Care for Dad

Our dad was diagnosed with lung cancer this past December. He began aggressive treatments to beat the disease in late January. Our family was so blessed by our dad's strength, but in March we knew there was a bigger problem. Although the radiation and chemo treatments were successful, radiation significantly damaged our dad's esophagus and airway into his right lung. Unfortunately he now has a large hole in his esophagus and his trachea impacting his eating and breathing. Due to the damage to his esophagus, our dad has lost 80 pounds in 6 months and has struggled to take on nutrition either orally or through a feeding tube in his stomach and small intestine. Both have led to fluid escaping into his lungs, causing pneumonia. We received tremendous news two weeks ago that Johns Hopkins accepted his case. He has been gifted with some of the finest doctors in the nation working to heal his body. He is in a procedure as I type to insert a stent in his airway in hopes that he will be able to begin taking on nutrition. 

With the blessing of this opportunity comes some financial hardship on our family. Ann has been in Baltimore since she and he rode the ambulance down on Friday, 8/4. Adam and I have worked hard to ensure one or both of us are here to support each day as well. Housing, gas, parking and food have caused some strain on our family.  We know the road won't stop here as follow-up care has been brought up several times as well. We would never ask for anyone to over extend their means. We simply have been asked by many if there was anything they could do, and thought we would share this information.
We are so grateful for the love, care and blessings we have already received. Thank you, everyone.