Help the Heroic Halseys

As many of you know, Mark Halsey was recently diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. It's already metastasized to the bones and spine, as well as blood. One of the tumors on the base of his spine caused paralysis in his lower half, and in spite of surgery, it appears the paralysis will sadly be permanent. His condition is terminal.  

If you know Mark, then you know how unbelievable this news is. He was just playing volleyball a few weeks ago! He’s such an active, hard-working guy. (Not to mention easy-going and incredibly kind.) How could this happen?

Over the past few, short weeks since Mark received this devastating diagnosis - at an ER visit for what we thought were kidney stones - he has quickly become exhausted and weak from debilitating pain, and intense chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Physical and occupational therapy take what remaining strength he has left.

This has been so hard. For Mark, first and foremost, who is faced with the reality that his time here on earth is coming to an end. How can someone face that? I can’t imagine... And for us as his family, it’s been excruciating  to see him go through this. We want to take it all away. But as much as we try to bargain with God (and desperately try to find miracle cures), we cannot.

We are incredibly thankful for the quality care he’s received so far, from many kind and caring professionals at UPMC and Lancaster Rehab. Thank you, if you’re one of these individuals. You bless us by taking care of our precious “popi”.

Here’s where things stand now. Mark spent a few weeks in the hospital following the cancer diagnosis, and is now at a rehab hospital in PA. He'll be there until Saturday, when he’ll be moved home under hospice care. My Mom will become his primary caregiver, and will have to stop working to do so.

We don’t know how ends will meet. In spite of what has become the focus of our reality, life will go on around us. Routine electric and water bills will continue to roll in, the mortgage will need to be paid, groceries purchased, the car maintained, etc., etc.

We’re in the process of rearranging Mom and Mark’s home to accomodate a hospital bed and to create wheelchair accessibility. Adaptations will likely need to be made to showers, doorways, and many more areas than we’ve considered, I’m sure. God-willing, this will all help Mark enjoy a little freedom outside of a medical facility, and be in the comfort of his own home.

We don’t know how long he has. We’re still praying for a miracle, but we must prepare for the current reality.

As you can imagine, this sudden illness has thrown the Halsey household into very trying financial times. Medical bills are already rolling in. At the very least, my Mom and Mark will have thousands to pay in co-pays. My Mom will lose her income soon, and eventually, Mark’s paid leave will run out. There will be financial burdens beyond what we can plan for.

Our family is asking for your help during this heart-wrenching time. If you're able to help with a monetary donation - no matter how small - we would be so grateful.

We know Mark's time left on this earth is limited. But, however much time that may be, we want it to be filled with quality time with family and friends, love, and hopefully a little laughter, too. It will certainly give some much-needed peace of mind to know that finances are taken care of.

If you can't spare a donation, we ask you to please, please pray - as often and as fervently as you can. For ongoing strength for Mom and Mark, for peace of mind, for an easing of pain, for capable and skilled medical professionals overseeing care, for fortitude, for hope, and yes, for healing...

We may not know each of you personally, but you're connected to us in some way. And for your support, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Mark, you have our hearts...

Rachel, Meghan, Abi, and Evan