The Struggle Continues

The Struggle Continues A few years ago, friends, family, and complete strangers came together to lend support for an amazing man who was stricken with Cancer Robert “Bob” Bonini.  Bob is a very proud, hardworking, and God-fearing man, whose personal perseverance and tenacity for enduring pain can only be described as Superhuman.  Nearly 11 years ago Bob was diagnosed with Stage IV Throat Cancer.  We want to be crystal clear Bob is a non-smoker and has never been a smoker.  Bob is also a non-user of any smokeless tobacco products and has never partaken in this practice.  The root cause of this horrible affliction is still a mystery. After surgery to remove the tumor and several treatments of chemotherapy and radiation, we are so thankful to report and feel so blessed that Bob’s Cancer went into remission at least until this year.  Since Bob’s Cancer is considered as stage IV there has always been the potential for the disease to spread throughout the lymphatic systems or connective organs.  Bob beat these odds and even enjoyed a period of remission which we all consider a prayer answered.  Unfortunately, A recent checkup revealed that Bob's remission has indeed ended, and Cancer is now present in his Lymph nodes and Lungs.  Bob is not one to complain so he continued to support his family and push through symptoms until his body began to fail knowing he had to be strong for his wife of more than 43 years Kathy Bonini.  Kathy is a Mother, Grandmother, and most of all a truly wonderful person who has touched countless lives via feats of true altruism.  Anyone who knows Kathy would agree she is truly selfless and willing to donate the shirt off her back without ever needing a kind word in return.  The box of famous cookies or five-dollar bills tucked into cards on Birthdays and Christmas is not magic they are small acts of kindness performed by Kathy whose only wish is to make someone’s day.      When Bob got sick it was Kathy standing in the wings supporting, comforting, and shouldering this burden for the family throughout this entire ordeal.  Suffering in silence this family Matriarch has not been untouched as her husband continues to fight his medical battles.     2019, proved to be a challenging year for Kathy.  First, it was the Cancer diagnosis, that few were aware of until she had to go for treatment.  The Cancer was followed by a mild Stroke, which has robbed her of some mobility and led to other related injuries.  The ongoing medical matters recently caused her to spend several weeks in UP Health System-Portage’s ICU.  Due to this cascade of medical events, her physical weakness is evident to all.  Please be mindful and understand sharing personal weaknesses is not easy.   Kathy continues to put on a brave face even with insurmountable conflicts raging at a personal and family level.  These circumstances would floor most families when only one person is affected.  These horrible events are happening in real-time to both Bob and Kathy at the same time which can only be described as catastrophic. What is the Goal? When someone suffers a catastrophe, the God-fearing thing to do is to help.  Please Help this family worry just a bit less.  Time off work, vehicle breakdowns, Deer strike, and medical bills are only some of the events that also happened this year. Bob and Kathy did not want us to set up this fund, but the family and friends know that it will help them with a massive financial burden that no family could have foreseen or planned for in a lifetime. Bob continues to fight and has started a new round of chemotherapy and radiation; Kathy’s road is still being planned out however, she plans to fight just as hard.  Help us help provide a glimmer of hope for this wonderful couple.  Let’s help them to continue to fight, to continue love, and continue to be true pillars of their community. Any type of donations would be so greatly appreciated even ones made in person if you know them locally.    God's peace to you all and to the Bonini Family.