Anyone who knows my brother "Big John" Gorence knows that he is all that in the literal sense of the word, but the "Biggest" part of John is his heart.
"Big John" was diagnosed with Stage Three Class B Melanoma on February 22, 2005. The night before, our dad passed away, after a heroic and fierce battle with Esophageal Cancer. "Big John" was only forty-five years old.
"Big John" was given a ninety percent chance of maybe living two years. He got a second opinion which verified the first. He began his battle by receiving five different variations of chemotherapy. In addition to that he had four major surgeries to remove malignant lymph nodes and tumors. They were not able to remove them all. The kind of cancer he has lives in the bloodstream. It randomly stops and attaches itself to an organ, lymph node etc. and starts to grow. In September of 2007 after enduring two years of endless procedures and surgeries, he transferred his care to the Karmanos Cancer Institute. By this time in his battle he was diagnosed with Stage Four Terminal Cancer. There they offered him the only treatment option he had left, an experimental treatment program with untested drugs. He told us "at 6'5" and 415 pounds he considered himself the world's largest guinea pig". That statement is just one of million examples of the attitude and strength he exhibits on a daily basis. "Big John" FIGHTS the BATTLE!
Cancer is not the only battle my brother fights. Because of the complications from cancer he now suffers from chronic blood clots, horrible rashes, allergies, chronic arthritis, sleep apnea, type II diabetes and all the complications that go with them. There are many more. He has trouble moving around. His knees are shot. He gets winded very easily. He is very sensitive to heat and cold. The simplest things for you and I like getting a cold will put him in the hospital. Through all of this he FIGHTS the BATTLE!
"Big John's" biggest supporter and partner is his wife Laurie. She does on a daily basis whatever needs to be done for him. In spite of the fact that she had to stop working because of a degenerative spine disease, which is incurable. She keeps their house, bathes him, dresses him, prepares the meals, manages the medications, and treats the rashes and much more. He told me that "she is like my little bulldog, no matter how high her pain level is, she makes sure my care is number one". He has also told me on several occasions that he would not be alive today without her love and support.
It is not easy to ask for help, but they need it. John has not been able to work for the last ten plus years. Laurie worked as long as she could but had to stop over three years ago. As you can imagine the debt that has built up battling their diseases is large. There one and only, vehicle, is over fifteen years old and is very difficult for him to get in and out off. It is in dire need of repair or replacement. Their house is falling into disrepair. Their medical expenses especially the pharmaceuticals in itself is financially overwhelming. They have tried to make it on their own for over TEN years! In his words to me "they are sinking"
"Big John" and Laurie fight the battle twenty-four seven. He has told me that he believes that he has survived this long for a reason. He believes God has a purpose for him and that is to help other terminally ill cancer patients survive. He hopes that the longer he survives the more they will learn about what works in fighting this disease and eventually finding a cure. Anyone that knows "Big John" knows that he is a “Gentle Giant”. He spent most of his life going out of his way for others and he continues that today.
They need help to improve the quality of life for the time he has left. They are very proud and would not do this themselves. If we as a family could help more than we do, we would. Anything you can give to help the
"Big Fella" keep FIGHTING the BATTLE
is greatly appreciated. Please SHARE and LIKE this on all your social media platforms. “Big John” is a Hall of Fame Alumni of Detroit De La Salle Collegiate, Pilots “78”. He is an alumni and ex-football player at the University of Tennessee, Volunteers “83” and an ex-football coach of the Detroit St. Matthews, Marauders. Let's really spread the word!
"Saint John Baptist De La Salle, pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts forever"
"Big John" was diagnosed with Stage Three Class B Melanoma on February 22, 2005. The night before, our dad passed away, after a heroic and fierce battle with Esophageal Cancer. "Big John" was only forty-five years old.
"Big John" was given a ninety percent chance of maybe living two years. He got a second opinion which verified the first. He began his battle by receiving five different variations of chemotherapy. In addition to that he had four major surgeries to remove malignant lymph nodes and tumors. They were not able to remove them all. The kind of cancer he has lives in the bloodstream. It randomly stops and attaches itself to an organ, lymph node etc. and starts to grow. In September of 2007 after enduring two years of endless procedures and surgeries, he transferred his care to the Karmanos Cancer Institute. By this time in his battle he was diagnosed with Stage Four Terminal Cancer. There they offered him the only treatment option he had left, an experimental treatment program with untested drugs. He told us "at 6'5" and 415 pounds he considered himself the world's largest guinea pig". That statement is just one of million examples of the attitude and strength he exhibits on a daily basis. "Big John" FIGHTS the BATTLE!
Cancer is not the only battle my brother fights. Because of the complications from cancer he now suffers from chronic blood clots, horrible rashes, allergies, chronic arthritis, sleep apnea, type II diabetes and all the complications that go with them. There are many more. He has trouble moving around. His knees are shot. He gets winded very easily. He is very sensitive to heat and cold. The simplest things for you and I like getting a cold will put him in the hospital. Through all of this he FIGHTS the BATTLE!
"Big John's" biggest supporter and partner is his wife Laurie. She does on a daily basis whatever needs to be done for him. In spite of the fact that she had to stop working because of a degenerative spine disease, which is incurable. She keeps their house, bathes him, dresses him, prepares the meals, manages the medications, and treats the rashes and much more. He told me that "she is like my little bulldog, no matter how high her pain level is, she makes sure my care is number one". He has also told me on several occasions that he would not be alive today without her love and support.
It is not easy to ask for help, but they need it. John has not been able to work for the last ten plus years. Laurie worked as long as she could but had to stop over three years ago. As you can imagine the debt that has built up battling their diseases is large. There one and only, vehicle, is over fifteen years old and is very difficult for him to get in and out off. It is in dire need of repair or replacement. Their house is falling into disrepair. Their medical expenses especially the pharmaceuticals in itself is financially overwhelming. They have tried to make it on their own for over TEN years! In his words to me "they are sinking"
"Big John" and Laurie fight the battle twenty-four seven. He has told me that he believes that he has survived this long for a reason. He believes God has a purpose for him and that is to help other terminally ill cancer patients survive. He hopes that the longer he survives the more they will learn about what works in fighting this disease and eventually finding a cure. Anyone that knows "Big John" knows that he is a “Gentle Giant”. He spent most of his life going out of his way for others and he continues that today.
They need help to improve the quality of life for the time he has left. They are very proud and would not do this themselves. If we as a family could help more than we do, we would. Anything you can give to help the
"Big Fella" keep FIGHTING the BATTLE
is greatly appreciated. Please SHARE and LIKE this on all your social media platforms. “Big John” is a Hall of Fame Alumni of Detroit De La Salle Collegiate, Pilots “78”. He is an alumni and ex-football player at the University of Tennessee, Volunteers “83” and an ex-football coach of the Detroit St. Matthews, Marauders. Let's really spread the word!
"Saint John Baptist De La Salle, pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts forever"
Organizer and beneficiary
John Gorence
Beneficiary