Dear family, friends and loved ones,

Please help me help my parents!

My name is Katelyne, and I am the loving daughter of Kevin and Bonnie McMahon. If you know me or my parents you know that these last few years have been the most challenging times of our lives. Whether or not you know any of us, thank you for being here, and please know that my parents are the most loving, heartfelt, selfless, hard-working and compassionate people I know and have been blessed with. To bring you up to speed, here is the journey of my dad, Kevin McMahon, and my beloved mother, Bonnie, in their fight against stage IV cancer. Like all stories, especially cancer stories, this one is unique, so please stay with me.

In November 2019, my dad, Kevin had gone to the dentist for routine dental work. Shortly after his visit, he felt a bump on his cheek. Assuming it was an infection he went back to the doctor to get it checked out. It wasn’t an infection and he was advised to get a biopsy. After back and forth and prolonged delays due to the disruptions in the healthcare system during the pandemic, Kevin was finally able to get a biopsy in January 2020. A few weeks later he was diagnosed with Stage IV Parotid Gland Cancer. Although he had taken immediate action, it still took 3 months to get a diagnosis. Then another 3 months (March 30, 2020) to get the surgery on the calendar.

Simply put, receiving this news felt completely earth shattering, but we, as a family, did all we could to be ready to embrace the journey that lied ahead. The plan was to have surgery to remove the tumor, but now 5 months after feeling a pebble-sized bump, this bump had grown into a golf ball size tumor. The growing tumor was now putting pressure on his facial nerve making it more and more difficult to eat, his voice was changing. The tumor put pressure on his vagus nerve which led to fainting spells. These fainting spells landed him in the hospital merely a few days before his scheduled surgery. This ambulance ride and hospital visit took place at the peak of Covid, forcing neither my mom nor myself to be able to be there in person to advocate for my dad, and to love and support him by his bedside.

Then things got really scary. In order for my dad to be discharged from the hospital, he had to repeat multiple tests and bloodwork, all of which came back clear. At this point, he had been denied his initial scheduled surgery because of these fainting spells, which we knew were caused by the tumor. Unfortunately, we were forced to reschedule the surgery. Moving into April 2020, “no elective surgeries” had become enforced. The surgery we were forced to reschedule had since become denied! Stage IV Cancer patient was denied the removal of a life-threatening tumor, how could this happen? This is where my mom Bonnie put on her super woman cape and embraced the vows she made to my father. She fought for this surgery to happen, and by the grace of her strong will, my dad was put on the schedule. Dropping him off at the hospital, for a 12+ hour surgery that had serious risk was beyond worrisome. This was all during peak Covid which meant no visitors. Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is hard, and going through surgery is hard, but the uncertainty of this virus and the fear brought on by that was unparalleled.

As I mentioned, this surgery had risks, just like any surgery. Due to the extensive growth of the tumor wrapped around his facial nerve,, this nerve ended up severely compromised and sacrificed during surgery, leading to life-altering challenges and many more surgeries to come. For my dad, the worst part of this wasn’t the upcoming rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. It wasn’t the future surgeries and procedures he would endure. Being told that the resulting nerve damage from surgery led to him waking up with the inability to swallow or speak was the most devastating part. Doctors told him this information all while not a single visitor was allowed. He was in the hospital for a week after this for recovery. For that week, he was alone, but was getting ready to fight the biggest fight of his life. He knew he had my mom and me to come home to.

Since then, my dad has endured endless procedures, doctor appointments and treatments as part of his fight against this unforgiving disease. He underwent a painstakingly long, therapeutic process of relearning how to talk, eat, drink, cough and even breathe, and still managed to keep working full-time 40-60 hours per week. He’s been on a feeding tube since the time of his surgery, which still remains today, as he is still unable to drink or swallow. He will require to be on oxygen going forward.

Throughout it all, my mom, Bonnie, has been a true pillar of strength, offering every ounce of love, care, and endless support for my dad. Cancer is a challenge that not only impacts the patient, but their entire support system. My mom has been by his side every step of the way. Handling the frustration of appointments, insurance matters regulations increased, to hand-grinding his supplements and medications so he can take them through his feeding tube. The two of them have shown incredible resilience, proving how much their love endures, even in the darkest times.

Now this is where we really need your help. Just prior to Kevin’s diagnosis, before that initial November 2019 visit to the dentist, they started a long overdue kitchen renovation. Excited to create a warm and inviting space where they would make new memories together, my mom and dad started by demolishing their kitchen. My dad, being the handyman he is, planned on doing a lot of the work himself. Then practically overnight, everything came to an abrupt halt. Both my dad’s diagnosis and the impacts of Covid derailed their plan. Supply chain issues caused delays, plus my mom lost her job because Covid had forced her company to let her go. As my dad’s health became the primary focus, medical expenses began to accumulate, and their dream of finishing their kitchen was put on hold.

From the time of his diagnosis, the hope and belief has been for my dad to one day gain his physical strength back and his body would be healed. It’s been a long road and the sad and devastating reality is that he has suffered unimaginably. My dad’s prognosis has worsened, he is now no longer able to work, he and my mom have been inundated with medical bills, leaving my dad’s dream of completing their kitchen renovation project unrealized.

It is heartbreaking beyond words for me, as his daughter, to see my dad literally brought to tears when he looks into the kitchen and sees an unfinished and gutted space. For 3 1/2 years my parents have lived with no kitchen, meaning no drywall, no finished ceiling, no oven, no countertops, simply no kitchen. Having a functional kitchen is essential, especially when going through a devastating health crisis and hardships. My mom has worked miracles and has somehow been able to cook meals in this construction zone. It’s now time for both my mom and dad to have some peace of mind in their living space as we move into this next very difficult chapter together.

As hard as it is for my family to accept help from anyone, because we’ve never had to, I am asking that if anyone could find it in their heart, and if they are able, to contribute any small amount that could help to alleviate at least a small amount of stress. We would be forever grateful. Your donations will not only help with the overwhelming medical bills, but will also contribute to finishing their kitchen, a symbol of family, hope and comfort; a space for our entire family to heal. Your contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant impact and show my amazing parents that they are not alone in their fight. If you are unable to contribute, please share and pray.

Thank you for taking the time to read my parents’ story, and we are sincerely grateful for your prayers, positivity, love and support.

With love and gratitude,

Their daughter, Katelyne