Help Papa Beat Cancer
Donation protected
My Name is Monica and I am the daughter of a man named Brad Caughell. I am seeking help in supporting my Dad through his fight in battling cancer. The money raised will be used in many ways to help with medical costs, travel expenses to and from Virgina Manson in Seattle Washington as well as all daily expenses that will naturally occur. This diagnosis is very recent and Surgery is scheduled for Monday (1/18/2016) due to symptoms worsening, so the sooner we can receive these funds the better. This would mean so much to us and him because he always puts others above his own needs and needs others to now do the same for him. We are incredibly greatful to recieve any amount of money, support or well wishes.
This story takes us back to 2013 when Brad was out of town for work commitments, my mom/ his wife unexpectedly passed away. When he was scrambling to make it back home he was also notified that his Dad had as well passed away after being on hospice care for the last few weeks. It seemed like this year and part of the next was filled with heartache, tragedy and struggle followed by struggle.
In October 2014 we came across an opportunity to work as a family by purchasing Papa's Sweets candy store in Fairhaven, Washington. This would be a dream for our family to work together after all the stuggles we had endured the previous years. My dad and I put all our time and last dollars into improving and adding to the shop.
In January 2015 we got together at the shop to discuss business and when I arrived my dad was complaining of his lips being numb. I am type one diabetic so he was asking me about symptoms of low blood sugar but after looking at the left side of his face I urged him to be seen immediately because it looked like he had a stroke. At that time he was diagnosed with Bell's palsy. In the following months and many doctor appointments they continued to tell him his symptoms would get better and his face would eventually normalize. Throughout the summer 2015 he experienced "dizzy spells" which at the time was diagnosed as vertigo. In August 2015 his symptoms of "vertigo" and "Bell's palsy" seemed to be getting worse and the facial paralysis on his left side was now affecting his eye lid and making it very hard to smile, laugh, eat, swallow and speak. This didn't make sense because all his doctors, medical professionals and peers with knowledge of these ailments said symptoms would resolve within 3 months. In September 2015 he noticed a lump protruding out the left side of his neck but thought this was another unfortunate symptom of Bell's Palsy. I encouraged him to go to the doctor due to this added finding. The doctor was also concerned and took a syringe sample of the mass. This sample tested positive for cancer cells. In October 2015 his doctor requested him to complete a CT scan to identify the size of the mass. In November 2015 surgery was performed to remove the mass. Unfortunately, during surgery they were unable to remove the whole mass due to it being too close to a major nerve which controls the left side of his face and rests on his ear drum. In December his doctor ordered more tests be done on the piece they were able to remove during surgery. This gave him the diagnosis of parotid cancer. At this time he was referred to Virgina Mason to get treatment for the remaining cancer. Our first trip down to Seattle was January 5th 2016 when they explained that he did not have Bell's palsy but rather this cancerous mass was wrapped around the most crucial nerve causing his face to be distorted. We were then told this need to be taken care of in the next few weeks to ensure survival. On January 13, 2016 he was scheduled for a PET, CT and MRI scan at Virgina Mason Hospital and took time off to make this appointment. His Surgery date is January 18, 2016. On this day I will be at the hospital during his surgery hoping for the best outcome. My husband and kids will be managing the store front, Papa's Sweets 1102 Harris Ave to once again band together as a family and prevail though this hardship. He is expected to spend 5 to 7 days in the hospital after this surgery and will be undergoing radiation treatment plus chemo shortly after returning from his hospital stay.
HELP PAPA FIGHT CANCER
Donate here on this GoFundMe Page or
Come Visit Papa’s Daughter & Son In-Law for updates and an opportunity to donate to keep the store up and running while Papa’s recovering.
Purchase Papa's $10 Milkshake with all proceeds going towards his recovery.
Support Papa on Facebook.com/GoPapasSweets
This story takes us back to 2013 when Brad was out of town for work commitments, my mom/ his wife unexpectedly passed away. When he was scrambling to make it back home he was also notified that his Dad had as well passed away after being on hospice care for the last few weeks. It seemed like this year and part of the next was filled with heartache, tragedy and struggle followed by struggle.
In October 2014 we came across an opportunity to work as a family by purchasing Papa's Sweets candy store in Fairhaven, Washington. This would be a dream for our family to work together after all the stuggles we had endured the previous years. My dad and I put all our time and last dollars into improving and adding to the shop.
In January 2015 we got together at the shop to discuss business and when I arrived my dad was complaining of his lips being numb. I am type one diabetic so he was asking me about symptoms of low blood sugar but after looking at the left side of his face I urged him to be seen immediately because it looked like he had a stroke. At that time he was diagnosed with Bell's palsy. In the following months and many doctor appointments they continued to tell him his symptoms would get better and his face would eventually normalize. Throughout the summer 2015 he experienced "dizzy spells" which at the time was diagnosed as vertigo. In August 2015 his symptoms of "vertigo" and "Bell's palsy" seemed to be getting worse and the facial paralysis on his left side was now affecting his eye lid and making it very hard to smile, laugh, eat, swallow and speak. This didn't make sense because all his doctors, medical professionals and peers with knowledge of these ailments said symptoms would resolve within 3 months. In September 2015 he noticed a lump protruding out the left side of his neck but thought this was another unfortunate symptom of Bell's Palsy. I encouraged him to go to the doctor due to this added finding. The doctor was also concerned and took a syringe sample of the mass. This sample tested positive for cancer cells. In October 2015 his doctor requested him to complete a CT scan to identify the size of the mass. In November 2015 surgery was performed to remove the mass. Unfortunately, during surgery they were unable to remove the whole mass due to it being too close to a major nerve which controls the left side of his face and rests on his ear drum. In December his doctor ordered more tests be done on the piece they were able to remove during surgery. This gave him the diagnosis of parotid cancer. At this time he was referred to Virgina Mason to get treatment for the remaining cancer. Our first trip down to Seattle was January 5th 2016 when they explained that he did not have Bell's palsy but rather this cancerous mass was wrapped around the most crucial nerve causing his face to be distorted. We were then told this need to be taken care of in the next few weeks to ensure survival. On January 13, 2016 he was scheduled for a PET, CT and MRI scan at Virgina Mason Hospital and took time off to make this appointment. His Surgery date is January 18, 2016. On this day I will be at the hospital during his surgery hoping for the best outcome. My husband and kids will be managing the store front, Papa's Sweets 1102 Harris Ave to once again band together as a family and prevail though this hardship. He is expected to spend 5 to 7 days in the hospital after this surgery and will be undergoing radiation treatment plus chemo shortly after returning from his hospital stay.
HELP PAPA FIGHT CANCER
Donate here on this GoFundMe Page or
Come Visit Papa’s Daughter & Son In-Law for updates and an opportunity to donate to keep the store up and running while Papa’s recovering.
Purchase Papa's $10 Milkshake with all proceeds going towards his recovery.
Support Papa on Facebook.com/GoPapasSweets
Organizer and beneficiary
Monica Pense
Organizer
Bellingham, WA
Brad Caughell
Beneficiary