Help Thomas's Family with Travel and Funeral Costs

My name is Katie Papa. Thomas is my dad, and he is currently incapacitated due to an unfortunate accident that took place over this past weekend (03/28/2025).

Once he was hospitalized in Neuro ICU, they found numerous tumors throughout his brain, lungs, and liver. It has been determined that my dad has pretty aggressive & advanced stage 4 metastatic Lung Cancer that has spread to his Brain, Liver and Stomach.

He is currently still in the ICU and has some sort of functionality, but my husband and I are trying to find a way to get to him as he lives in TN and is currently in a hospital there. The expenses are racking up, and unfortunately, the prognosis doesn't look good for my dad, and I am at a loss of what else I can do for him.

UPDATE: 04/06/2025 - My husband and I spent this past weekend in Knoxville TN at the UT Medical Center where he was transported to, as where he lived was a very small rural town that didn't have a hospital that could provide the care he needed. After speaking with the doctors this past weekend, it has come to the conclusion that my dad had either a stroke, seizure or both that caused the owner of the motel he was living in to call 911. He hadn't been seen for almost 3 days when the owner found him unconscious and the room in complete disarray Sunday 4/1/25 in the afternoon. The Doctors also explained to us that the cancer is so far spread and so advanced that there isn't anything that can be done for him further. His brain is covered with tumors with the largest being 2.5 cm on his left temporal lobe. His Lungs are covered with tumors ranging in size from 2 cm to 6cm. There is a 3cm tumor on his liver and multiple small ones throughout his stomach. He is currently in what they call comfort care and awaiting a hospice facility that will take him if/when he becomes stable. Dad hasn't eaten in over a week, but he is drinking some soda or milk every now and again. I did get to see him, and he is not the same daddy that I once knew. He can talk but he just says random words, he can barely breathe, he can't walk or use the bathroom as a regular person would, he is just all skin and bones and mainly sleeps all day. My dad was a very sweet, smart and loving man that is unfortunately no longer here with us anymore. Though he is physically alive, he is just not here mentally anymore.

This is a traumatic experience alone, but the financial strain is wearing on us as we are a one-income family, and my husband has been and will have to continue to take off work.

I'm starting this GoFundMe to help cover travel expenses, burial fees, and all other related costs. Every dollar donated will go directly to these expenses and to our family, including his only granddaughter, Ember.

Please help support our family through this difficult time. No donation is too small.