Allen Massa's Cancer Journey

Hello friends and family, and all those who love and support my dad Allen.

As some of you may know, my dad was diagnosed with B cell lymphoma after experiencing incredibly painful symptoms in his abdomen in May/June. Since then, he has undergone 6 rounds of chemotherapy, but not without complications. On top of the side effects that come with chemo treatments, he has dealt with excruciating pain caused by hernias that were surgically removed, and then landed back in the hospital for several days after additional complications following that surgery. After his most recent PET scan, we prayed that his chemo treatments would be effective, but unfortunately his doctors are not satisfied. We were hopeful he would qualify for a stem cell transplant as a next step, but sadly, he does not. That leads us here. We are still discussing the next phase of his treatment with his doctors, and as we've previously said, the road ahead is very uncertain, but is likely to involve time consuming trips back-and-forth between Lincoln and Omaha.

Even through all of this, he has displayed incredible courage and strength, and has done all he can to continually show up for his family. He showed up for my wedding in September to stand by my side, all the while hiding how much pain he was truly feeling. He shows up every single day to continue supporting my two young nephews (his grandchildren, my late brother Casey's kids) alongside my mom. As of December, they've officially assumed the role as full-time caretakers of the boys, which is an absolute blessing, but also an added responsibility in an already trying time.

Needless to say, this has all created a financial burden on my parents. They have both given so selflessly for as long as I can remember to their grandchildren, their faith community, and their family & friends without asking for anything in return. We are hopeful that this GoFundMe helps to lighten that load, so that my dad can continue focusing on his recovery and well-being, rather than worrying about mounting medical bills and all the surrounding costs that come along with this battle.

Every contribution, no matter the amount, will help make a difference for my parents during this time. Your support will not only ease their financial worries, but provide the emotional strength to continue fighting against this relentless disease. Please consider donating if you're able, and share this page with friends, family, & social networks to help us spread the word as much as possible.

Thank you on behalf of my entire family for your generosity, support, and love during this time. We are so grateful to you all. - Ricky