It is now August 7, 2024 and Buck had his surgery to remove the massive tumor on and inside of his right kidney August 1, 2024. The cancerous mass ended up being a lot larger than they thought yet his amazing surgeon was able to somehow remove it all robotically! If you read my updates I have a picture included. I call it his 6lb alien baby. It’s pretty crazy! Unfortunately, they have found mets on his lung and liver so in fact his cancer has metastasized however we are hopeful that when we go back for his post op visit September 11 the plan will be immunotherapy and close monitoring. 

We are still playing catchup with bills and lost income, the medical bills that insurance isn’t covering are piling on fast! We are close to reaching our goal so if you feel moved to donate please do so, every cent helps right now. We appreciate all of you so much! ❤️

On June 18th Buck went to urgent care er for chest pains, dizziness and a high, erratic heart rate to get checked out because we thought he might be having a heart attack. They ran all the tests and to our surprise everything came back perfect. However, that didn’t last long. The doctor told us when reviewing the ct scan of his chest the imaging caught the very top of his right kidney and he saw a spot. He told us it was probably nothing but wanted to do a lower ct scan and more bloodwork to check his blood count just to be sure. We honestly didn’t think much of it, we were just happy his heart was ok. So as he laid there eating his whataburger Mom went to get him because he was hangry, annoyed I made him go get checked, ready to go home but waiting on results so he could be discharged the doctor solemnly walked in with his head down and I instantly knew it was bad. That little spot he accidentally found ended up being a huge tumor on his kidney. It was cancer. He explained that his kidney and the mass would need to come out but as far as he could see it hadn’t appeared to have spread to any of his other major organs yet which was good. He explained that more imaging would need to be done but it was vital he get to an oncologist asap due to the size of the mass and the potential of it spreading to his pancreas, liver, etc. We immediately made an appointment with MD Anderson however they could not see him until mid August so we went to our primary doctor and she referred us to an oncologist we could see right away to get that official diagnosis and that would hopefully get him into MD Anderson sooner. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get him in sooner but we have gotten him in at Baylor College of Medicine which we’ve heard wonderful things about and he will soon be starting the journey to get rid of this monster.

Here’s the problem and the reason I felt I needed to start this fundraiser. Yesterday, June 27th he found out he will not be receiving any disability benefits from his insurance once he’s no longer able to work. We were shocked but it is what it is. He came home after work this past Tuesday and told me he didn’t think his body could keep it up much longer. See, in just a week this tumor has already grown and has started to make him incredibly ill. It is pushing against his other organs making things very painful. In just one week we can now see it protruding where you couldn’t see it at all before, it has a blue tint around it now and is very tender to the slightest touch. He is unable to eat without becoming violently sick, he has lost roughly 30lbs in several months. He is having tremors, night sweats and he’s extremely exhausted and lethargic all the time. There’s more but those are the highlights. Working is not an option right now however after he learned about not receiving any disability he made the decision he has no choice but to go back to work. Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of savings. We don’t use credit cards and I cannot work due to health issues and yes, I could be on disability but I never felt right doing that because I’m hardheaded and have always kept the mindset that I would get better and be able to get back out there once the kids were grown so we don’t even have that coming in. Maybe that’s dumb but again, it is what it is. So I understand why he feels like he has to and as much as I hate to do this and believe me, I really, really don’t like doing this, I am literally begging you to help me help him so he doesn’t have to risk putting his health in more danger. My husband is a very proud man and would never ask for help and I would never normally ask but I cannot just sit by and watch him potentially make this already horrible situation worse. His surgery is at most only a few weeks away and then he won’t have a choice but to stop but I am terrified of what will happen in these few weeks leading up to his surgery if he pushes himself and works out in this heat, his body cannot handle it. We are also both very scared about what happens when he has the surgery because he will not have a choice but to be off for a few months. That’s if he doesn’t have to follow up with any other treatment. We won’t know if that will be happening until after the surgery. We pray it will just be the surgery, no chemo or radiation and he can heal and move on with life and get back to his favorite pastime, eating haha and back to work.

I absolutely hate asking for this but I have been up all night thinking and worrying about him and I’m trying to remind myself that I was always taught and have always taught my kids that it is ok to need and ask for help sometimes. It is time to set my pride aside and ask so Buck doesn’t feel this pressure. He needs to be focusing on getting better and resting, not bills. When I start to hesitate about doing this I think of Cole’s face and how he just looks scared all the time now. His Daddy is EVERYTHING to him. He may not be a little boy anymore but he’ll forever be Buck’s “Lil Buddy” and it is absolutely gut wrenching to watch. I think of Ky and how she is frantically trying to plan a fundraiser for her Dad because she sees how much worry and strain this is putting on him and she would literally do anything to fix this for him even though she is going through so much herself right now. She’s literally the most selfless person on the planet and I adore that about her but I don’t want her to have to worry and do all that. She is about to turn 21 in less than a month and instead of planning an epic party she’s trying to figure out how to help us. Just no. That’s not ok. I think about my Mom and Bubba going over and beyond trying to help as much as they can by cooking for us or just putting up with my continuous panic attacks I’ve been having when Buck can’t hear me and how unfair that is to them considering Mom is fighting cancer right now as well. I still can’t wrap my mind around them both going through this at the same time btw. I think about the man I met and fell in love with 24 years ago and how after only one month into our relationship he got testicular cancer (yep, this is his 2nd time to get cancer) and how our entire first year of our relationship was basically spent in a hospital bed together at MD Anderson. You really get to know someone fast when you’re sharing a bed that tiny for that long haha. I think about how he is the kindest, most selfless man I’ve ever met and he deserves this help. He deserves to rest and focus on getting better!!! No, our story isn’t unique, I understand that the majority of you reading this right now have all been touched by this horrible disease in someway. We have personally lost and watched many of our own loved ones suffer and pass from cancer. I could easily list at least 10 people we care about suffering from cancer at this very moment and that’s messed up! It’s not fair, and it sucks! So no, I’m not coming to you for pity or because I think we are unique in anyway. I come to you asking for help because my husband is a good man, a proud man and will never ask so I’m taking it upon myself to do it for him because I, as I’m sure many of you, would like to keep him around for a long, long time ❤️

The money donated will be used for medical bills already incurred from that first er visit that wasn’t in our network. We owe around $12,000 out of pocket, crazy I know…

Along with other premiums we have to come up with for upcoming tests/procedures. I understand there is help out there for gas vouchers etc but he will have to be off for a minimum of 3 months with no pay and that’s going to be impossible without help. But please, do not feel obligated in anyway! I just had to give this a shot. Believe me, I understand how bad our economy is right now and absolutely hate even asking right now with how expensive everything has become. But a $1 here, $5 there can add up fast so if you can we would be forever grateful ❤️

And I can promise every single one of you when we are back on our feet we will continue to donate if or when (but hopefully never!) you or your family are in need because that’s what our community does for one another! Thank you for taking the time to read the rantings of a very tired, worried, yet very determined wife and mom!

❤️-Melissa