Hello, my name is Ron Smith. Earlier this year in February, I went to an ear, nose, and throat doctor because I realized my voice was getting raspy. She did a scope and found a polyp on my vocal cord. A biopsy was taken, and it was found to be precancerous. A month went on, then I noticed my voice started to get bad again and sometimes cut out completely. I went back for another scope, and another growth was found. A biopsy was performed, and this time it was cancer. I had a PET scan done and found out I had stage 4 laryngeal cancer. At this point, I started to really get scared but was told it was curable. I trust the medical field here, so I felt that I could beat this.

I was supposed to have all my teeth removed, then start radiation and chemotherapy. My teeth were bad, so they had to be removed before treatment to avoid infections. My doctor worked hard to get me to a dental surgeon, but they couldn't see me until June 18. I felt all was okay until last week when I noticed I was having trouble breathing and felt like something was stuck in my throat. So, I set up an appointment with ENT for another scope. On that scope, we found the tumor had really grown so big that my windpipe is now the size of a straw; it should be the size of a quarter. With that being the case, I cannot have dental surgery because they can't intubate me if needed and cannot do treatment because it will cause my throat to swell, blocking my windpipe.

I was basically now left with one choice. I must now go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to have an emergency laryngectomy done, meaning my larynx will be removed along with my voice box, so I will now be breathing from a hole in my neck for the rest of my life and never talk with my voice again. That is a hard thing to handle. I have always been complimented that I have a good voice; I even had a radio show for years. I am asking for help, and I hate to do that, but surgery is Wednesday, May 28, 2025, and the Mayo Clinic is 4 hours from my house in Northern MN. I will need to raise money for hotel rooms, gas, food, etc., for my ride and me since I don't drive. I did not expect this to happen so quickly and was not budgeted for this. I have so much that needs to be done fast before surgery, and I'm stuck in a bad place. I'm lucky I have a good support base of family and friends; they are trying their hardest to help all they can. I'm lucky; it's just that I can't ask them to be able to financially support me alone with all they are sacrificing for me as it is. My life will forever change. I just can't put any more on my loved ones so quickly, so I could really use your help.

I'm not one to ask for help, and I even used to run a charity locally called Iron Range Guardian Angels, helping locals in need, but now I need the help. Please, $1.00 will help, or even if you could just share this. I hope to get through this okay and could use your help and prayers. Thank you all so very much. God bless you all.