Help Smitty Fight Stage 4 Cancer

Hi all,

I never thought I would ever be the person to create a GoFundMe and ask for money. I also never thought my dad would be diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. But here we are.

My dad, also known as Ron Smith, Ronnie, Smitty, and probably some other less appropriate ones, is only 54. He’s a husband, father, son, brother, and friend. My dad is the type of guy who will drop anything if you need him. He may have something sarcastic to say to you, but he’ll still be there. For over 20 years, my dad has worked as a mechanic for the city of Worcester. He is passionate about cars and learning them inside and out. He taught himself a lot while he was taking apart his bicycle as a kid, lol. My dad has instilled in us that hard work and determination will get you far in life. I can see how even now, when he’s stuck in a hospital bed with numerous wires and IVs coming out of him, those values are still there. He’s determined to fight this cancer and to do all the hard work necessary to beat it.

My dad went from drinking 30 beers a day to completely sober (for over a year now!). He went from not exercising at all (other than physical labor at his job) to going for walks to help his body recover from chemo and surgeries.

My dad is genuinely the strongest person I know. He’s been through so much in his life, but he’s still here today, fighting.

My dad likes to keep to himself. He will suffer in silence rather than ask for help. Thankfully, my mom knows him all too well and can sense when he’s off. It's hard to outright offer him help since he’ll refuse and insist he’s fine.

I know my dad feels as if he’s a burden, but it’s so far from that. I would not want to experience a life without my dad. I know his family feels the same.

It is completely unfair the amount of stress my mom and dad are experiencing because of finances. The only thing that they should be focused on is getting my dad healthy, not whether or not they will be able to afford their bills.

Any amount, no matter how small, can help bring my parents some comfort and peace while my dad is kicking cancer’s ass.