Hello family and friends. I am seeking help for my mother and step-father Gene. He is currently in an aggressive battle with oncology but has recently had other numerous health issues complicating his healing journey. My mother, Cindy, has been battling her own health issues and took some time off from work too address both of their health issues at the end of October.

Her plan for a 30-day leave of absense in October quickly turned into something much longer. The day after Thanksgiving my step-father was lifeflighted to Billings Montana with septic shock. After being stabilized there, he was informed he needed to have his gallbladder removed when he arrived back in South Dakota.

They had hoped the healing would begin after being released, however, after some follow-up blood work and a checkup, Gene was lifeflighted to Casper WY with another infection. It was suspected that the infection was a carryover of the sepsis. More lab work was done, and although they repeatedly requested the gallbladder removed, the attending doctor refused, offering hospice care instead.

My mothet refused to give up because the oncologist never spoke of "end of life" arrangements. She wasn't ready to say goodbye.

They both returned to South Dakota before the blizzard and my mother got a hotel room with her Christmas bonus "just in case" infection set in again. She fought to secure an appointment with oncology, where his bilirubin numbers were through the roof. The oncologist reassured them both that this was not an issue with his battle but something completely separate.

He was admitted, and ENDC was performed to find his bile duct was clogged with stones. This was cleared and the following day hereceived a gallbladder removal surgery.

They were released on Monday and made it home before the storm to find their refrigerator died during the blizzard. Food was limited during the storm, and my step-father began to vomit anything he ate. My sister thought it was because of the processed food he was eating. He began to not be able to keep any food down.

Monday morning came and oncology called to schedule his immunotherapy for Tuesday. On Tuesday his blood work was off again. High white bloodcell count and low hemoglobin. He had infection and was losing blood somewhere.

Now he is in the hospital with an almost complete obstruction keeping his food from reaching his stomach and awaiting news on what happens now.

My mother, the main source of income, has ran out of leave. She took out a personal loan in December to help keep them afloat but that all went in to the cost of hotel, travel and necessities while supporting her husband.

4 hospital stays in 3 separate states and going on 16 days in the hospital and 20 days away from home is very expensive. Being in the hospital has limited my mom to do her crafts, her second form of income, so things are very tough for both of them.

I am asking for help to keep them going as they work through all of these health issues. They are a very caring family that are always their for everyone else's. Please join me in supporting them through this tough time. Every little bit helps.