Please help Gary Stromer in his cancer journey

Update 12-10-2024

I know life is hard on almost everyone right now. Especially with Christmas only a few weeks away. But, we are drowning in debt, due to the loss of Gary's income dating back to June 30th, he has since been in and out of the hospital. He has had 2 strokes, a central nervous system infection, aspirated pneumonia and sepsis to start everything off with a bang! Then the day he was released from the hospital we got confirmation of a positive cancer diagnosis.

Finally, in September he got a stent in his right carotid artery that was 93% clogged. They determined in testing that he has 2 blockages in his heart and a low functioning heart, and his left carotid artery is 68% clogged. He went into heart failure the week before radiation treatments were to start. Got through that started radiation treatments on September 25th. He did a couple of double treatments since he couldn't do chemo. And, completed his radiation treatments on November 6th.

Bless his soul he has not had any solid food since October 6th ish. Two full months of nothing but Ensure and Snack Pak Pudding cups. He can sip water and iced tea, but it still burns. As of yesterday he has lost a bunch of weight he did not need to lose! He is 6' 4" and weighs 149 lbs! Does look a little better today as we got some new medication on Monday for his post radiation appointment. He is healing as he should, but they gave him a nerve numbing medication to help him to swallow. Medication costs are killing me $310 last two weeks, $240 this week. On average to this point it has been $700 a month. This month will be closer to $1500. Next month it should be back down as VA has finally started taking over some of the meds. And, they want to try and get his application for VA benefits done by the 1st of the year. I am praying for that to be true! Any prayers for this would be greatly appreciated!

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Update 10-16-2024

So far we are avoiding a feeding tube. Gary has lost 15 lbs since last Friday. His biggest complaints are being tired his jaw hurting and not being able to swallow. We have gotten medication for all of this through Palative Care. We so appreciate all of the people trying to help us through this journey. Hard days happen but with you all we can overcome ! Thank you!

Update 10-6-2024

The third double dose of radiation will be tomorrow. I pray that the nausea medication I got at Walgreens yesterday continues to work! So far we have cough drops with a numbing agent to ease pain, rinse with baking soda, salt, and water mix, rub Vitamin E cream on his neck to give him relief for the sunburn like effects of radiation. The biggest thing is finding something that sounds good to him to eat. Friday it was potatoes and gravy from KFC. So that is what he got. Otherwise it is snack pack pudding cups and fruit. Trying to get him to try a smoothie. Hasn't been able to do that yet. He seems to be tired and cold. His heart being low functioning sure does not help! Have to get him some sleep pants or sweats to wear while he is home. He still thinks he will go back to work. I hope for his sake he will be able to. Just don't see it right now though. Thank all of you for sharing donating and prayers ❤️

Update 10-3-2024

This picture was the day after our 20th anniversary in July. Praising the Lord he is not as bad as he was then. Today was the second double dose of radiation. I am hoping this one will go a little easier. Last week when he had the double dose, he became very nauseated and tired and ended up vomiting and sleeping one hour at a time. I am praying for his treatments to not cause any serious side effects. I am not sure what God has in mind for this journey. But, the hurdles and the way things just keep coming at you is frustrating. My faith is in praying that God show us some grace. He always supplies our needs, even if sometimes it is the last minute. Or, that I get frustrated and angry and he gives me a little breathing room. Finances are hard when you have cancer.

Since Gary became ill, I have been trying to make ends meet. His health journey started in April. He fell and broke 2 ribs. We think that is when the first stroke happened. After numerous times to the ER by ambulance and him being sent home because they could not determine what was going on, his vitals and labs were good. Until his second stroke, which happened while he was driving a semi home from California. Thank God and the angels watching over him, he got the semi to the side of the road and the flashers on until someone could get there to pick him up and bring him home. When he got home, he was staring off into space and became steadily worse. On June 29th, he was finally admitted to the hospital and could no longer speak or know his name. The local hospital sent him to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. I got a room in the hospital guest services to be near him. While I was gone, he decided to make a run for it. Ripped out the IV and catheter and was trapped in the stairwell, hit a security guard, and was subdued by the local police. He was then sedated and restrained in ICU. He remained in ICU in and out of consciousness for 3 weeks. During that time, he became lethargic with aspirated pneumonia, a central nervous system infection, and sepsis. After the three weeks in ICU, he was transferred to a room in the heart unit. During all of this, we found a lump on the side of his neck. While in ICU, they did a needle biopsy and concluded that he had stage 3 advanced tonsil cancer. His memory and speech came back slowly, and the strokes had subsided. He had dropped 30+ lbs and needed help to walk. He refused to go to rehab and did the rehabilitation at home on his own. He finally let me apply for VA assistance and other programs. He was denied workman's comp because he had too many health issues. VA and SSD have been applied for; it is just a waiting game. We have lost his income from driving a semi, and we are both disabled and collecting social security. We have been selling things we deem are not needed to survive. But, we are still running about $1,000 in the hole each month. With travel 86 miles one way to Iowa City for cancer treatments and doctor visits, it became unfeasible to travel that far every day M-F for radiation treatments for the next 6 weeks. We found out that he has a low-functioning heart and has multiple blockages. His carotid artery on the right side, where the tumor is located, had to have a stent before he had ANY treatments because it was 93% clogged. That surgery was done in Iowa City. Now we are traveling 15 miles to our local cancer treatment clinic each day and sometimes twice a day since he is not able to have chemotherapy due to him being at high risk for another stroke or another visit to the hospital for heart failure. The treatments began this week with four treatments in 3 days. There will be a total of 35 treatments in 6 weeks. The treatments leave him tired and nauseated due to having to double up treatments on one day a week. They do believe this should kill the cancer in his tonsils and lymph nodes. They do expect it to return since they cannot do surgery to remove it. When and if that will happen is unknown. After completion of the radiation treatment, they will do a stent in the left carotid artery and possibly his heart. Then there will be no surgery for 6 months. We have been debating on whether to make this page or not. But, we have heard a few people would like to help us out. Putting our pride aside and doing what we need to do to survive.

We will need to put some work into our vehicle before winter. Especially new tires as the ones we are driving on are bald. The tires have been patched and the sidewalls are failing. That is one of the top priorities. Another priority would be replenishment of pantry and freezer supplies. As well as paper supplies and tolietries, clothing and shoes.

Prayers are definitely appreciated and welcome. Feel free to share this page if you see fit. Thank you!