Cancer SUCKS! Help Keith and Carrie ♥️

Team fundraiser

Krasandra Polhans and 2 others are organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Update to this story 2/19/2021- my mom has passed, incredibly fast and my dad is still fighting. His next check up is March 5th, these funds will be used for afterlife expenses and to help my dad as he is still fighting his battle and transitioning into a life without my mom.

Both of our parents have cancer, and it’s insanely unfair.

Thankfully, they’re both fighters and refuse to give up. This is the hardest thing I think I’ll ever write and it’s so hard to do, because none of us like asking for help- but, right now we honestly have no choice.

My parents help everyone, always. They are the most selfless people. Even as they battle these diseases they are STILL trying to help others. My mother is currently laying in a hospital bed, doing someone’s taxes and my dad is still the first to jump up to help anyone- even while he’s undergoing his second round of chemo and radiation. He has to be in Galesburg 5 days a week for treatment and my siblings and I are with my mom- around the clock- to help do any and everything we can for her.

As many of you know, my dad had throat cancer a few years back- stage FOUR- and he beat it. He went through absolute hell, but he beat it. Unfortunately, it has returned and it’s in his lung- they are aggressively treating it- he has 3 weeks to go with chemo and radiation and he’s doing so well- but understandably the treatments make him incredibly tired. We got his diagnosis mid December.

My mom had been to the doctor numerous times and they repeatedly claimed it was kidney issues- OVER AND OVER AGAIN. In fact, she had the most known symptom of her actual diagnosis and they never checked.

It wasn’t until after she had to call 911 on January 4th, the first day of my dads second round of treatment, that we finally got some kind of answers. It was also the day they admitted her. She had to stay for a month and only dad could visit. I can’t imagine how hard that was.

This was mom on December 25th

And this was mom on January 4th...

Since January 4th, she has not been able to walk. Originally they made her stay for that but then FINALLY discovered issues with her liver. They transferred her from Graham, to OSF and after 2 blood transfusions and so many signs still pointing to the LIVER, they did a biopsy. This took far too long, honestly. She has a great doctor advocating for her and we are thankful. But, mistakes we’re definitely made.

Unfortunately, a little over a week ago, the Biopsy determined she has liver cancer and unfortunately it has spread to her bones. This was only determined by a biopsy and blood draws- they need to do a CT Scan and Pet Scan.

The doctor called her on the phone, Thursday and told her it’s not curable, but her exact words have been “they don’t know me.” She wants to fight, she is fighting- she refuses to give up. We need to help her fight. Miracles happen every day, we’re praying for a miracle of our own.

We have to help them both fight. They help EVERYONE. I’ve watched it my whole life. They really need help right now and I know they won’t ask.

Our family has more questions now than answers and so many more tests must be done.

My dad is retired and my mom obviously cannot work right now. With medical expenses, transport expenses (she can’t walk and must be transported in a wheelchair accessible van), life expenses and anything else they could possibly need- plus the extra help coming in- our whole family would appreciate any help you could offer.

Whether that’s 50 cents or 50 dollars, even if you can’t donate- if you could share it would be more than appreciated. They have to be able to focus on healing and I hate seeing them so worried about money.

Please consider helping these two incredible people- it would mean the world to us. It truly would. I’m trying to explain as much as I can, but it’s obviously a lot and extremely new. We’re navigating as best we can.