Help a Vet & HWY Patrolman Beat Cancer
Donation protected
Karl Pierce, known affectionately as Buzz to family and friends, is a Mason, an Army veteran, and Texas Highway Patrolman going through his second bout with colon and liver cancer. Medical bills are stacking up, and Buzz would never ask for help, so we're asking for him.
Buzz joined the Texas Highway Patrol in 2008, after serving 24 years in the United States Army. He served in Bosnia and Korea as an Army Ranger and paratrooper. He has risked his life over and over again in the service of his country and patrolling Texas highways, but cancer snuck up and literally bit him in the ass.
TIMELINE OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
June 2010 - First diagnosis of colon cancer.
July 2010 - Colon cancer polyp removed.
November 2010 - Follow up exam showed a reoccurance of colon cancer. The cancer had also broken through the colon wall and metastasized to his liver.
--Six months of chemotherapy--
May 2011 - Underwent a massive surgery that removed 25% of his liver and several inches of his colon.
--No sign of cancer for three years--
May 2014 - Follow up exam revealed cancer had returned to Karl's liver and colon. The colon cancer polyp was removed, and luckily had not broken through the colon wall, but the liver cancer had metastasized.
June 2014 - Karl had surgery to remove two cancerous spots from his liver. The surgeon could only reach one, so they will attempt to attack this remaining spot with a blast of direct chemotherapy.
These surgeries have left Karl with less than 50% of his liver. He's also had a staph infection, and will not be able to start chemotherapy until his incisions are healed (hopefully in August).
Karl is a hard worker and incredibly dedicated to his job as a Texas Highway Patrolman. He has not let his diagnosis or treatment keep him from the job he loves. He was given the Service Commander's Award for Criminal Interdiction in 2011 and 2013, despite having undergone chemotherapy and surgery. He has resumed light duty for half days, and hopes to work full days after his chemotherapy starts, but he will not be able to resume full duty or go on patrol until this round of chemo and surgery is done.
Karl was recently married to Linda in March 2014. Together they have four children and a new granddaughter, Karly. They also take care of Linda's ailing parents.
All money donated will be used for medical bills and living expenses until Karl can resume work full time, so that he can focus on recovery and beating cancer.
All support is appreciated, whether it's one dollar or ten. Any help you can give gets us closer to our goal.
Buzz joined the Texas Highway Patrol in 2008, after serving 24 years in the United States Army. He served in Bosnia and Korea as an Army Ranger and paratrooper. He has risked his life over and over again in the service of his country and patrolling Texas highways, but cancer snuck up and literally bit him in the ass.
TIMELINE OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
June 2010 - First diagnosis of colon cancer.
July 2010 - Colon cancer polyp removed.
November 2010 - Follow up exam showed a reoccurance of colon cancer. The cancer had also broken through the colon wall and metastasized to his liver.
--Six months of chemotherapy--
May 2011 - Underwent a massive surgery that removed 25% of his liver and several inches of his colon.
--No sign of cancer for three years--
May 2014 - Follow up exam revealed cancer had returned to Karl's liver and colon. The colon cancer polyp was removed, and luckily had not broken through the colon wall, but the liver cancer had metastasized.
June 2014 - Karl had surgery to remove two cancerous spots from his liver. The surgeon could only reach one, so they will attempt to attack this remaining spot with a blast of direct chemotherapy.
These surgeries have left Karl with less than 50% of his liver. He's also had a staph infection, and will not be able to start chemotherapy until his incisions are healed (hopefully in August).
Karl is a hard worker and incredibly dedicated to his job as a Texas Highway Patrolman. He has not let his diagnosis or treatment keep him from the job he loves. He was given the Service Commander's Award for Criminal Interdiction in 2011 and 2013, despite having undergone chemotherapy and surgery. He has resumed light duty for half days, and hopes to work full days after his chemotherapy starts, but he will not be able to resume full duty or go on patrol until this round of chemo and surgery is done.
Karl was recently married to Linda in March 2014. Together they have four children and a new granddaughter, Karly. They also take care of Linda's ailing parents.
All money donated will be used for medical bills and living expenses until Karl can resume work full time, so that he can focus on recovery and beating cancer.
All support is appreciated, whether it's one dollar or ten. Any help you can give gets us closer to our goal.
Organizer
BrendaMike Kuykendall
Organizer
Killeen, TX
