Help My Dad, Michael, Beat Stage 4 Colon Cancer
Donation protected
As you may know, my dad, Michael Cunic, received a diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer which metastasized to his, lungs, liver, and spinal cord in February of 2019. On his behalf (and without his knowledge), I am reaching out for help from friends, family, and the community to support his fight.
In February of 2019, my dad was rushed to the hospital with severe stomach pains. Upon arrival doctors believed he had appendicitis. After several more tests, they discovered the pain was due to a lymph node in his colon that they planned to remove during a simple 2-hour surgery. After opening his abdomen for surgery, what they discovered was much worse than originally anticipated. His colon was entirely filled with cancer. From there, they made the decision to do emergency 6-hour surgery to remove a portion of the cancer. However, it was so intense, they could not remove it all. After surgery was complete, further scans revealed the tragedy of his diagnosis – being stage 4 and that the cancer had spread to his lungs, liver, and spinal cord.
Shortly after, he began chemotherapy as a primary form of treatment. Along with radiation as a treatment for the tumor in his spinal cord. After competition of radiation and several rounds of chemotherapy, my dad had with only a small spot of cancer left in his lungs and took a break from treatment. During this break, he took time to let his body heal from the side effects of his treatments. However, the cancer in his lungs started to grow and he began chemotherapy again. This time the treatment did not work as well. It had no effect on the cancer in his lungs, so he began a new type of chemotherapy. Still, this new treatment did not help. After surgery, radiation and three different rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer in his lungs has begun to spread again. It is now in both lungs and his stomach. Beginning tomorrow (2/26/21), he will start a fourth round of chemotherapy (this will be the third type of chemotherapy drug he’s used), which includes daily pills and a weekly IV. This treatment is much more aggressive and will limit his ability to continue to work as he has been. But the outlook of the treatment is hopeful.
During the process of diagnosis, checkups, treatments, and much more my dad has continued to work. He is a pile driver (construction worker) and works an average of 40 to 50 hours a week. He’s unable to qualify for disability, so in order to keep his insurance he is forced to continue to work, despite the immense physical tolls put on his body by the cancer treatments. Even with insurance, not all medical expenses are covered, and he is in a heartbreaking financial position of trying to fight for his life, support his family, and deal with the expenses that are piling up (all on top of a pandemic). He is the strongest person I know to have continued to get up and gone to work every day with a positive outlook, despite his body physically attempting to give up on him some days. With his new form of chemotherapy, my family and I are not sure how much he will be able to continue working due to the increased aggressiveness of the treatment, so the future is uncertain concerning his insurance and the ability to afford necessary medical procedures and treatments.
Through it all, my dad has remained in good spirits and battled fiercely - but the fight is not over. My dad is humble and stubborn, he would hate to ask for handouts or help. But, like my father, I am just as stubborn and refuse to give up on him. So, please, donate whatever you can to help. No donation is too small. Each and every dollar will go towards beating his cancer and giving my dad, Michael, many more years of a healthy life filled with love and surrounded family and friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for anything you can give, whether that be donations, prayers, thoughts, resources, or just sharing this post. I (like the rest of my family) just want a chance for more time with my dad.
With Love,
Destiny Cunic
Below are some pictures of my dad and our family.
Please do not reach out to my dad directly, instead you can contact me regarding any questions, comments, or concerns.
In February of 2019, my dad was rushed to the hospital with severe stomach pains. Upon arrival doctors believed he had appendicitis. After several more tests, they discovered the pain was due to a lymph node in his colon that they planned to remove during a simple 2-hour surgery. After opening his abdomen for surgery, what they discovered was much worse than originally anticipated. His colon was entirely filled with cancer. From there, they made the decision to do emergency 6-hour surgery to remove a portion of the cancer. However, it was so intense, they could not remove it all. After surgery was complete, further scans revealed the tragedy of his diagnosis – being stage 4 and that the cancer had spread to his lungs, liver, and spinal cord.
Shortly after, he began chemotherapy as a primary form of treatment. Along with radiation as a treatment for the tumor in his spinal cord. After competition of radiation and several rounds of chemotherapy, my dad had with only a small spot of cancer left in his lungs and took a break from treatment. During this break, he took time to let his body heal from the side effects of his treatments. However, the cancer in his lungs started to grow and he began chemotherapy again. This time the treatment did not work as well. It had no effect on the cancer in his lungs, so he began a new type of chemotherapy. Still, this new treatment did not help. After surgery, radiation and three different rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer in his lungs has begun to spread again. It is now in both lungs and his stomach. Beginning tomorrow (2/26/21), he will start a fourth round of chemotherapy (this will be the third type of chemotherapy drug he’s used), which includes daily pills and a weekly IV. This treatment is much more aggressive and will limit his ability to continue to work as he has been. But the outlook of the treatment is hopeful.
During the process of diagnosis, checkups, treatments, and much more my dad has continued to work. He is a pile driver (construction worker) and works an average of 40 to 50 hours a week. He’s unable to qualify for disability, so in order to keep his insurance he is forced to continue to work, despite the immense physical tolls put on his body by the cancer treatments. Even with insurance, not all medical expenses are covered, and he is in a heartbreaking financial position of trying to fight for his life, support his family, and deal with the expenses that are piling up (all on top of a pandemic). He is the strongest person I know to have continued to get up and gone to work every day with a positive outlook, despite his body physically attempting to give up on him some days. With his new form of chemotherapy, my family and I are not sure how much he will be able to continue working due to the increased aggressiveness of the treatment, so the future is uncertain concerning his insurance and the ability to afford necessary medical procedures and treatments.
Through it all, my dad has remained in good spirits and battled fiercely - but the fight is not over. My dad is humble and stubborn, he would hate to ask for handouts or help. But, like my father, I am just as stubborn and refuse to give up on him. So, please, donate whatever you can to help. No donation is too small. Each and every dollar will go towards beating his cancer and giving my dad, Michael, many more years of a healthy life filled with love and surrounded family and friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for anything you can give, whether that be donations, prayers, thoughts, resources, or just sharing this post. I (like the rest of my family) just want a chance for more time with my dad.
With Love,
Destiny Cunic
Below are some pictures of my dad and our family.
Please do not reach out to my dad directly, instead you can contact me regarding any questions, comments, or concerns.
Organizer
Destiny Cunic
Organizer
Ambridge, PA