A Faith-Filled Journey

Hello, everyone. My name is Lana Yang, and together with my family, we are starting this GoFundMe to help support my Uncle Kongmong Vang and his family throughout his battle with Stage 3 colon cancer. We are so thankful for your thoughts, prayers, and your time to read through this passage.

On November 20, 2024, my uncle experienced severe bleeding that led to a colonoscopy on March 13, 2025. After the procedure, the doctors found several polyps and a small tumor. We were hopeful, believing that we had caught it early and that a simple surgery would be the end of this journey.

My Uncle Kong’s sigmoid colectomy was on April 1, 2025, and the recovery has been incredibly challenging. There has been significant body and nerve pain, as well as severe nausea. Despite these trials, we held onto our faith.

We received a difficult diagnosis during a follow-up on May 19, 2025: stage 3 colon cancer. The doctors found a small tumor deposit, and a more aggressive treatment plan was necessary.

My uncle, aunt, and the doctors decided on a six-month chemotherapy plan to eradicate any remaining cancer cells. He had a port installed on June 4, 2025, and began his first chemo treatment on June 17, 2025.

The first dose was manageable, with some fatigue and neuropathy, and he was able to recover within three days. However, with each new dose, the recovery time has lengthened, and the symptoms have grown more severe. The nausea is intense and is no longer controlled by medication. The fatigue is overwhelming, and the neuropathy has spread from my uncle’s hands and feet to his face and throat. My Uncle Kongmong has described neuropathy as an incredibly painful sensation that feels like being stabbed with pins and needles.

He is currently on his fourth dose, and his medical team has chosen to reduce his medication to manage the symptoms. They are carefully monitoring my uncle to reduce the chance of long-term side effects.

God's Provisions for Our Family

My aunt, Lisa, has been a true blessing and a constant source of support. She has been on unpaid FMLA for three months to care for her husband and their three young children, ages 7, 5, and 2. With no income, they have exhausted their emergency funds, savings, and checking accounts.

Despite these struggles, they have complete faith in God and His provision. They have been blessed tremendously, even during these dark times, through the kindness of friends and family. God has kept their family afloat, and through His grace, we have been able to stay strong.

Auntie Lisa has recently returned to work, but the severe symptoms prevent my uncle from helping with their children and home. She has had to take additional time off to care for their family, resulting in a significant decrease in their income.

During my visit in late July of 2025, I was able to witness the toll of what the cancer and chemotherapy have done to my uncle. When I first arrived in Minnesota, I could sense that my uncle was tired and drained. He often had to return to his room to rest because of the effects of his treatment. My Uncle Kong was always a talkative and energetic guy, but when I went to his home, he made the effort to be the man he usually is, but I could feel the toll it took on him. It wasn’t until the last few days of our visit that he was able to act like his usual self again. The side effects of the chemotherapy lasted nearly four days into his off-week of therapy, and this isn’t even the more intense sessions of his treatment.

My uncle has spent so much of his life caring for others. When his father was diagnosed with cancer, it was my Uncle Kong who always cared for him and was there for every treatment and doctor’s visit. He cared for his father up until the day he passed, and still, he continued to be a protector. When it came time to care for his aging and sick grandmother, he did it without any complaint. He cared for her for months up until her passing last year and did so while still caring for his three young children. Even now, with his cancer diagnosis, he still helps to care for his elderly mother like he has for all of these years. He continues to help her with her taxes, manages her car troubles, and assists her throughout her life burdens.

With his children, my uncle is a very hands-on father. I have watched him cook meals for his kids, read with them, pray with them, and spend so much time making sure they are growing into good and healthy people. My uncle truly loves his kids and always strives to be a great father. Even with his nieces and nephews, he has always been a supportive figure, a source of advice and wisdom, and a listening ear whenever we need him.

We are so grateful for your support and for taking the time to read our story. Any donation, no matter the size, would be a tremendous help in covering essential expenses like medications, groceries, and rent. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and generosity.