Bill Brett's Battle
Donation protected
In June 2020 my father-in-law Bill Brett was diagnosed with Stage 4 Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma. This came as a huge surprise to us all as he was showing no signs or symptoms of having cancer. He was going in for a check up as he always did as his family has a history of cancer. The doctor decided to send him for a CT Scan of his heart because of his blood pressure issues. The CT scan then discovered over 30 nodules on his lungs which then led them to do a full body scan that found the large mass on his kidney.
At this point Bill felt that it was cancer but held off from telling his kids until he was sure. It was several days before Father's Day when we got the phone call from Bill and Shirley (his wife) that we needed to come over as they had something to tell us all. Dan(son) and Kaitlyn (daughter) rush to his home and get the gut-wrenching news that their father had cancer.
Bill's doctor immediately put him in touch with different oncologists who specialized in his specific cancer type. After many days of intense research we had settled on UNC Chapel Hill. This is about an hour and a half away from where Bill lived and would require to get to on a weekly/monthly basis.
This news came just a few months after the COVID virus, which as everyone knows has caused most places to go into lockdown.
Bill has worked for the United States Postal service for over 30 years and now had to stop going to work as his immune system was now compromised. Bill was now unable to return to work and was using all the vacation/sick time he had. Which has long run out as most of his saved time had been used while he cared for his live-in mother, Lillian (Oma), who also had Stage 4 Kidney/Lung cancer along with Parkinson's and Dementia.
I'll never forget back in October 2012, New Jersey (Bill's home state) was hit with a category 3 hurricane (Sandy). The same day it hit Bill immediately went to every Lowes and Home Depot around us (in NC) and bought every generator he could get his hands on. He got in his SUV and my husband and I in our SUV and we loaded them both up with the generators and empty gas cans, blankets, canned food, cases of water and headed for NJ. We drove all through the night to get to NJ as soon as possible. I had only been dating his son for 9 months in 2012 and that day I remember thinking if his son turns out anything like his father then I've hit the jackpot.
For those of you who know Bill, you all know what an amazing person he is and how he would do absolutely anything for anyone. I have known Bill for about 10 years now and I can honestly say I'm truly lucky to have him in my life as I'm sure many of you feel the same way. Bill is always the first to offer help to a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, or anyone and now it’s our turn to help him. He would never want to ask for assistance but at this time he is in need and I am hoping that we will be able to assist him with expenses.
Any money donated will go directly to Bill's treatment/medication/travel/living expenses.
At this point Bill felt that it was cancer but held off from telling his kids until he was sure. It was several days before Father's Day when we got the phone call from Bill and Shirley (his wife) that we needed to come over as they had something to tell us all. Dan(son) and Kaitlyn (daughter) rush to his home and get the gut-wrenching news that their father had cancer.
Bill's doctor immediately put him in touch with different oncologists who specialized in his specific cancer type. After many days of intense research we had settled on UNC Chapel Hill. This is about an hour and a half away from where Bill lived and would require to get to on a weekly/monthly basis.
This news came just a few months after the COVID virus, which as everyone knows has caused most places to go into lockdown.
Bill has worked for the United States Postal service for over 30 years and now had to stop going to work as his immune system was now compromised. Bill was now unable to return to work and was using all the vacation/sick time he had. Which has long run out as most of his saved time had been used while he cared for his live-in mother, Lillian (Oma), who also had Stage 4 Kidney/Lung cancer along with Parkinson's and Dementia.
I'll never forget back in October 2012, New Jersey (Bill's home state) was hit with a category 3 hurricane (Sandy). The same day it hit Bill immediately went to every Lowes and Home Depot around us (in NC) and bought every generator he could get his hands on. He got in his SUV and my husband and I in our SUV and we loaded them both up with the generators and empty gas cans, blankets, canned food, cases of water and headed for NJ. We drove all through the night to get to NJ as soon as possible. I had only been dating his son for 9 months in 2012 and that day I remember thinking if his son turns out anything like his father then I've hit the jackpot.
For those of you who know Bill, you all know what an amazing person he is and how he would do absolutely anything for anyone. I have known Bill for about 10 years now and I can honestly say I'm truly lucky to have him in my life as I'm sure many of you feel the same way. Bill is always the first to offer help to a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, or anyone and now it’s our turn to help him. He would never want to ask for assistance but at this time he is in need and I am hoping that we will be able to assist him with expenses.
Any money donated will go directly to Bill's treatment/medication/travel/living expenses.
Organizer
Courtney Brett
Organizer
Clayton, NC