Help Support Mark Wick & Family

8/14 UPDATE: Mark now has home health services on board to help manage & oversee his new tracheostomy. He had another surgery on 8/12 and was able to return home afterwards. It was shared with Mark & family that his cancer is progressed to stage 4 as it has spread to his lymph nodes. He will have a PET scan on 8/15 to help determine specifics on his treatment plan which will involve radiation and chemo. Mark will meet with the radiation and chemotherapy doctors on Monday 8/19 and hopefully treatment can start from there. We have a long and difficult road ahead but we continue to remain hopeful.

Again, thank you to everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and donations. Your support has meant the world to Mark and family.

Hi everyone,

My name is Emily, and I have created this fundraiser on behalf of my father-in-law, Mark Wick.

In the beginning of June, Mark had gone into the ENT with concerns about his throat and voice. Mark had been experiencing hoarseness, irritation and coughing for some time that just wouldn't improve. At this appointment, it was noted that Mark had a growth that was concerning and was likely to be a laryngeal malignancy - cancer. Nothing else was done during that appointment, but he was scheduled for a biopsy that was unfortunately 6 weeks later.

On July 30th, Mark and his wife, Sue, went in for his biopsy appointment in Fargo. At this time, Mark's symptoms had progressed, and the providers found that the mass had worsened since he had last been seen. His breathing was quite concerning as the mass had started to block his airway, resulting in acute respiratory failure with hypoxia - because of this, Mark was sent to the ER and went into surgery for an emergent tracheostomy placement. It was confirmed that the mass is invasive squamous cell carcinoma that has spread to his lymph nodes from his larynx. Mark was able to return home yesterday after spending 6 days in the ICU but has a long road ahead of him yet.

Right now, Mark and Sue are navigating how to care for his new trach while at home and adapt to a new normal. Mark will need to undergo radiation & chemo treatments for the cancer and with his airway complications on top of that, he will be unable to work for an unknown amount of time. Sue is also unable to work during this time as she is caring for Mark and providing him the support he will need.

Mark and Sue would never ask for help themselves, but Jordan and his siblings know that they will likely need more help than we all can provide. Any money raised will help support Mark and Sue with medical and living expenses while they face the challenges of Mark's new diagnosis. Thank you so, so much in advance.