Cancer, a word no one ever wants to hear. I will be honest and say that I never really understood the impact that a person and family endure when a family member gets hit with this diagnosis until now; physically, emotionally and financially.

Last December, three days before Christmas, my first-born entered the emergency room, which he thought was just a severe case of bronchitis. After being put into ICU and 4 liters of fluids drained from around his lungs, came the diagnosis of T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Cancer. He was 19 years old at the time, a sophomore at University of Missouri and an established employee at a local business with inspiring goals in life. This news came hard and hit home like a tornado.

With unknown expectations, he withdrew from the next semester at college to focus on his health. Chemo treatments started and seemed to be somewhat manageable at first, although continuous. As time continued, the effects of these harsh drugs have started to take their toll, physically and emotionally. The hair loss seems easy compared to the physical and emotional limitations that started taking over. He has become weak, lost all muscle mass, has endured excruciating bone pain, gastroparesis and other digestive related issues, blood clots and struggles with severe neuropathy. Throughout this time, he has spent countless hours, nights, and days in the hospital for various reasons from getting blood transfusions to IV fluids, to high doses of pain killers. His loss of income has been significant for the year so far.

Eight months later and he is still battling with trying to put back together some sort of normal routine for a now 20-year-old. His treatments will continue for another 2 ½ years. He is learning to know his limitations and how to apply them in his daily life. With the loss of scholarships, loss of income and surmounting medical bills, and his continuously evolving medical needs the financial burden has become overwhelming, more so than he could have ever been imagined.

As a family, we struggled with reaching out through this GoFundMe, but all options have been researched and exhausted to no prevail and he is left to try and manage this on his own with the little bit of help that family can provide. All the donations here will be sent to Marcel to assist him during this difficult time with any of his living and medical needs. We sincerely appreciate any help offered and ask for prayers for this young man who had and still has great aspirations to achieve great things in life.