family wishing he would just sit back and take it easy! Right now he is on the last week of his 3 weeks of vacation for the entire year. If anyone truly knows John it is that he never is one to accept any help whatsoever. He is by far the most stubbornly, big hearted,  selfless person ever! We want to keep John's mind on beating this cancer while we raise up money to pay the most important things, like, mortgage and utilities. We figure at least 3 months worth of mortgage payments and utilities. This doesn't even begin to factor in the medical bills that are starting to come in! Everytime a doctor whispers "John Bernick" they send a bill to the house. We know with everyone's help this goal can be achieved and in no time John will be back to a normal,  cancer free life! 

Remember no matter what to keep joking and smiling 

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UPDATE
April 28, 2017 Chemo #1
Dad had his first long session of chemo. He is feeling great afterwards and was even able to go out to eat before heading home.