Peter Penkala Cancer Fund
Donation protected
Peter L. Penkala was born March 3rd, 1981. A veteran, he served proudly and honorably in the United States Navy for 4 years between 2003 and 2007. Peter's decision to serve his country during such a tumultuous period in its history came as no surprise to our family, as we were all well acquainted with his giving spirit and personal sense of sacrifice. Peter is a proud and loving uncle to his 5 nieces and 2 nephews. He had recently started a new chapter in his life, starting a new job and settling into a new home with his loving girlfriend Angelica and her 9-month old daughter, Amina.
Late last month, Peter was diagnosed with stage-IV Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare form of Bile Duct Cancer. He was rushed to the hospital the evening of January 23rd, 2015, showing signs of jaundice and complaints of severe back pain. Initially, doctors were stumped by his condition, given his excellent health history. Upon further examination, however, doctors discovered a tumor growing in a bile duct connecting his pancreas to his liver. After extensive testing and multiple exploratory surgeries, the doctors were able to confirm that the tumor was cancerous, and they believe that it had spread to his liver. Typically, surgery is the best option for treating this form of cancer, however due to the size, location and stage of development (among many other factors) of the tumor, Doctors have decided to put off surgery until the cancer can be brought under control using less intrusive methods. Presently, the only solution available to attack this disease is chemotherapy, along with the power of prayer. Despite this ill-fated news, Peter’s spirits have remained high, and his positivity is a beacon of hope for our family. He is a true inspiration to us all.
At just 33 years of age, Peter was advised to start chemotherapy. His treatment and rehabilitation will take anywhere from several months to a year. Along with the physical pain, the treatment and disease have begun to take a toll on his daily functions. Peter began his first cycle of chemotherapy on February 9th.
Peter is receiving care at Florida Hospital - Orlando, widely recognized as one of the top cancer treatment facilities in the country. He has an excellent team of highly recognized and experienced physicians guiding his treatment and soon, hopefully, his recovery. While Peter does have health insurance benefits through his employer, the costs of his co-payments and deductibles are extremely high, and the short-term disability insurance he should soon start receiving only cover a small fraction of his basic cost of living expenses and his medical bills. Moreover, the length of time that these disability benefits are available to him runs far short of the length of treatment and recovery.
First and foremost, we are asking for prayers and support for Peter as he fights back against this sudden ambush on his life. Secondly, we are asking for any financial support that anyone can spare to assist with medical bills and the general expenses of life spent facing this deadly disease.
Late last month, Peter was diagnosed with stage-IV Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare form of Bile Duct Cancer. He was rushed to the hospital the evening of January 23rd, 2015, showing signs of jaundice and complaints of severe back pain. Initially, doctors were stumped by his condition, given his excellent health history. Upon further examination, however, doctors discovered a tumor growing in a bile duct connecting his pancreas to his liver. After extensive testing and multiple exploratory surgeries, the doctors were able to confirm that the tumor was cancerous, and they believe that it had spread to his liver. Typically, surgery is the best option for treating this form of cancer, however due to the size, location and stage of development (among many other factors) of the tumor, Doctors have decided to put off surgery until the cancer can be brought under control using less intrusive methods. Presently, the only solution available to attack this disease is chemotherapy, along with the power of prayer. Despite this ill-fated news, Peter’s spirits have remained high, and his positivity is a beacon of hope for our family. He is a true inspiration to us all.
At just 33 years of age, Peter was advised to start chemotherapy. His treatment and rehabilitation will take anywhere from several months to a year. Along with the physical pain, the treatment and disease have begun to take a toll on his daily functions. Peter began his first cycle of chemotherapy on February 9th.
Peter is receiving care at Florida Hospital - Orlando, widely recognized as one of the top cancer treatment facilities in the country. He has an excellent team of highly recognized and experienced physicians guiding his treatment and soon, hopefully, his recovery. While Peter does have health insurance benefits through his employer, the costs of his co-payments and deductibles are extremely high, and the short-term disability insurance he should soon start receiving only cover a small fraction of his basic cost of living expenses and his medical bills. Moreover, the length of time that these disability benefits are available to him runs far short of the length of treatment and recovery.
First and foremost, we are asking for prayers and support for Peter as he fights back against this sudden ambush on his life. Secondly, we are asking for any financial support that anyone can spare to assist with medical bills and the general expenses of life spent facing this deadly disease.
Organizer
Aaron Barnes
Organizer
North DeLand, FL