Added March 2025:

We can not begin to express our gratitude for all of your generosity toward Bill. Thank you so so much for your prayers, kind words, check-ins, and thoughtful gifts of every kind.

The original purpose of this page was to cover the cost of radiation treatment of a mass in Bill's neck that is pressing against his spinal cord. That mass has remained static, and so has not been of further concern.

The battle continues against the stage 4 lung cancer that spread to his bones. After radiation therapy on his neck, he has received immunotherapy, first line chemotherapy, and is now receiving second line chemotherapy. He has had a chest tube (now removed), pulmonary embolism (resolved), and septicemia (also resolved). Some days are certainly better than others, and he continues forward with a positive outlook. He was diagnosed almost 2 years ago, in late April 2023. He has been doing remarkably well.

Several folks have donated well after this page was posted. We understand that some may want to help Bill all along this journey, so we are keeping this page available for that. All support is deeply appreciated and assists with Bill's ongoing care.

We will continue to post updates along the way.

[Following is the original text from the launch of this page.]

Hello everybody. My name is Laura, and my Dad, Bill, has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

On April 24th this year, we learned that my Dad has lung cancer. The cancer has spread to multiple areas in his bones, including the upper part of his neck in the second and third vertebra of his spine.

THE IMMEDIATE DANGER

The tumor in his neck is large and is growing into the spinal canal, causing flattening on the side of his spinal cord. The tumor is pushing against his spinal cord.

If not treated, this neck tumor will press the spinal cord even more until it paralyzes Dad from the neck down.

He has started radiation therapy. Radiation therapy treatments target the neck tumor and stop it from growing larger. The radiation therapy consists of 10 treatments, once a day for 10 weekdays in a row.

The cost of the radiation therapy treatment alone is $49,860.60.

His insurance covers 80% of that, which leaves him needing to pay $9,972.12.

IT HAS ALL HAPPENED SO FAST

I mentioned April 24th. He had severe trouble breathing that day, so my stepmom, Cris, drove him to an urgent care clinic near his home. They did a chest x-ray. It showed fluid had filled over half of the space around his right lung. They told him to go to the emergency room of a large hospital immediately.

In the hospital emergency room, they did a thoracentesis, where they inserted a large needle and drained the fluid from around his lung. They removed 1.5 liters (1.6 quarts) of bloody fluid. It wasn't a pleasant procedure, but at least he could breathe better.

In addition to the fluid, he had pneumonia and a partially collapsed right lung. He was admitted to the hospital and stayed for 6 days. The tests on the fluid show he has non-small cell lung carcinoma. The CT scan of his chest showed that in addition to the lung area cancer, there is also cancer in his right 7th rib, right shoulder blade, and one of the vertebrae of his lumbar spine (L1).

After being discharged from the hospital, he was to follow up with a pulmonologist (lung doctor) and an oncologist (cancer doctor). The cancer doctor ordered two different types of scans - a MRI of his head, and a PET scan of his body below his head - to determine if the cancer had spread to other areas.

He was only able to get the MRI of his head done at an imaging clinic before he had to go back to the emergency room because he was having so much trouble breathing. On May 16th, he went straight to ER from the imaging clinic.

In the emergency room, the chest x-ray showed the fluid around his right lung went almost to the top of the lung. But they didn't drain the fluid out in ER this time.

Since the fluid was accumulating so quickly, they scheduled a procedure to insert a catheter into his side, between his ribs, and into the space where the fluid is in the area outside his right lung (pleural space). This way, the fluid can be drained when he is at home without going to the hospital for another thoracentesis. In addition to inserting the catheter, they also took a biopsy of the tumor in the pleural space, drained 2.3 liters of fluid (2.4 quarts), and did pleurodesis. The pleurodesis part is where they put a substance on the walls of the pleural space to cause it to seal so that there isn't room for the fluid to accumulate. The doctor told us that the body gets rid of the fluid naturally in other ways.

This time he was in the hospital for 5 days.

He was finally able to have the PET scan done (from the base of the skull to mid-thigh) and also receive the results from the scan of his head.

WHERE THE CANCER TUMORS ARE NOW

Dad has Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer with bone metastases.

Today, the cancer is located in these places:

* Right lower lobe of lung to right pulmonary hilum

* Right pleura

* Mediastinal and right hilar lymph node

* In these bones: the cervical spine (C2 and C3), thoracic spine, lumbar spine (L1), right 7th rib, right shoulder blade, sacrum, right pelvis and left pelvis, and right femur.

The cancer does not appear to be in any organs other than his right lung. The cancer is not in his left lung.

TREATMENT PLAN

The Radiation therapy on the spinal mass in his neck has started. These treatments are to prevent him from becoming quadriplegic.

Immunotherapy will treat the cancer at large. The genetics of the cancer shows it has a PD-L1 High Expression of (TPS: 90-100%). This means it is highly susceptible to a specific kind of immunotherapy (Pembrolizumab / Keytruda), which is how Dad has chosen to treat it. The immunotherapy will start immediately after the radiation therapy is complete.

DAD IS IN GOOD SPIRITS

In spite of all of this, Dad is in good spirits. He still makes us laugh with his unique and entertaining sense of humor. He is at home, with weekly home health visits. Cris drains the fluid around his lung through the catheter and changes the dressings. He can breathe well now, and the oxygen helps. He can walk around, although slowly, and becomes winded quickly. His pain is managed well by medication. He sleeps more than usual - the cancer uses a lot of energy. Cris takes him to his doctor appointments, of which there are many.

WHY ARE WE REACHING OUT FOR HELP?

It has become apparent that we have no choice but to ask the public for help in this vulnerable time. It is not an easy thing to do, and it adds to the stresses of the situation. Asking for help seems like a way to get through this without affecting my parents' ability to make house payments and pay their electric bills.

My Dad and stepmother run a small website development and graphic design business together. They have worked very hard to build it to what it is today and are the only two employees. Because of all of the medical appointments, they have not been able to give the business their full attention and are starting to fall behind financially. This is the reason we are taking things online for your help.

WHAT YOUR HELP MEANS TO MY FAMILY

My Dad wants to move forward, treat the cancer, and have the longest and best quality of life possible that the treatments can provide, so he can spend more time with family. We are thankful for all the time that we get to spend with him. Your assistance will help make that possible.

Please help in any way you can, and share with family and friends. We deeply appreciate anything you can offer.

Updates:

June 28th

Today, Dad received the 9th of the 10 radiation treatments on his neck. He is tolerating it well, with only a few side effects. He has a little nausea and some discomfort when swallowing. He says ice cream and cool watermelon feel so good. Many thanks to all who are so graciously sharing. We appreciate you.