Coach Tharpe’s Fight Into Remission
Donation protected
On Tuesday, March 12, Julius (AKA Tony, or Coach Tharpe) underwent a biopsy to collect samples of some concerning shadows/spots as identified on a previous chest x-ray.
After a considerable amount of anxious waiting, the results of the biopsy were in. Much to our dismay, the diagnosis came back as stage 3 lung cancer.
But in true Coach Tharpe fashion, we had to focus on the positives:
1) We’d caught it early- The cancer was mostly isolated to just one lung
2) Only a couple of the lymph nodes had been effected
3) The oncologist already had a plan for treatment lined up and ready to go
Treatment would begin with a series of chemo therapy, followed by a second PET scan to see if the cancer has shrunk enough for safe removal through surgery. This plan was also accompanied with a warning that additional treatment would depend entirely on how the cancer reacts to this initial plan of attack.
Which leads me into the “big ask” ... Julius is a giver, helper, coach, and support-system, he has never and would never ask for anything from anyone (explains why this fund has been organized on his behalf). But the need is there whether or not he’d ever ask, so the intention of this fund is to help offset the current and future medical costs, as well as the loss of income Julius must incur on his fight into remission. To know him is to love him, he has done so much for so many, any donation would be so greatly appreciated.
After a considerable amount of anxious waiting, the results of the biopsy were in. Much to our dismay, the diagnosis came back as stage 3 lung cancer.
But in true Coach Tharpe fashion, we had to focus on the positives:
1) We’d caught it early- The cancer was mostly isolated to just one lung
2) Only a couple of the lymph nodes had been effected
3) The oncologist already had a plan for treatment lined up and ready to go
Treatment would begin with a series of chemo therapy, followed by a second PET scan to see if the cancer has shrunk enough for safe removal through surgery. This plan was also accompanied with a warning that additional treatment would depend entirely on how the cancer reacts to this initial plan of attack.
Which leads me into the “big ask” ... Julius is a giver, helper, coach, and support-system, he has never and would never ask for anything from anyone (explains why this fund has been organized on his behalf). But the need is there whether or not he’d ever ask, so the intention of this fund is to help offset the current and future medical costs, as well as the loss of income Julius must incur on his fight into remission. To know him is to love him, he has done so much for so many, any donation would be so greatly appreciated.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jessica Colabella Leffew
Organizer
Saint Cloud, FL
Julius Tharpe
Beneficiary
