Charles Mason's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Greetings everyone,
My name is Darla Kelso...that's me beside the sweet-faced man in the picture above, and he's the reason I am here. His name is Charles Mason - my father, and unfortunately he's battling lung cancer...stage 4 Non-Small Cell Adenocarcinoma, to be exact.
Dad, a few years before his cancer diagnosis.
Please allow me to rewind and tell you more about the man who is so loved by his family and friends. I apologize in advance for this lengthy post...I just felt it vital to get his story across with as much detail as possible. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
My father is one of the most generous, kind-hearted people I know...one that when you meet him, you instantly connect with him - you admire him. He has such a tender heart. He's known by the family to get all teary-eyed from a simple, "I love you" from any one of us. He never asks for much, but will give you his last. He's lovingly supported his sweet mother-in-law for the past 16 years, moving her in with him and his loving wife, Joni, after it was determined she could no longer live on her own.
Dad and his wife, Joni. I Thank God for her! ❤️
He's the epitome of a dedicated, hard-working employee. You'd have to practically threaten him to take vacation days-off, and he rarely EVER called off sick. That is until the year 2015...when it was no longer a choice for him, and the battle for his life began.
After being unable to shake a nagging, lingering cough, a doctor's visit and a Bronchoscopy procedure that soon followed, confirmed the shocking diagnosis of stage 3 lung cancer...this was on April 9, 2015. He was so proud to have quit smoking more than 25 years earlier, so you can imagine the confusion that bombarded his mind. He had a power port installed on April 21, 2015, and chemo/radiation treatments began on May 4, 2015 with radiation set for 5 days per week, and chemo once a week. These treatments concluded on July 28, 2015 and he was so happy to ring the "survivors bell" on his final day of treatment. I wish I could say his worst days were all behind him...but sadly, they weren't.
Dad, after his port was installed.
About to start 1st round of chemo treatments.
Resting during chemo treatment.
Dad ringing the survivors bell after initial chemo treatements concluded on 7/28/15. We were all so happy for him!
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But the battle continued. The following month, in August 2015, dad was diagnosed with Pneumonitis – inflammation of his lung tissue; 2 months later the shingles virus; and a week following the onset of this painful virus, he developed Thrush in his mouth and on his vocal cords. His weakened immune system from the chemo treatments rendered him powerless to fight off these things.
After some time, it appeared that dad was on the upswing, but in December 2015 he began experiencing pain on his right side. He continued to work his night shift job with the post office for the next two months, despite how bad he felt. The side pain became unbearable though so my step-mom scheduled an MRI for the morning of February 10, 2016. Dad was to get off of work, go home to pick her up, and then head to his 7:30a.m. MRI appointment...but he never made it home. After a frantic call by my step-mom to his place of employment, and pleading with his co-worker to go look for him, he was found semi-unconscious on the floor by the time clock. He was rushed to the emergency room by ambulance, where it was determined that he'd had a seizure...what?! Why?! He'd never had a seizure a day in his life and there were no physical signs that anything was going on...no headaches, dizzy spells - nothing! The ER doctor ordered a brain scan to see what might be going on, and none of us was expecting the outcome - my dad had a cancerous tumor on his brain. We were devastated to say the least. He was admitted and scheduled to have the cancerous tumor removed two days later.
A visit from our cousin after being admitted from the seizure. He enjoyed the ice. :-)
On February 12th, dad underwent a craniotomy, where a portion of his skull bone was removed and then replaced after removing the tumor. The surgery was a success and miraculously, dad was sitting up talking just hours after brain surgery. Even the doctors were amazed!
Dad a couple hours after brain surgery. Look at that smile!
A kiss from his wife, Joni, always makes it better.
Hi daddy! :-) He's a trooper!
Bandages removed a few days post brain surgery.
Dad was released from the hospital and recovered nicely from brain surgery. But unfortunately had to undergo more radiation - this time on his brain just to be safe. 15 treatments of radiation began on March 1, 2016. The radiation treatments left his entire scalp burned. Understandably, he was a bit self-conscious about it so Joni bought him a few skull caps to wear - he loved them. They came just in time for him to walk my little sister, Azia, down the aisle last month...he wore one to her wedding that perfectly matched his suit. :-) Although extremely fatigued, he was so grateful to be able to share in this joyous occasion. We thank God for it as well.
Father-daughter dance at my sister's wedding. ❤️
You made it daddy!
Dad and me at my sister's wedding. He was a trooper that day.
Dad and his siblings from Kentucky. They surprised him with a visit...he was so happy, and yep...he cried!
Dad enjoying a kiss from our cousin.
Another fun visit from relatives...our cousins this time. As you can see, they made him smile.
Dad completed radiation treatments once again, but there was still the side pain issue that I mentioned earlier. On March 10th, another scan of his right lung revealed that cancer had reared its ugly head again, and this time it had spread to his adrenal gland and was now in stage 4 (the spread to his adrenal gland was the culprit of the side pain). "There's nothing more we can do, but we will continue with chemo treatments until you get tired," were the words that followed. This hurt to the core, and as strong as my dad tries to be for us, we know this was a heavy blow for him. He began chemo treatments yet again on April 13th, but this time around it weakened him severely...he has no appetite or energy despite the iron infusions and the B-12 shots he's received. We try hard to get him to drink the nutritional smoothies Joni fixes him...he's gotten much better with that. His blood cell counts were so low that he couldn't receive additional chemo treatments as scheduled. Finally, on his most recent visit to The Zangmeister Center on May 18th, his counts were up just enough to get another chemo treatment. He's lost over 20 pounds, most in a 3-week time period. He's in a lot of discomfort, so fatigued...unable to do the things he loves to do because he's just not able. He's a fighter though, and refuses to give up.
Which brings me to the reason you're reading all of this. We recently became aware of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, a for-profit network of five hospitals located throughout the U.S. After thorough conversations with their staff, as well as individuals who have received or are still receiving treatment there, my father has decided he wants to do the same...he'd like to pursue treatment at the Chicago location. They specialize in advanced cancers of all types and we want more than anything to get him there, and keep him going for as long as is needed.
http://www.cancercenter.com/
We are humbly requesting your help with getting my dad to his initial and ongoing treatments at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America facility in Chicago, as well as help to relieve some of the financial burden he is currently experiencing due to no longer having an income. Although he is still employed with the post office, he has exhausted all of his paid time off (vacation, sick time, etc.) due to the brain surgery in February (he's not been to work since 2/10/16, the day of his seizure). He's always been the primary provider of his household, supporting his wife, Joni, of course, and mother-in-law as already mentioned. Thankfully, he still has health insurance but the medical bills are mounting. Your help would be so appreciated and our family would be forever grateful for your act of kindness. And I guarantee my dad will once again become teary-eyed, as his heart will be so full. This will mean so much to him, as he sees hope with going in this direction, as we've prayed for God's leading.
All funds raised will go toward expenses related to getting him to his appointments in Chicago (airline tickets, rental cars, etc.), as well as to help relieve some of the burden of keeping up with common household expenses (utilities, food, etc.). Joni hasn't worked outside of the home for many years...she's been taking care of her mom who again, lives with them. She is currently seeking employment - a night shift position so she can be home with my dad and her mom during the day.
Dad's initial appointment at the Chicago facility is scheduled for June 5th, where he'll be for 3 days undergoing tests, scans, discussing treatment plans, etc. Once the best plan has been agreed upon, he will receive initial treatment during this time, and then return once a month for further treatments.
It's very hard to see someone you love so much go through such a difficult time. He's in pain a lot of the time, always fatigued. It's been so long since we've seen that energetic, funny man, although he does try, for us. He's always trying to shield us from the reality of how he's really feeling...I love him for that. Joni never leaves us in the dark though...I love her for that. Never in a million years would we have thought our loved one would face this. He would never ask for help, but he desperately needs it and he would do for it others without thinking twice. We have faith that he'll get through this, and he'll be able to testify of the goodness of God, and of the generosity of people like you.
Thank you in advance for helping my dad in his time of need, and for helping his wife, Joni, as well, who has been his ultimate champion. No one can fully understand the life of a caregiver unless you've walked in those shoes. And for those who are unable to give monetarily, please keep him in your prayers as he crosses your mind...those are appreciated as well. May good health and prosperity always be yours. God bless!
Darla M. Kelso
P.S. Following are more photos of dad and our family. We love him immensely, and have faith that healthy days will once again be his reality.
Me and my sisters and our dad, before cancer. ❤️
Dad and his granddaughter, and great grands in happier times.
Dad and my husband before cancer. Can't wait to see THIS smile again! ❤️
Dad and one of his grandsons. ❤️
Dad on the way to work...still battling cancer and the side pain at this time.
He looks cute in his skull cap! ☺️
Dad with another one of his grandsons. ❤️
Dad and my sister. ❤️
Dad and his granddaughter, and great granddaughter. ❤️
Dad and his great grandson. ❤️
Four generations here! He was tired this day but he's a fighter!
Dad, his son-in-laws, and his grands. ❤️
My name is Darla Kelso...that's me beside the sweet-faced man in the picture above, and he's the reason I am here. His name is Charles Mason - my father, and unfortunately he's battling lung cancer...stage 4 Non-Small Cell Adenocarcinoma, to be exact.
Dad, a few years before his cancer diagnosis.
Please allow me to rewind and tell you more about the man who is so loved by his family and friends. I apologize in advance for this lengthy post...I just felt it vital to get his story across with as much detail as possible. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
My father is one of the most generous, kind-hearted people I know...one that when you meet him, you instantly connect with him - you admire him. He has such a tender heart. He's known by the family to get all teary-eyed from a simple, "I love you" from any one of us. He never asks for much, but will give you his last. He's lovingly supported his sweet mother-in-law for the past 16 years, moving her in with him and his loving wife, Joni, after it was determined she could no longer live on her own.
Dad and his wife, Joni. I Thank God for her! ❤️
He's the epitome of a dedicated, hard-working employee. You'd have to practically threaten him to take vacation days-off, and he rarely EVER called off sick. That is until the year 2015...when it was no longer a choice for him, and the battle for his life began.
After being unable to shake a nagging, lingering cough, a doctor's visit and a Bronchoscopy procedure that soon followed, confirmed the shocking diagnosis of stage 3 lung cancer...this was on April 9, 2015. He was so proud to have quit smoking more than 25 years earlier, so you can imagine the confusion that bombarded his mind. He had a power port installed on April 21, 2015, and chemo/radiation treatments began on May 4, 2015 with radiation set for 5 days per week, and chemo once a week. These treatments concluded on July 28, 2015 and he was so happy to ring the "survivors bell" on his final day of treatment. I wish I could say his worst days were all behind him...but sadly, they weren't.
Dad, after his port was installed.
About to start 1st round of chemo treatments.
Resting during chemo treatment.
Dad ringing the survivors bell after initial chemo treatements concluded on 7/28/15. We were all so happy for him!
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But the battle continued. The following month, in August 2015, dad was diagnosed with Pneumonitis – inflammation of his lung tissue; 2 months later the shingles virus; and a week following the onset of this painful virus, he developed Thrush in his mouth and on his vocal cords. His weakened immune system from the chemo treatments rendered him powerless to fight off these things.
After some time, it appeared that dad was on the upswing, but in December 2015 he began experiencing pain on his right side. He continued to work his night shift job with the post office for the next two months, despite how bad he felt. The side pain became unbearable though so my step-mom scheduled an MRI for the morning of February 10, 2016. Dad was to get off of work, go home to pick her up, and then head to his 7:30a.m. MRI appointment...but he never made it home. After a frantic call by my step-mom to his place of employment, and pleading with his co-worker to go look for him, he was found semi-unconscious on the floor by the time clock. He was rushed to the emergency room by ambulance, where it was determined that he'd had a seizure...what?! Why?! He'd never had a seizure a day in his life and there were no physical signs that anything was going on...no headaches, dizzy spells - nothing! The ER doctor ordered a brain scan to see what might be going on, and none of us was expecting the outcome - my dad had a cancerous tumor on his brain. We were devastated to say the least. He was admitted and scheduled to have the cancerous tumor removed two days later.
A visit from our cousin after being admitted from the seizure. He enjoyed the ice. :-)
On February 12th, dad underwent a craniotomy, where a portion of his skull bone was removed and then replaced after removing the tumor. The surgery was a success and miraculously, dad was sitting up talking just hours after brain surgery. Even the doctors were amazed!
Dad a couple hours after brain surgery. Look at that smile!
A kiss from his wife, Joni, always makes it better.
Hi daddy! :-) He's a trooper!
Bandages removed a few days post brain surgery.
Dad was released from the hospital and recovered nicely from brain surgery. But unfortunately had to undergo more radiation - this time on his brain just to be safe. 15 treatments of radiation began on March 1, 2016. The radiation treatments left his entire scalp burned. Understandably, he was a bit self-conscious about it so Joni bought him a few skull caps to wear - he loved them. They came just in time for him to walk my little sister, Azia, down the aisle last month...he wore one to her wedding that perfectly matched his suit. :-) Although extremely fatigued, he was so grateful to be able to share in this joyous occasion. We thank God for it as well.
Father-daughter dance at my sister's wedding. ❤️
You made it daddy!
Dad and me at my sister's wedding. He was a trooper that day.
Dad and his siblings from Kentucky. They surprised him with a visit...he was so happy, and yep...he cried!
Dad enjoying a kiss from our cousin.
Another fun visit from relatives...our cousins this time. As you can see, they made him smile.
Dad completed radiation treatments once again, but there was still the side pain issue that I mentioned earlier. On March 10th, another scan of his right lung revealed that cancer had reared its ugly head again, and this time it had spread to his adrenal gland and was now in stage 4 (the spread to his adrenal gland was the culprit of the side pain). "There's nothing more we can do, but we will continue with chemo treatments until you get tired," were the words that followed. This hurt to the core, and as strong as my dad tries to be for us, we know this was a heavy blow for him. He began chemo treatments yet again on April 13th, but this time around it weakened him severely...he has no appetite or energy despite the iron infusions and the B-12 shots he's received. We try hard to get him to drink the nutritional smoothies Joni fixes him...he's gotten much better with that. His blood cell counts were so low that he couldn't receive additional chemo treatments as scheduled. Finally, on his most recent visit to The Zangmeister Center on May 18th, his counts were up just enough to get another chemo treatment. He's lost over 20 pounds, most in a 3-week time period. He's in a lot of discomfort, so fatigued...unable to do the things he loves to do because he's just not able. He's a fighter though, and refuses to give up.
Which brings me to the reason you're reading all of this. We recently became aware of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, a for-profit network of five hospitals located throughout the U.S. After thorough conversations with their staff, as well as individuals who have received or are still receiving treatment there, my father has decided he wants to do the same...he'd like to pursue treatment at the Chicago location. They specialize in advanced cancers of all types and we want more than anything to get him there, and keep him going for as long as is needed.
http://www.cancercenter.com/
We are humbly requesting your help with getting my dad to his initial and ongoing treatments at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America facility in Chicago, as well as help to relieve some of the financial burden he is currently experiencing due to no longer having an income. Although he is still employed with the post office, he has exhausted all of his paid time off (vacation, sick time, etc.) due to the brain surgery in February (he's not been to work since 2/10/16, the day of his seizure). He's always been the primary provider of his household, supporting his wife, Joni, of course, and mother-in-law as already mentioned. Thankfully, he still has health insurance but the medical bills are mounting. Your help would be so appreciated and our family would be forever grateful for your act of kindness. And I guarantee my dad will once again become teary-eyed, as his heart will be so full. This will mean so much to him, as he sees hope with going in this direction, as we've prayed for God's leading.
All funds raised will go toward expenses related to getting him to his appointments in Chicago (airline tickets, rental cars, etc.), as well as to help relieve some of the burden of keeping up with common household expenses (utilities, food, etc.). Joni hasn't worked outside of the home for many years...she's been taking care of her mom who again, lives with them. She is currently seeking employment - a night shift position so she can be home with my dad and her mom during the day.
Dad's initial appointment at the Chicago facility is scheduled for June 5th, where he'll be for 3 days undergoing tests, scans, discussing treatment plans, etc. Once the best plan has been agreed upon, he will receive initial treatment during this time, and then return once a month for further treatments.
It's very hard to see someone you love so much go through such a difficult time. He's in pain a lot of the time, always fatigued. It's been so long since we've seen that energetic, funny man, although he does try, for us. He's always trying to shield us from the reality of how he's really feeling...I love him for that. Joni never leaves us in the dark though...I love her for that. Never in a million years would we have thought our loved one would face this. He would never ask for help, but he desperately needs it and he would do for it others without thinking twice. We have faith that he'll get through this, and he'll be able to testify of the goodness of God, and of the generosity of people like you.
Thank you in advance for helping my dad in his time of need, and for helping his wife, Joni, as well, who has been his ultimate champion. No one can fully understand the life of a caregiver unless you've walked in those shoes. And for those who are unable to give monetarily, please keep him in your prayers as he crosses your mind...those are appreciated as well. May good health and prosperity always be yours. God bless!
Darla M. Kelso
P.S. Following are more photos of dad and our family. We love him immensely, and have faith that healthy days will once again be his reality.
Me and my sisters and our dad, before cancer. ❤️
Dad and his granddaughter, and great grands in happier times.
Dad and my husband before cancer. Can't wait to see THIS smile again! ❤️
Dad and one of his grandsons. ❤️
Dad on the way to work...still battling cancer and the side pain at this time.
He looks cute in his skull cap! ☺️
Dad with another one of his grandsons. ❤️
Dad and my sister. ❤️
Dad and his granddaughter, and great granddaughter. ❤️
Dad and his great grandson. ❤️
Four generations here! He was tired this day but he's a fighter!
Dad, his son-in-laws, and his grands. ❤️
Organizer and beneficiary
Darla Maria Kelso
Organizer
Pataskala, OH
Joni Mason
Beneficiary