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About three months ago my father, Earl Edds, became sick. Unexplained pain, fatigue, nausea, and random bouts of sickness. Normal became abnormal. In this new unwelcome age of COVID-19 we were extremely worried about what could be happening. Doctor visits turned into specialists, and specialists turned into a diagnosis. Stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cancer - a word that unfortunately somehow touches us all in an unforgiving way. As hard as it is to type this, I do feel relieved to tell you all. Being an only child with a small family of my own, I consider each of my friends a part of my extended family.
My father is a strong, stubborn man, but also has the kindest heart. He’s a “no bullshit” kind of man, but he will also give you the shirt off of his back (it might be sleeveless, but that’s how he rolls). A man that has worked hard his entire life now enjoys the simple things: eating a good meal (he sneezes when he is full), being outside, building various home structures (albeit not up to code), being with his wife Michelle, and watching his granddaughter, Cecilia, grow up.
Chemotherapy has already begun. Rounds of medication have started. And he will get sick. My father has never been the type of person who asks for help, but he is always the first one there at your door if you need something. Treatment is expensive, and the medical bills will continue to pile. Even though Earl has health insurance coverage, it is unfortunate that someone who has worked so hard their entire life has to have the added worry about these things.
This is where we can come together, as a big extended family, to support my father. COVID-19 has made it extremely hard to navigate this together as a family, but through this way, we can hopefully alleviate some of the weight. We would be honored if you would consider donating and helping my father. Even a little goes a long way.
One of the first fistfights I got into as a hotheaded teenager, my dad gave me classic Earl advice.
“If you are going to fight, you win”.
And that’s what we will do.
My father is a strong, stubborn man, but also has the kindest heart. He’s a “no bullshit” kind of man, but he will also give you the shirt off of his back (it might be sleeveless, but that’s how he rolls). A man that has worked hard his entire life now enjoys the simple things: eating a good meal (he sneezes when he is full), being outside, building various home structures (albeit not up to code), being with his wife Michelle, and watching his granddaughter, Cecilia, grow up.
Chemotherapy has already begun. Rounds of medication have started. And he will get sick. My father has never been the type of person who asks for help, but he is always the first one there at your door if you need something. Treatment is expensive, and the medical bills will continue to pile. Even though Earl has health insurance coverage, it is unfortunate that someone who has worked so hard their entire life has to have the added worry about these things.
This is where we can come together, as a big extended family, to support my father. COVID-19 has made it extremely hard to navigate this together as a family, but through this way, we can hopefully alleviate some of the weight. We would be honored if you would consider donating and helping my father. Even a little goes a long way.
One of the first fistfights I got into as a hotheaded teenager, my dad gave me classic Earl advice.
“If you are going to fight, you win”.
And that’s what we will do.