Meet David Hobbs. This is a picture of him with his new grandchild taken last month. David Hobbs is a husband, a father, a son, a brother and grandfather. In early 2014 he was diagnosed with Stage IV bladder cancer. This is not what is exceptional about my dad. What I consider exceptional is the dignity, kindness and strength with which he has led his life. My dad has always been strong, he uses his words carefully and thoughtfully and has always tried to raise me and my sisters (and a few cousins and friends during our wonderful lake summers) to be thoughtful and hardworking individuals. As long as I can remember my dad has worked in construction. He would leave for work before we were up for school and would come home sometimes as late as sundown. He worked as a master carpenter and a sub-contractor. During my young teenage years, my mother became very sick. She began having seizures and heart problems. She had to have a pace maker put in. My dad was a rock during all this. He took care of my mother, worked full-time and still managed to always make time for us. His strength was what provided stability in my life during this chaotic time. She eventually regained her health for the most part but her sickness left her with lasting problems that prevented her from maintaining steady work. My dad was there for our family then and then again in 2013. My grandmother, his mother, was diagnosed with Stage I bladder cancer and he decided to move back to Mississippi to help care for her and to pursue new career opportunities. At this time he started experiencing severe abdominal pain. He continued to work, however, finding a good job with a commercial construction crew. He continued working while the pain grew worse. When my dad went to the hospital it was the beginning of this long journey we have been traveling. He was diagnosed with a more advanced form of the same cancer with which his mother had been diagnosed. A surgery which removed his bladder and some surrounding organs and tissue was performed. Then he began the long process of chemo. Toward the end of his schedule of chemo, he began experiencing intestinal inflammation and then a blockage. So, while he is cancer free, his journey is not over. He has constantly been in and out of the hospital. Currently, he is having to rely on TPN nutrition, as he can only take small amounts of liquid. Recently, his trips to the infusion clinic have become daily to receive hydration and IV nausea medication. Our goal is to get him the best possible care concerning his rehabilitation. My mother and father receive Medicaid care, yet this does not cover all the cost of his medications. We would also like to be able to help raise funds to help them rent a small house or apartment near the hospital. Right now they are staying with a family member to be closer but this situation will not be able to continue indefinitely. Any money raised will be used for these purposes. If you would like to specify how you wish your donation to be spent please feel free to. We will honor and be grateful for any help we can receive. This page is an effort to rely on the kindness and generosity of our community to help him through this tough time. Thank you in advance and I pray you are blessed for sharing!
                                                                -Danielle Hobbs