Hello friends, please help us help Jan Parmer fight cancer!

I received this message from Jan as a few classmates and I were talking about reunions. He messaged me this:

"I hope I will be at the next reunion, but I am not advertising this. I am going to let you know that I have been diagnosed with lung cancer. I am going through chemo right now, but on a positive note, after all the tests are done, it is only in my right lung. So I will see you there because believe me, I am not sitting around feeling sorry for myself or anything. I will survive this and see you at the next reunion. fight cancer."

So, I asked him how he is receiving treatment and working at the same time. Jan replied with this:

"I am working on my off weeks from chemo. I have it every 2 weeks, and tomorrow I start radiation therapy daily after work, which takes about 15 minutes each day for 6 weeks. My next chemotherapy will be June 23 to 25, and I won’t work that week. Afterwards, it will be 2 weeks off and then one week back on for, I think, my doctor said 5 cycles and then 9 cycles of immunotherapy. I have to work; I live by myself and I have no other income, so I am doing what I got to do. But I will get there!"

Those who have been through cancer treatments or have had a loved one go through it know how physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially devastating it can be, especially when enduring it without a partner. To help achieve a successful outcome, it’s important to have rest and take good care of yourself as you go through harsh treatment.

From Jan’s own words, we can see that he is a positive-minded, self-supportive fighter. He has worked responsibly and been independent his whole life, but there are some circumstances that can overwhelm even the most determined person. Still, he is not asking for help – we are asking on his behalf.

After reading Jan's messages, I thought maybe I could start a GoFundMe to help ease the financial strain Jan is experiencing.

So, those Graylingites I know and love, let's show our compassion and unity by giving what we can to a deserving fellow classmate, friend, and father while he continues to muddle through these long weeks of life-saving treatment!

Shelly Hatfield-Rioux

and

Kris Partello-Work