
Help David beat his Cancer
Donation protected
What a year 2018 has been, not only for me but for my entire family. If you don’t know me and you are just glancing at this post, hello, my name is Brianna. 2018 has been a year of ups and down. How you may ask? Well, I got married to the man of my dreams but the other man in my life, my father, was diagnosed with cancer.
Some of you, who know me and my family, are probably completely shocked as this has not been something that we have broadcasted to the world. If you are reading this and you don’t know me or my family, welcome, and we appreciate the time you are taking to get to know the Waters family and our situation, or I probably should say, my dad’s situation.
My dad, David Waters, was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer of the liver, earlier this year. He had been experiencing many symptoms but nothing indicative of something like this. At first doctors weren’t sure what type of cancer my dad had and it took multiple tests to find out exactly what it was. The thing about this type of cancer is that it is rare and it normally has a separate origin and then moves to the liver. For my dad, they haven’t been able to find any other source, which could be a good thing but let’s be honest, is there anything good about having cancer?
Many appointments, scans, and tests were done in Augusta; which if you know the medical field at all, you can agree with me when I say that when I see this I see $$$. Do not get me wrong, I am immensely thankful for the doctors who helped and continue to help my dad in Augusta but of course there is no better place for my dad and his cancer to be treated than at Johns Hopkins Cancer Center. So off to Baltimore my parents went, so already one trip under their belt, to see what the doctors thought and what they believed would be the best next step.
My parents met Dr. Weiss, whom I have heard nothing but great things about, which is good because you want someone who is compassionate about his patients and someone who is there to tell you like it is. He is who decided the best approach and best chance my dad would have would be if he were to have a large majority of his liver removed. The part of his liver that is ridden with the cancer.
Any surgery is scary, and being a nurse myself, I can understand that. But when it is your family member that is going to be having the surgery, it gets scarier. My dad is a strong man so I have all the faith in the world that he can do this. Does that make it any easier or any less terrifying...no. The fact that my dad is being given a chance, I am thankful. But let’s get down to the reason why I am telling you all this, if you have even gotten this far in the story.
If this cancer hasn’t already taken enough of a toll on my dad, it’s going to be taking even more. Being sick is not cheap. My parents already have bills stacking up from all of the tests and appointments telling my dad he has cancer, and now that my dad is going to be having this surgery, can you imagine how much more money is going to be spent on that? All the things I can think of just off the top of my head, the costs will be tremendous. My parents will both have to travel to Baltimore again, where the surgery is scheduled to be done on December 28th, 2018. Into the new year, hopefully my dad will be moving out of the ICU in a stable condition and onto a unit where he will stay for more monitoring. After my dad is discharged, both my mom and dad will have to stay in the Baltimore area for another 2 weeks, to be close by in case anything were to happen and for follow up appointments, which is where Dr. Weiss will hopefully be telling my dad that they were successful in removing his cancer!
I know this time of year is already hard enough for people’s wallets and purses but if there is any way you can give our family the help we need this holiday season, you have no idea how appreciated you will be. It is hard for me to write this and know what I am asking from friends and family, even strangers but if I can make this process any easier for my parents, then you can bet I will do whatever I can, as they have been there for me my entire life.
No amount is too little. If by God, we reach our goal, and there is any additional funds, the extra amount will be donated to Dr. Weiss and his research so that the world can get closer to finding an end to cancer.
Some of you, who know me and my family, are probably completely shocked as this has not been something that we have broadcasted to the world. If you are reading this and you don’t know me or my family, welcome, and we appreciate the time you are taking to get to know the Waters family and our situation, or I probably should say, my dad’s situation.
My dad, David Waters, was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer of the liver, earlier this year. He had been experiencing many symptoms but nothing indicative of something like this. At first doctors weren’t sure what type of cancer my dad had and it took multiple tests to find out exactly what it was. The thing about this type of cancer is that it is rare and it normally has a separate origin and then moves to the liver. For my dad, they haven’t been able to find any other source, which could be a good thing but let’s be honest, is there anything good about having cancer?
Many appointments, scans, and tests were done in Augusta; which if you know the medical field at all, you can agree with me when I say that when I see this I see $$$. Do not get me wrong, I am immensely thankful for the doctors who helped and continue to help my dad in Augusta but of course there is no better place for my dad and his cancer to be treated than at Johns Hopkins Cancer Center. So off to Baltimore my parents went, so already one trip under their belt, to see what the doctors thought and what they believed would be the best next step.
My parents met Dr. Weiss, whom I have heard nothing but great things about, which is good because you want someone who is compassionate about his patients and someone who is there to tell you like it is. He is who decided the best approach and best chance my dad would have would be if he were to have a large majority of his liver removed. The part of his liver that is ridden with the cancer.
Any surgery is scary, and being a nurse myself, I can understand that. But when it is your family member that is going to be having the surgery, it gets scarier. My dad is a strong man so I have all the faith in the world that he can do this. Does that make it any easier or any less terrifying...no. The fact that my dad is being given a chance, I am thankful. But let’s get down to the reason why I am telling you all this, if you have even gotten this far in the story.
If this cancer hasn’t already taken enough of a toll on my dad, it’s going to be taking even more. Being sick is not cheap. My parents already have bills stacking up from all of the tests and appointments telling my dad he has cancer, and now that my dad is going to be having this surgery, can you imagine how much more money is going to be spent on that? All the things I can think of just off the top of my head, the costs will be tremendous. My parents will both have to travel to Baltimore again, where the surgery is scheduled to be done on December 28th, 2018. Into the new year, hopefully my dad will be moving out of the ICU in a stable condition and onto a unit where he will stay for more monitoring. After my dad is discharged, both my mom and dad will have to stay in the Baltimore area for another 2 weeks, to be close by in case anything were to happen and for follow up appointments, which is where Dr. Weiss will hopefully be telling my dad that they were successful in removing his cancer!
I know this time of year is already hard enough for people’s wallets and purses but if there is any way you can give our family the help we need this holiday season, you have no idea how appreciated you will be. It is hard for me to write this and know what I am asking from friends and family, even strangers but if I can make this process any easier for my parents, then you can bet I will do whatever I can, as they have been there for me my entire life.
No amount is too little. If by God, we reach our goal, and there is any additional funds, the extra amount will be donated to Dr. Weiss and his research so that the world can get closer to finding an end to cancer.
Organizer and beneficiary
Brianna Jean Klinke
Organizer
Augusta, GA
David Waters
Beneficiary