Caring for my Dad with Cancer
Donation protected
Hello everyone,
I'm not sure where to start or how to word this so I'll do my best.
On Thursday 5th of April 2018 my father went to A&E with severe chest and back pain. He'd been going to the dr's and A&E a few times in the previous 7 months for his chest pain and the back pain started around a month or so before this most recent visit to A&E.
Doctors did not a single test, not even a blood test or x-ray in all the time before now to try and find the cause of my dad's pain despite him having a long history of smoking (he gave up a few years ago). They gave him anti-inflammatory drugs and a muscle heat rub.
When at hospital on the 6th April 2018 after waiting all night and day for results of an x-ray and CT scan of his chest we were told of the devastating news that he has Lung and Spinal cancer. His back was also fractured.
He had walked himself in and around A&E on the 5th and by the 7th he had lost the use of his lower body almost completely (he could wiggle his toes but that was it.)
He was sent to Kings College Hospital in London for an emergency spinal surgery on Sunday 8th April and he is currently recovering from that. Luckily he seems to have regained movement (not so much feeling) in his lower body. But the cancer is still there and he has a long road ahead of him. If it's treatable.
No one has yet let us know the type of Lung cancer he has, but considering it had spread to his spine it is likely to be at Stage 4. His biopsy and radiotherapy were cancelled due to the emergency spinal surgery to try to save him from becoming paralysed. He is still in hospital for a while recovering and finding out what's happening.
This fund is to help us find enough to be able to move into a rented 4 bedroom house with my father so I can help him and care for him during all of his treatments and illness. I'm a single mother with two children and already a carer for my disabled son so finding the money to be able to move is almost impossible. We can afford the rent, but the up front costs of moving such as fees and removals from both houses is a great struggle.
I want to be able to fully support my father whenever he is in need and help keep his mental health a little better so he's not sat alone at home with nothing to occupy him but his own thoughts.
I would love to have the stability of an owned home for everyone, to take the threat of being kicked out because a landlord wants to sell on etc away. But asking for enough to afford such a place that costs in excess of £200,000 feels like too much. So I am asking for this small amount to be able to get into rented together for as long as possible.
We aren't yet sure when he will be out of the hospital but the doctors are hopeful it will be within the next week. Obviously finding somewhere to rent and moving within this time is impossible, but I would like to be able to do so as soon as possible so that I can fully support my father asap.
Throughout my life my dad has been an amazing inspiration to me and he's one of my greatest heroes. I want to give back as much as I can even if it's for a short while, and I want he and my children to have as much time as possible with each other too.
Thank you for taking the time to click here and read. Any donation is so gratefully received and I don't think I will ever be able to thank anyone who shares or donates enough.
I'm not sure where to start or how to word this so I'll do my best.
On Thursday 5th of April 2018 my father went to A&E with severe chest and back pain. He'd been going to the dr's and A&E a few times in the previous 7 months for his chest pain and the back pain started around a month or so before this most recent visit to A&E.
Doctors did not a single test, not even a blood test or x-ray in all the time before now to try and find the cause of my dad's pain despite him having a long history of smoking (he gave up a few years ago). They gave him anti-inflammatory drugs and a muscle heat rub.
When at hospital on the 6th April 2018 after waiting all night and day for results of an x-ray and CT scan of his chest we were told of the devastating news that he has Lung and Spinal cancer. His back was also fractured.
He had walked himself in and around A&E on the 5th and by the 7th he had lost the use of his lower body almost completely (he could wiggle his toes but that was it.)
He was sent to Kings College Hospital in London for an emergency spinal surgery on Sunday 8th April and he is currently recovering from that. Luckily he seems to have regained movement (not so much feeling) in his lower body. But the cancer is still there and he has a long road ahead of him. If it's treatable.
No one has yet let us know the type of Lung cancer he has, but considering it had spread to his spine it is likely to be at Stage 4. His biopsy and radiotherapy were cancelled due to the emergency spinal surgery to try to save him from becoming paralysed. He is still in hospital for a while recovering and finding out what's happening.
This fund is to help us find enough to be able to move into a rented 4 bedroom house with my father so I can help him and care for him during all of his treatments and illness. I'm a single mother with two children and already a carer for my disabled son so finding the money to be able to move is almost impossible. We can afford the rent, but the up front costs of moving such as fees and removals from both houses is a great struggle.
I want to be able to fully support my father whenever he is in need and help keep his mental health a little better so he's not sat alone at home with nothing to occupy him but his own thoughts.
I would love to have the stability of an owned home for everyone, to take the threat of being kicked out because a landlord wants to sell on etc away. But asking for enough to afford such a place that costs in excess of £200,000 feels like too much. So I am asking for this small amount to be able to get into rented together for as long as possible.
We aren't yet sure when he will be out of the hospital but the doctors are hopeful it will be within the next week. Obviously finding somewhere to rent and moving within this time is impossible, but I would like to be able to do so as soon as possible so that I can fully support my father asap.
Throughout my life my dad has been an amazing inspiration to me and he's one of my greatest heroes. I want to give back as much as I can even if it's for a short while, and I want he and my children to have as much time as possible with each other too.
Thank you for taking the time to click here and read. Any donation is so gratefully received and I don't think I will ever be able to thank anyone who shares or donates enough.
Organizer
Heather Jéan McCarthy
Organizer