[업데이트] 4/24

어제 수술을 무사히 마치고 회복 중입니다.

마취와 약 덕분인지 생각보다 큰 통증은 없었고, 수술도 잘 되었다고 합니다.

수술은 계획대로 진행되어 장루를 갖게 되었고, 복부에는 로봇 수술로 인한 작은 절개 부위들이 있습니다. 오늘은 회복을 위해 걷는 연습을 시작했고, 화장실 사용과 함께 호스도 제거할 예정이라고 합니다. 현재 상태로는 내일 퇴원할 수 있을 것 같습니다.

아직은 기력이 충분하지 않아 전화를 드리기 어려운 상태입니다. 퇴원 후 조금 더 회복되면 다시 연락드리겠습니다.

계속해서 신경 써주시고 기도해주셔서 진심으로 감사합니다. 큰 힘이 되고 있습니다.

[Update] 4/24

The surgery was completed successfully yesterday, and I am now in recovery.

Thanks to the anesthesia and medication, the pain has been manageable, and I was told the procedure went very well.

As planned, the surgery resulted in a colostomy, and there are a few small incisions from the robotic procedure. Today, I’ve started walking as part of recovery, and they plan to remove the tubes after I practice using the restroom. If recovery continues as expected, I may be discharged tomorrow.

I still don’t have enough strength to make phone calls yet, but I will reach out once I regain more energy after being discharged.

Thank you sincerely for your continued support and prayers. They mean a great deal to me.

Update (February 18)

Hi everyone — I wanted to share an update on my dad.

Today (February 18), he visited a surgical specialist hospital. During a sigmoidoscopy, the doctor confirmed that what we hoped was scar tissue is actually residual cancer in the rectum. Three tissue samples were taken today, and we will receive the biopsy results next Monday. We are scheduled to meet with the surgeon again next Tuesday to review the results and likely set a surgery date, which would be about a month from now.

Two weeks ago, a physical exam confirmed that the cancer near the anus has completely resolved, which we are thankful for. However, there is still remaining cancer in the upper rectum, although it has decreased in size.

His cancer marker (CEA = 2.3) remains within the normal range. The doctors believe this indicates that the cancer has not spread and that chemotherapy has helped suppress its growth. We are grateful for that protection.

Naturally, this news is heavy. We had hoped this chapter was behind us. But we trust that God is still in control, even when the path is not what we expected. We are praying for wisdom as we prepare for surgery and for steady hearts moving forward.

We will know more after the biopsy results next Monday and the surgical consultation next Tuesday. I will share another update then.

Thank you sincerely for your prayers, encouragement, and continued support. They mean more to our family than we can express.

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근황 업데이트 (2월 18일)

안녕하세요. 아버지의 상황을 아들로서 대신 전해드립니다.

오늘(2월 18일) 외과 전문 병원을 방문하셨고, S상 결장 내시경 검사 결과 단순한 흉터가 아니라 직장에 남아있는 암 조직임이 확인되었습니다. 오늘 종양 부위에서 조직 3개를 채취했으며, 검사 결과는 다음 주 월요일에 나옵니다. 화요일에는 다시 외과 전문의를 만나 결과를 듣고, 약 한 달 후로 예상되는 수술 일정을 논의할 예정입니다.

2주 전 검사에서는 항문 주변의 암은 완전히 치료된 것으로 확인되어 감사한 마음입니다. 그러나 상부 직장에 있는 암은 크기가 줄어들었지만 아직 남아 있습니다.

종양표지자 수치(CEA = 2.3)는 정상 범위 안에 있으며, 의료진은 암이 전이되지 않았고 항암치료가 성장을 억제하고 있다고 설명했습니다. 그 부분에 대해 하나님께 감사드립니다.

솔직히 마음이 무겁습니다. 이 시간이 이미 지나갔다고 생각했기에 더 그렇습니다. 하지만 하나님께서 여전히 주권 가운데 계심을 믿습니다. 앞으로의 수술과 결정들 가운데 지혜를 구하며 차분히 준비하려 합니다.

다음 주 월요일 조직검사 결과와 화요일 상담 이후 더 구체적인 내용을 다시 전해드리겠습니다.

계속해서 기도해주시고 함께해주셔서 진심으로 감사드립니다.

UPDATE2:

Sorry if I couldn’t thank you personally! It is hard to message back via gofundme due to overlapping names and some names are hard to identify! But we are so grateful and we thank you so much for hitting the first goal $9,000!!! We couldn’t have done without you guys’ help. We are still continuing (for full $70,000). I thank you and God for providing such wonderful people. We really appreciate it!!

UPDATE:

안녕하세요.

아버지 암 투병 모금과 관련해 진행 상황을 전해드립니다.

아버지는 작년 1월 직장암 4기 판정을 받으셨습니다. 사실 암이 발견된 과정도 참 특별했습니다. 평소 병원을 잘 찾지 않으시던 분이었는데, 어느 날 동생이 아버지가 꿈에 나오셨다고 하며 마음이 너무 불안하다고 했습니다. 그 일로 동생이 급히 비행기를 타고 아버지를 찾아가 병원 검진을 권유했고, 그 검사를 통해 암이 발견되었습니다. 저희 가족은 그 순간을 돌아볼 때마다 하나님께서 지켜주셨다고 느끼고 있습니다.

진단을 받고 처음에는 많이 놀라고 두려웠습니다. 의사 말로는 수술을 서두르지 않으면 언제 응급 상황이 올지 모른다고 했습니다. 수술을 하게 되면 직장을 절제하고 평생 장루를 달고 살아야 할 수도 있으며, 그렇게 해도 예후가 좋지 않을 수 있다는 이야기를 들었습니다.

그래서 일단 의료진의 권유에 따라 치료를 진행하기로 했습니다. 다만 보험과 여러 행정 절차로 수술 일정이 지연되었고, 그 사이 수술 담당 전문의와 다시 상담을 하면서 방사선/항암 치료를 먼저 진행해 보자는 방향으로 치료 계획이 바뀌게 되었습니다.

그렇게 시작된 방사선/항암 치료는 저희 가족에게 또 하나의 놀라운 시간이었습니다. 보통 방사선/항암 치료는 손발 저림, 출혈, 극심한 피로 등 힘든 부작용이 따르지만, 아버지는 힘든 과정을 묵묵히 버텨내셨습니다. 그리고 예상보다 치료 반응이 매우 좋았고, 암 수치가 정상 범위까지 내려가는 결과를 얻게 되었습니다. 의료진도 놀랄 정도였습니다. 저희 가족은 많은 분들의 기도와 응원 덕분이라고 믿고 있습니다.

하지만 또 다른 현실적인 어려움이 남아 있었습니다. 아버지가 치료를 받는 동안 일을 할 수 없게 되었고, 그 사이 집 모기지와 생활비는 계속 발생했습니다. 아버지는 LA에, 저는 뉴욕에 거주하고 있어 제가 혼자 감당하기에는 큰 부담이 되었습니다. 개인적으로 $20,000을 마련해 보탰지만, 여전히 큰 금액이 부족한 상황이었습니다.

그래서 가족들과 상의 끝에 조심스럽게 모금을 시작하게 되었습니다.

현재까지 약 $6,000 정도가 모였습니다.

오랫동안 자주 연락하지 못했던 친구들, 심지어 10년도 더 전에 스토니브룩에서 함께 지냈던 친구들까지 잊지 않고 도와줘서 정말 큰 감동을 받았습니다. 사실 저는 원래 다른 사람에게 부탁하는 걸 많이 어려워하고 부담스러워하는 성격인데, 이번 일을 통해 주변의 따뜻한 마음을 새삼 깊이 느끼게 되었습니다. 받은 도움을 잊지 않고, 저도 누군가에게 힘이 되는 사람이 되어야겠다는 마음이 생겼습니다.

여전히 회복 과정은 진행 중이지만, 여러분의 도움 덕분에 아버지는 치료에 집중하며 희망을 잃지 않고 계십니다. 함께 마음 모아 주셔서 진심으로 감사드립니다!!

모금은 계속됩니다! 감사합니다

Help My Dad Recover After Beating Cancer

My dad, Jung Ho Park, is 63 years old and has always lived a life of quiet responsibility. He worked hard for decades, supported his family, stayed active in church, and never asked for recognition. Photography, music, and cooking were small joys he rarely had time to enjoy because he was always focused on taking care of others.

In January 2025, our lives changed when he was diagnosed with T4 rectal cancer.

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His Fight Against Cancer

From February 2025 to January 2026, my dad went through an intense year of radiation and chemotherapy. By grace, the treatment was successful — but it took a severe toll on his body.

He is now in the recovery phase and may need surgery in the first half of 2026. Doctors have told us it could take up to 1.5 years for his immune system to recover to a normal level.

Although the main treatment has ended, he suffers from serious chemotherapy aftereffects, including nerve damage that causes numbness and pain in his hands and feet. Even typing on a keyboard is difficult. Because of this, he is currently unable to return to work.

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Why He Had to Stop Working

My dad worked for about 25 years in the LA Fashion District, serving as:

• Store Manager

• Buyer

• General Manager

• Accounting

He is known by those around him as hardworking, dependable, and someone who always put family and responsibility first.

In January 2025, when cancer treatment began, he had no choice but to leave his job. This was not a planned retirement — it was a medical emergency that forced him to stop working.

From February 2025 to January 2026, he received State Disability Insurance (SDI), which allowed him to focus on treatment. However, that support has now ended, while he is still physically unable to work.

He is now in a difficult position: too sick to work, but no longer receiving disability income.

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Why We Are Asking for Help

We are hoping to raise funds to cover one year of essential living and medical-related expenses while he continues to recover and rebuild his strength.

His minimum monthly living expenses are about $7,500, which includes:

• Mortgage: $2,250

• HOA: $330

• Car payments & insurance (2 vehicles): $1,700

• Health insurance: $1,200

• Utilities: $500

• Food: $1,500

These are not luxury costs — they are the basic expenses needed to maintain housing, health coverage, and daily living while he heals.

Our goal of $90,000 represents approximately one year of financial stability so he can focus on recovery instead of the constant stress of how to survive month to month. This time is critical for his immune system to rebuild and for him to regain the strength needed to eventually return to work.

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Who He Is Beyond the Illness

Before cancer, my dad was someone who rarely talked about himself. He worked, served, and quietly cared for those around him. Facing cancer changed him deeply. He began reflecting on gratitude, faith, and the value of everyday life.

He often says he does not want wealth or success — just enough health and time to live simply, appreciate ordinary days, and give back where he can.

This fundraiser is not about comfort.

It is about giving him a fair chance to recover after surviving the hardest battle of his life.

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A Message From Me

As his child, it is painful to see someone who worked his whole life suddenly unable to support himself because of illness. He never complains and rarely asks for help, which is why I am asking on his behalf.

If you are able to give, we are deeply grateful. If you cannot donate, sharing this page would mean just as much to us.

Thank you for your kindness, prayers, and support during this difficult time.

— His family