Help Ron and Aria with their cancer fight.

I have to admit this is difficult for me to do. My name is Ron. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with HPV squamous cell throat cancer. While scanning the cancer an aneurysm was found on the right side of my brain. The doctors have decided that the first priority is the cancer.

I have two masses in my glands just below my jaw on the right side as well as several lymph nodes and another mass on my tongue. I had surgery in March to remove the larger than a golf ball sized tumor from the base of my tongue. The surgeon was able to get most of it. This interior mass and subsequent surgery have affected my speech making me sound like I am eating with my mouth full. This may get better with treatment.

I am now starting 5 days a week, 7+ weeks of chemotherapy, hydration, and radiation in the hopes I will not need further surgery. Once the cancer is cleared removal of the aneurysm will be the next course of action.

I had a feeding tube, known as a G tube, inserted because the treatments would cause me to lose my sense of taste and may cause my throat to swell making eating very difficult. This could last for 4 months. I have already lost over 15% of my body weight. The G tube is to try to prevent more weight loss.

I am asking for help to pay my out of pocket medical expenses not covered by insurance as well as the over the counter expenses for the feeding tube formula, special diet liquid foods, and supplies. I am also concerned about missing work and going on short term disability or Family Leave and losing a good portion of my wages. The uncertainty is the most difficult part of this journey.