Alvin's pancreatic cancer fight
Donation protected
My daddy was diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer.
There… I finally said it.
Sharing my story, is without a doubt, a great challenge as my family is very humble. Asking for help is a difficult thing, but I am reaching out for assistance and support during a time in which my family needs it most.
On 08 January 2018, my dad went to the hospital for pain. Anyone who knows my dad knows he is a modest, hard-working man, who never complains. He is always there to help anyone who needs it, without question. He has spent his life working for the City of Malakoff and was due to retire March 2018, one month from now, after 30 years of service.
Originally they diagnosed him with acute pancreatitis and colonitis. My family made every effort to get him to Presbyterian, a more equipped hospital, 2 hours away, because the hospital he was at could only provide pain relief without proper diagnosis. We are from the very small town on Athens, Texas. My mother asked if she would be able to transport him herself, from pain of watching her husband of 22 years suffer. They told her given his condition and medical history, he wouldn’t make it. Three weeks later we were finally able to get him a bed in a more equipped hospital, but still nothing compared to the treatment he would need. After three weeks of not being able to pass stool, decreased kidney function and severe pancreatic pain, they decided to do surgery and identify the blockage.
On 11 February (2018) at 2 a.m., I got a call from my mom saying they had found a tumor in my dad’s colon and removed it. During this time they also did a biopsy of the pancreas, liver, and omentum tissue. We were initially told it was metastatic colon cancer, not a good diagnosis, worse than colonitis, but we were just relieved to finally have a diagnosis so we could develop a plan. The doctor told us they sent the biopsy off to a pathologist because they saw evident signs of other organs being infected. Now if you don’t know anything about cancer, which I didn’t at first, there are stages. The stages determine if it’s irreversible. Some cancers stand a better chance than others. Colon cancer is more common and there are several options to mitigate and prolong one’s life. We anxiously awaited for the results. Three days later, 14 February 2018 my mom received the pathology report. It turns out my dad has Stage IV pancreatic cancer and it has spread to three major organs; liver, colon, spleen.
Because the location of my dad’s tumor, the only cancer facility that will be able to help my dad with treatment and possible surgery is MD Anderson Houston, Texas or Presbyterian Dallas. The doctor in Dallas has already agreed to take my dad’s case. The oncologist has determined surgery, distal pancreatectomy, and treatment are his best options. My dad has two different types of insurance, but because he isn’t the ideal candidate, 65 Y.O, diabetic and high blood pressure, his insurance is not willing to fund either. The cost of the surgery is $85,000, a six month course of chemotherapy is around $25,000, and stereotactic body radiotherapy is between $10,000- $14,000.
Furthermore, since my father has been in the hospital 5 weeks, and is still here, neither he nor my mother have been able to work. My mother refuses to leave my dad's side and sleeps on the hospital couch, and a hotel for times he was in ICU.Along with the psychological toll that this illness comes with, there is also a financial burden. The medical expenses that come along with this fight to beat this cancer are heavy, so any small amount counts.
Of course we ask that you PRAY and PLEASE SHARE this story to create a force of prayer warriors in order to help our family fight through this battle. He has a long road ahead of him and I genuinely ask that you help us get him on the road to recovery so we may have more time with him.
We sincerely appreciate it.
There… I finally said it.
Sharing my story, is without a doubt, a great challenge as my family is very humble. Asking for help is a difficult thing, but I am reaching out for assistance and support during a time in which my family needs it most.
On 08 January 2018, my dad went to the hospital for pain. Anyone who knows my dad knows he is a modest, hard-working man, who never complains. He is always there to help anyone who needs it, without question. He has spent his life working for the City of Malakoff and was due to retire March 2018, one month from now, after 30 years of service.
Originally they diagnosed him with acute pancreatitis and colonitis. My family made every effort to get him to Presbyterian, a more equipped hospital, 2 hours away, because the hospital he was at could only provide pain relief without proper diagnosis. We are from the very small town on Athens, Texas. My mother asked if she would be able to transport him herself, from pain of watching her husband of 22 years suffer. They told her given his condition and medical history, he wouldn’t make it. Three weeks later we were finally able to get him a bed in a more equipped hospital, but still nothing compared to the treatment he would need. After three weeks of not being able to pass stool, decreased kidney function and severe pancreatic pain, they decided to do surgery and identify the blockage.
On 11 February (2018) at 2 a.m., I got a call from my mom saying they had found a tumor in my dad’s colon and removed it. During this time they also did a biopsy of the pancreas, liver, and omentum tissue. We were initially told it was metastatic colon cancer, not a good diagnosis, worse than colonitis, but we were just relieved to finally have a diagnosis so we could develop a plan. The doctor told us they sent the biopsy off to a pathologist because they saw evident signs of other organs being infected. Now if you don’t know anything about cancer, which I didn’t at first, there are stages. The stages determine if it’s irreversible. Some cancers stand a better chance than others. Colon cancer is more common and there are several options to mitigate and prolong one’s life. We anxiously awaited for the results. Three days later, 14 February 2018 my mom received the pathology report. It turns out my dad has Stage IV pancreatic cancer and it has spread to three major organs; liver, colon, spleen.
Because the location of my dad’s tumor, the only cancer facility that will be able to help my dad with treatment and possible surgery is MD Anderson Houston, Texas or Presbyterian Dallas. The doctor in Dallas has already agreed to take my dad’s case. The oncologist has determined surgery, distal pancreatectomy, and treatment are his best options. My dad has two different types of insurance, but because he isn’t the ideal candidate, 65 Y.O, diabetic and high blood pressure, his insurance is not willing to fund either. The cost of the surgery is $85,000, a six month course of chemotherapy is around $25,000, and stereotactic body radiotherapy is between $10,000- $14,000.
Furthermore, since my father has been in the hospital 5 weeks, and is still here, neither he nor my mother have been able to work. My mother refuses to leave my dad's side and sleeps on the hospital couch, and a hotel for times he was in ICU.Along with the psychological toll that this illness comes with, there is also a financial burden. The medical expenses that come along with this fight to beat this cancer are heavy, so any small amount counts.
Of course we ask that you PRAY and PLEASE SHARE this story to create a force of prayer warriors in order to help our family fight through this battle. He has a long road ahead of him and I genuinely ask that you help us get him on the road to recovery so we may have more time with him.
We sincerely appreciate it.
Organiser and beneficiary
Nichaol Achley
Organiser
Athens, TX
Judy Briggs
Beneficiary
