Blessings
Donation protected
Noah's Senior Year
During an aggressive summer high school basketball game, Noah got what seemed like a typical "guy" injury when he was hit in the scrotum. When the symptoms didn't go away, his parents contacted their doctor. Noah no longer had pain in the area, but swelling. He is such a good kid, and rarely complains. He went to the gym all summer. When football conditioning started, he started to have discomfort. A visit to the doctor, led to an emergency ultrasound the next day. The plan was that he was to avoid physical activity for two weeks, and to ice the area, but there was no major damage. Days later, the swelling got worse. While going to football camp to observe, he started to experience excruciating pain. His parents took him straight to the ER. Testing showed normal activity after an injury, but due to his age and the swelling, they sent him by ambulance to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh just as a precaution. The staff there immediately started their own testings and blood work. His parents, Rich and Mindy were told that their 17 year old son, Noah had a large tumor, and that the continued swelling was increasing levels of blood. He was then admitted. The urologist wanted to do surgery right away. Matt, Rachel and Hannah were home in Connellsville, with Lynnlee and Jaycee, devastated that their brother was going through this. They kept the prayer chains going throughout Noah's hospital stay.
The surgery performed was called a radical inguinal orchiectomy. It is called "radical" because the entire spermatic cord is removed as well as the testicle itself. And it is called "inguinal" because the testicle (and tumor) is removed through a small incision made in the lower abdomen. His right testicle was already destroyed. As the doctors suspected, Noah was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Through many prayers, when they did a scan after the surgery, while still hospitalized, it was CLEAR indicating that the cancer had not spread. A follow up appointment was made and Noah was finally discharged to come home. The outlook is good. They were to wait 4 weeks so that the blood work and labs were taken prior to the appointment and adequate time would pass so the cancer levels would come down indicating the cancer was removed. Two weeks passed. When the pathology report came back, the urologist ask Noah and his parents to come early for an appointment. He confirmed that Noah's has testicular cancer and he wanted to discuss the findings. Naive to this new path they are on, they did not expect what the conversation would bring. Due to the types of cancer, they recommended an aggressive approach as a preventative measure against re-occurrence. They propose doing a lymph-node dissection and nerve sparing. This procedure comes with many complications, risks and long term affects. It is a 5-6 hour surgery and Noah would miss at least two months of school for recovery of this major surgery. (the details are horrific) The next step is an appointment with an oncologist. He will discuss his opinion for further treatment and possible chemotherapy. His parents will then decide what they feel comfortable with as his management and how to proceed. The doctors have discussed sperm banking with them. Without saying, none of these evasive, major procedures as options are what they wanted to hear. They already know that Noah has a long journey ahead of him, with testing and scans often, and numerous trips to Pittsburgh. They will do what it takes for Noah. It will take 5 years before Noah can be declared cancer free. Their lives as they knew them have changed.
This family is spirit filled and full of faith. It is wonderful to see how they witness their trust in such a trying time. They give God all the glory in allowing a common basketball injury to cause them to be aware of the cancer in Noah's body so it could be caught early. They are sharing the blessing that the cancer could have spread and that there is a high success rate and that Noah will be ok. But, they are parents, and they love their son, so they are scared and want to do everything they can to make sure Noah gets the care he needs for recovery. This is a lot for them to process, but especially hard for a 17 year old boy, it is overwhelming.
Noah is kind and compassionate. He is quiet, but sincere. His faith in God is inspiring. His love for his sisters and his nieces is no secret to anyone that knows him. He is a good friend. He's loyal and he has a great sense of humor. He is an obedient, respectful son that has made his parents proud. If you are looking for him.......try the football field, the basketball court or the baseball field. He's a triple threat athlete who is a joy to be around. He is on the coaching staff for Hannah's travel softball team, and he is a genius when it comes to intense statistics and rankings.
Our friends are modest, and reserved. They will not ask for help and they are hesitant to even admit they have needs that are not being met when asked. We want to help them, just like they are always willing to help others. It is our hope for a benefit to be held for them in the near future. Within days of being discharged, the bills started to arrive. They are already stacking up and causing stress in an already upsetting time. Through Rich's job, they pay a lot for insurance, but the insurance does not cover all of the payments. They have already accumulated a high deductible, numerous high co-pays and unexpected expenses. The "big bill" is on the way. This comes on top of Rich missing work without pay. These bills will continue to come as they proceed with Noah's care. Many have asked, so we did this so it's easy for everyone to reach out to them. We are hoping that all the sentiments and questions, "what can I do to help?" will be answered with this non-judgmental way to give. They did not ask for any of the things that have occurred. They did not ask for this account. They would not have done this if it was up to them. We know they have support and good people in their lives that can help.
What we CAN do-----Let's join the Geary's in their fight against this horrible disease. Please help them have some relief from the health problems that Noah is having by donating towards their financial obligations. There is no way to plan for unforeseen financial necessities, but WE can all help lighten the load they are bearing.
Please pray with us for good reports and traveling mercies as they do everything they can for Noah's miracle. We want him to have a great senior year and a long happy, healthy life. Please help be a part of it.
~YOUR DONATION GOES DIRECTLY TO THE GEARY'S~
Thank you, Tara Winston
During an aggressive summer high school basketball game, Noah got what seemed like a typical "guy" injury when he was hit in the scrotum. When the symptoms didn't go away, his parents contacted their doctor. Noah no longer had pain in the area, but swelling. He is such a good kid, and rarely complains. He went to the gym all summer. When football conditioning started, he started to have discomfort. A visit to the doctor, led to an emergency ultrasound the next day. The plan was that he was to avoid physical activity for two weeks, and to ice the area, but there was no major damage. Days later, the swelling got worse. While going to football camp to observe, he started to experience excruciating pain. His parents took him straight to the ER. Testing showed normal activity after an injury, but due to his age and the swelling, they sent him by ambulance to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh just as a precaution. The staff there immediately started their own testings and blood work. His parents, Rich and Mindy were told that their 17 year old son, Noah had a large tumor, and that the continued swelling was increasing levels of blood. He was then admitted. The urologist wanted to do surgery right away. Matt, Rachel and Hannah were home in Connellsville, with Lynnlee and Jaycee, devastated that their brother was going through this. They kept the prayer chains going throughout Noah's hospital stay.
The surgery performed was called a radical inguinal orchiectomy. It is called "radical" because the entire spermatic cord is removed as well as the testicle itself. And it is called "inguinal" because the testicle (and tumor) is removed through a small incision made in the lower abdomen. His right testicle was already destroyed. As the doctors suspected, Noah was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Through many prayers, when they did a scan after the surgery, while still hospitalized, it was CLEAR indicating that the cancer had not spread. A follow up appointment was made and Noah was finally discharged to come home. The outlook is good. They were to wait 4 weeks so that the blood work and labs were taken prior to the appointment and adequate time would pass so the cancer levels would come down indicating the cancer was removed. Two weeks passed. When the pathology report came back, the urologist ask Noah and his parents to come early for an appointment. He confirmed that Noah's has testicular cancer and he wanted to discuss the findings. Naive to this new path they are on, they did not expect what the conversation would bring. Due to the types of cancer, they recommended an aggressive approach as a preventative measure against re-occurrence. They propose doing a lymph-node dissection and nerve sparing. This procedure comes with many complications, risks and long term affects. It is a 5-6 hour surgery and Noah would miss at least two months of school for recovery of this major surgery. (the details are horrific) The next step is an appointment with an oncologist. He will discuss his opinion for further treatment and possible chemotherapy. His parents will then decide what they feel comfortable with as his management and how to proceed. The doctors have discussed sperm banking with them. Without saying, none of these evasive, major procedures as options are what they wanted to hear. They already know that Noah has a long journey ahead of him, with testing and scans often, and numerous trips to Pittsburgh. They will do what it takes for Noah. It will take 5 years before Noah can be declared cancer free. Their lives as they knew them have changed.
This family is spirit filled and full of faith. It is wonderful to see how they witness their trust in such a trying time. They give God all the glory in allowing a common basketball injury to cause them to be aware of the cancer in Noah's body so it could be caught early. They are sharing the blessing that the cancer could have spread and that there is a high success rate and that Noah will be ok. But, they are parents, and they love their son, so they are scared and want to do everything they can to make sure Noah gets the care he needs for recovery. This is a lot for them to process, but especially hard for a 17 year old boy, it is overwhelming.
Noah is kind and compassionate. He is quiet, but sincere. His faith in God is inspiring. His love for his sisters and his nieces is no secret to anyone that knows him. He is a good friend. He's loyal and he has a great sense of humor. He is an obedient, respectful son that has made his parents proud. If you are looking for him.......try the football field, the basketball court or the baseball field. He's a triple threat athlete who is a joy to be around. He is on the coaching staff for Hannah's travel softball team, and he is a genius when it comes to intense statistics and rankings.
Our friends are modest, and reserved. They will not ask for help and they are hesitant to even admit they have needs that are not being met when asked. We want to help them, just like they are always willing to help others. It is our hope for a benefit to be held for them in the near future. Within days of being discharged, the bills started to arrive. They are already stacking up and causing stress in an already upsetting time. Through Rich's job, they pay a lot for insurance, but the insurance does not cover all of the payments. They have already accumulated a high deductible, numerous high co-pays and unexpected expenses. The "big bill" is on the way. This comes on top of Rich missing work without pay. These bills will continue to come as they proceed with Noah's care. Many have asked, so we did this so it's easy for everyone to reach out to them. We are hoping that all the sentiments and questions, "what can I do to help?" will be answered with this non-judgmental way to give. They did not ask for any of the things that have occurred. They did not ask for this account. They would not have done this if it was up to them. We know they have support and good people in their lives that can help.
What we CAN do-----Let's join the Geary's in their fight against this horrible disease. Please help them have some relief from the health problems that Noah is having by donating towards their financial obligations. There is no way to plan for unforeseen financial necessities, but WE can all help lighten the load they are bearing.
Please pray with us for good reports and traveling mercies as they do everything they can for Noah's miracle. We want him to have a great senior year and a long happy, healthy life. Please help be a part of it.
~YOUR DONATION GOES DIRECTLY TO THE GEARY'S~
Thank you, Tara Winston
Organizer
Melinda Geary
Organizer
Connellsville, PA
