Mark House Fights Colon Cancer!
Donation protected
Cancer touches all of our lives. Mark is facing it now and needs your help. We are Mark's family, and we stand beside him in this battle ahead. Won't you join us?
Mark has just been diagnosed with a 6 cm mass in his colon, which not only has to come out (surgery is on January 15th), but also has to be biopsied further to determine cancer extent and further treatment. This surgery entails taking out a long section of his colon, and then sewing the two ends back together. The primary focus for the first month is the healing of these two ends as this is a high-risk surgery. It may mean a second surgery to put a colostomy bag in place to aid healing.
Everyone who knows Mark knows he is not one who easily asks for help. In fact, he goes out of his way to help others while putting his own needs at the back of the line. For instance, he has had his parents living with him for the past nine years, and this past year has helped move his sister in with him too - all to furnish us with a much needed support system and a roof over our heads.
As if that wasn't enough of a generous heart, he drove his mother to radiation treatments every day for five weeks during her breast cancer treatment, and just this past year, with everything else going on for him, he has been driving his sister to her psychiatric electroconvulsive therapy treatments multiple times a week for three months.
This year alone, Mark has had a hard and expensive year of surgery and recovery; of weekly professional treatments plus beginning daily, life-long treatments for lymphedema; taking on the handyman role at home now that his father has Parkinson's; and now the biggest obstacle: colon cancer. We all know that Mark gets through good times and bad through humor and jokes. It has been a side-splitting year! Stay tuned here for updates from Mark and be prepared to laugh alongside him.
Unfortunately, with this latest diagnosis, he is looking at another year of high costs, and his insurance coverage has been decreased. Mark expects to pay at least $5000 out of pocket for this surgery, plus an unknown amount for chemotherapy and any follow-up treatments, i.e. radiation, further colonoscopies, blood work, etc.
Please consider this as a clarion call to support Mark in his fight against cancer.
We're asking today for your help behind a fantastic, giving man by rallying to his aid in these ways:
The first, best and most direct help you can give, is through this GoFundMe effort. Literally, every dollar counts. If Mark's generous heart and love of life has ever touched you, please consider taking this time to show that back in his time of need. Your donation goes right to the cost of Mark's surgery and treatments.
The second way is to share this GoFundMe far and wide: $5 from a stranger matters. $10 from a coworker makes a difference.
And finally, please hold Mark in your hearts and prayers. He has a strong faith, but even the strong need support.
We are all so blessed to be part of Mark's life and network, be it local or extended around the nation. This is our chance to do something together, to rally and support him, so that Mark can heal.
With our deepest gratitude,
Mark's family
*Costume Day for Make-A-Wish Child Who Came to Mark's Workplace
*Mark's Family: (parents sitting) Steve and Cheryl, (standing) Deb and Mark
Mark has just been diagnosed with a 6 cm mass in his colon, which not only has to come out (surgery is on January 15th), but also has to be biopsied further to determine cancer extent and further treatment. This surgery entails taking out a long section of his colon, and then sewing the two ends back together. The primary focus for the first month is the healing of these two ends as this is a high-risk surgery. It may mean a second surgery to put a colostomy bag in place to aid healing.
Everyone who knows Mark knows he is not one who easily asks for help. In fact, he goes out of his way to help others while putting his own needs at the back of the line. For instance, he has had his parents living with him for the past nine years, and this past year has helped move his sister in with him too - all to furnish us with a much needed support system and a roof over our heads.
As if that wasn't enough of a generous heart, he drove his mother to radiation treatments every day for five weeks during her breast cancer treatment, and just this past year, with everything else going on for him, he has been driving his sister to her psychiatric electroconvulsive therapy treatments multiple times a week for three months.
This year alone, Mark has had a hard and expensive year of surgery and recovery; of weekly professional treatments plus beginning daily, life-long treatments for lymphedema; taking on the handyman role at home now that his father has Parkinson's; and now the biggest obstacle: colon cancer. We all know that Mark gets through good times and bad through humor and jokes. It has been a side-splitting year! Stay tuned here for updates from Mark and be prepared to laugh alongside him.
Unfortunately, with this latest diagnosis, he is looking at another year of high costs, and his insurance coverage has been decreased. Mark expects to pay at least $5000 out of pocket for this surgery, plus an unknown amount for chemotherapy and any follow-up treatments, i.e. radiation, further colonoscopies, blood work, etc.
Please consider this as a clarion call to support Mark in his fight against cancer.
We're asking today for your help behind a fantastic, giving man by rallying to his aid in these ways:
The first, best and most direct help you can give, is through this GoFundMe effort. Literally, every dollar counts. If Mark's generous heart and love of life has ever touched you, please consider taking this time to show that back in his time of need. Your donation goes right to the cost of Mark's surgery and treatments.
The second way is to share this GoFundMe far and wide: $5 from a stranger matters. $10 from a coworker makes a difference.
And finally, please hold Mark in your hearts and prayers. He has a strong faith, but even the strong need support.
We are all so blessed to be part of Mark's life and network, be it local or extended around the nation. This is our chance to do something together, to rally and support him, so that Mark can heal.
With our deepest gratitude,
Mark's family
*Costume Day for Make-A-Wish Child Who Came to Mark's Workplace
*Mark's Family: (parents sitting) Steve and Cheryl, (standing) Deb and Mark
Organizer and beneficiary
Deborah Matthews
Organizer
Aubrey, TX
Mark House
Beneficiary
