Blessings!
My name is Layla. My family has been going through some rough times, to say the least. Mostly silent battles because we are a very private family. My parents are private, independent people who don’t like to share their battles, but it has come to a point where we are asking the community, family, and friends for prayers mostly because we know for a fact that when prayer warriors come together, that is when mountains move.
On February 5, 2025, was the day that changed this family forever! For several months, my father was in so much pain and was working through his pain at a construction job and would come home and barely could walk. His job did not offer insurance, so he kept refusing to go to doctors/hospital, but on 2/1/25, my mother did not give him an option and demanded that my brother take him to the ER because she couldn’t see him like that any longer. My brother called a few hours later and said, 'MOM, the doctors are saying something is wrong with dad's bones. The CT scan showed they were very dense, and his spine has collapsed. If I can get her down there ASAP because the doctor wanted to talk to her.' She dropped everything, and we got there. When my dad saw my mom, he just broke down crying. He knew it wasn’t good. I just saw both of them hugging and crying like they just knew! I have never seen my father cry. He was the provider, the tough guy, our protector, our coach, our father! He just wasn’t built like that. They admitted him, and my mom stayed with him that night and for the next week, during which time they were running tests which led them to the conclusion that he needed a bone marrow biopsy to confirm our worst fear. Back surgery was on 2/5/25 to try and repair his spine. That is when they did the biopsy, which in fact confirmed he had a very rare blood cancer, and the bone marrow was 80% filled with these multiple myeloma cancer cells, which had now spread to his bones. They came and told us he, in fact, had multiple myeloma and that there is no cure, but it can be treated to give him more time. At that point, with no treatment, they told them he would have about 6 months, which rocked our little world so very hard. My parents been together for over 30 years raised us the best they could. Their life wasn’t easy yet somehow raised three kids who are now all Police officers and it is them who always taught us to be servants and to love on people and not to judge anyone because you never know what battles they are facing . Little did we know we too would be in a battle of our life’s.
With Many, many tears, many questions, but not many options because he had no insurance. Caseworkers claimed they would help, but to be honest, none of them came through. My mom made an appointment with hematology, and they also stated without treatment or stem cell transplant, he has about 6 months left. My mother was not having any of it! When I tell you she went into fight mode, called every specialist, called every foundation, and took her husband, our dad, home and told him he better be ready to fight like hell because this is not going to be where their story ends.
With that being said, many people turned her down. She started making plans to put out a mortgage on our home. My oldest brother paid out of pocket for some cancer-slowing drugs they offered, which was $1,900 for a 30-day supply. So, to say the least, cancer is very expensive! Even paying out of pocket for the treatment he needed would be about $18,000 a month. My dad said to us just let this play out because no way he would allow us to go in debt or sell our home for treatment, which still would only cover about a year of chemotherapy. My mom was not having any of it and once again got back on the phone, and to God be the glory, a woman we like to call a guardian angel from Moffitt called us back and had them fill out the Moffitt Multiple Myeloma Foundation award application, and by God's grace, the next day he was approved for the next year. The days were long, traveling across the state 1-2 x a week. We all tried to help my parents as much as possible, and they also used their savings and stayed in the family camper for weeks at a time to continue the chemo. So, we’ve just been living on a prayer. No one really knew because my dad did not want anyone to know. So, they distanced themselves from some family, friends, and church because the side effects and his condition made it pretty obvious something was not right with our dad. Sorry so long, been holding a lot in lately. This is almost a relief. I know some might be upset with us for not reaching out, but this is just how they chose it to be. It has taken months of trying to convince my dad maybe we should do a GoFundMe because it got to a point where I, in fact, lost my job because of the time I also needed off during his treatments because my mom would be with my dad, and she was his caretaker and the kids as well. So now we have come to the point where he is stable, and we are just taking it one appointment at a time, holding our breath every time the docs read back his numbers and just praying he stays on the right track. But still, with no income, my parents now live with me and have tried to rent out rooms in their home, which has been crazy!! But we are at a point where it’s almost impossible to even get to Moffitt Cancer Center because every time it’s about 100 dollars in gas, and now they are starting him on a bone-building medication which would help him get stronger, but unfortunately, that is not covered, and it’s nearly impossible for me and my brothers to keep up with the disability check under 1,000 a month. We definitely are hurting, but I know he is hurting, and as a unit, we all are hurting but trying very hard to see the good things. He made it to see his son get married, which was so very special, and to see his mom again and siblings and to spend this year with his best buds, his grandsons!! But unfortunately, as many of you know, when a loved one is struck with this wicked disease, the entire family is as well! So, we asked him to please allow us to seek prayers, and even though we know so many households are struggling, just maybe some could help with some financial support because we are struggling and of course, sincere prayers are so important. This particular diagnosis is very, very expensive, but like I said, I know many are not able. Even just a few dollars can help get him to his chemo, but if not, that is okay too. BUT if you could PLEASE pray for my dad and for my mom and for us as a whole because we are putting up a good fight, and some days are better than others. Fatigued, yet hopeful, yet scared, the uncertainty of multiple myeloma is heartbreaking. But we are trying to build an army of prayer warriors to intercede on our behalf!! My parents have coached for years in our community, have been youth leaders, have helped so many local teens, and have been there for many. So, just wanted to see now if in their time of need, our community, our family, and friends can possibly give a little something where they don’t have to worry on off days about how they will get the money to cover the expenses of this wicked disease and maybe have some quality time together and also get the next steps of treatment needed to get him feeling stronger. Regardless, we love you all and sorry we’ve been distant. We just wanted to respect his wishes!! Many blessings to all!! Stay healthy, stay prayed up, and we will continue to fight on our knees. As my dad would say, 'Nuff love to all my people!!'