Dan's Journey: Help & Hope

Our brother Dan and Angie Mahaffey have been married since 2002, and their son Elijah will be graduating from high school this Spring and will attend the University of Cincinnati in the Fall. Dan had a calling to be a pastor and Angie is a NP. He and Angie brought love, comfort, and spiritual healing to those who needed it most. If you ever attended one of his sermons, he was a wordsmith. He misses being a pastor. Sadly, with Dan’s cognitive decline (equivalent to dementia) he now struggles to remember what words to use. Angie is watching her best friend slip away, slowly, and is sad to think that he will never get to see their son grow into a man or a father.

In October 2021, our dear brother Dan was diagnosed with Grade 2 brain cancer (astrocytoma) located on the left side of his brain. In early December 2021, Dan had a partial removal and the tissue removed showed that it was Grade 3 - a type of cancer that often spreads and grows quickly to other parts of the brain. Dan started radiation treatment coupled with 12 cycles of chemotherapy and it was completed by March 2023. Dan, his wife Angie, and son Elijah faced the challenges ahead with resilience and hope, determined to overcome the obstacles in their path.

Dan was walking up to 1.5 miles twice a day, would cook meals, get out of the house and spend time with family up until October 2023 when he started to become tired and dizzy, he then slowly began to stop. An October MRI showed that everything was stable; however, in December of 2023 his headaches began to return and by the end of January he fell twice, once hitting his head. By February 1st despite it only being 10 months after the last dose of treatment, we received the unfortunate news that the treatment had failed. Dan learned he had a new tumor in the back of his head which is inoperable. He has chosen the path of participating in a clinical trial that is a specialized medication created to only attack and prevent the growth of this specific type of cancer. Dan and Angie are starting to battle this thing again. Dan entered rehab shortly after the new diagnosis to help him learn how to safely use the equipment that will be in his home but he can no longer be home alone. He will need constant care and attention. We are very thankful Angie has a loving work family so she can be home with Dan as much as possible.

Because Dan was a pastor, he did not have a large sum of income and did not qualify for assistance that most would receive when they are unable to work. With Angie being the sole provider and caregiver, this has caused financial hardship. They have to cover hospital bills, the necessary equipment for their home to keep him safe, the normal everyday living expenses and travel expenses to and from appointments. Also, to potentially hire a caregiver when Angie cannot be at home. We are raising money for Dan and Angie to help with the costs they will incur and to help however possible.

In times of pain and sadness, we often see others rally around their loved ones to help each other make it through our hardest moments, with as little to worry as possible. My family is so thankful for any support you may be able to give to this beautiful, wonderful, God-loving family.