My dad was recently diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the mouth, which has spread from his tongue to his lymph nodes. The news has been overwhelming, and the road ahead is filled with challenges. He lives several hours away from Cedars-Sinai, where he needs to go for immunotherapy, surgery, chemo, and radiation. Without reliable transportation, just getting to his appointments is a huge hurdle. Soon, he’ll undergo a glossectomy—a life-changing surgery to remove his tongue and replace it with muscle from another part of his body. He will also need to have a feeding tube placed to help him get the nutrition he needs during recovery.

My dad is also a United States Army veteran who proudly served from 1986 to 1990. His strength and resilience have carried him through so much already, and now he’s facing one of the hardest battles of his life.

After his surgery and recovery, my dad will be moving back here to Massachusetts. I’ll be flying out to California, renting a U-Haul, and driving him and his belongings back home to Pittsfield so he can recover surrounded by family. The costs for transportation, medical travel, and moving are more than we can manage alone, and that’s why I’m reaching out for help.

I never ask for help, and this one time I’m asking isn’t even for myself—it’s for my dad. Through all the years of turmoil and grief, we’ve remained close, and I want to give him the highest chance of survival so he can come home and watch his grandkids grow. I love him deeply, and any support means the world to us. We’re deeply grateful for your kindness.