Hope for extension of life

A NOTE FROM ROSEMARY:

Following the path before me.....This story is challenging for me to write. My love language is as a giver, and being a receiver is out of the norm for me.

I introduce the love of my life, second only to my Heavenly Father and Jesus. His name is

Vernon W Norton.

Vernon served two tours in Vietnam on river patrol boats. He came into contact with Agent

Orange then- now known to be a significant cause of cancer and sickness to many of our

veterans.

In 2016 we received the devastating news that he had stage 4 metastasized prostate cancer.

Surgery was not an option as it was already spread to the spine and adrenal gland, so we

waited and followed the doctor's instructions. He tried the Lupron shot, which was supposed to help stunt cancer growth. It caused him to become suicidal and homicidal. He stopped taking Lupron, and the doctors told him there was nothing else they could do for him. Vernon continued to work with a traditional medicinal oncologist and was put on a program of pills and shots. At that time, he was told this protocol would not kill cancer and would only last for a while until cancer would find a way around the treatment and spread with a vengeance. Medicare and the VA have covered this treatment, but it is destroying his body. It removes all his hormones and causes his body to have menopause symptoms, causes depression due to hormone removal, depletes his muscle mass, and exhausts him. Prednisone is tearing up his skin and deteriorating his joints. The latest side effect of this treatment was a compression fracture at his hip, giving him tremendous pain.

We are nearing the end of this traditional treatment. We are hopeful as we have a new

opportunity to find care with a Naturopathic Oncologist to help his body regain strength and

health while implementing new ways to attack cancer cells.

Unfortunately, this holistic approach to treatment is not covered by Medicare and is costly.

Medicare will only cover a small amount of the lab fees, for which we are grateful. The treatment cost is going to be over $30,000.

While we are very excited for Vernon to start this treatment, we are praying concerning the

funding. We have some savings we will be using to help pay for part of the treatment. He is set to start his treatment on December 6, 2022, his 77th birthday.

A NOTE FROM A FRIEND:

My friend Rosemary is struggling to find the right words to express her hearts desire to help her husband, Vernon, who has been battling cancer since 2016. The treatment he has been following is ending. A different approach not covered by insurance is needed to add to his quality of life and, hopefully, extend it.

I got to know them through the church at that time. They influence many peoples lives because they are givers. She offers her heart, support, resources, wisdom, and guidance to all who ask and those who don’t. Why? Because her heart is to give of herself as her heavenly Father guides her. She and Vernon have selflessly given so much to me in the short period I have known them.

Vernon is a quiet man who is strong in character. He has a big heart for others and impacts many with the stories of his life and how God impacted it so many years ago. What I know of their life together hasn’t always been easy. It is easy to see their love for each other, their love of God, and Christ's character in both of them.

I am sure they do more than I am aware of as they follow God's heart and love others the best they can.

I watched Rosemary this last year walk through her own cancer story. Even though she has the same desire and needs to go through this treatment for cancer, her focus is on Vernon. The finances are not there for them, especially for both to receive treatment. Over the past several months, I watched and listened to her struggle with how this would work out financially for Vernon to have this treatment while knowing she wouldn’t be able to because of the cost. She questioned if putting out a request for funds on this site was something she was supposed to do. I listened as she struggled with where her faith was in all of this. At the same time, I watched her give money, food, and encouragement to a woman struggling to get her life together. She provided meals to people after surgeries.

Recently they had to go through the journey of Vernon breaking a hip due to the treatment slowly breaking down his body. Each day the stress she is trying to carry all by herself gradually wears her body down as she rests on her faith. Without a thought for herself, she continues to focus on the man of her heart and others.

I desire this will open hearts overflowing with God’s goodness to cover the cost of her treatment and Vernon’s. Not because either of them is remarkable and deserving but because people care about people.

I know the inner battle Rosemary has gone through even to consider asking for help because she and Vernon are givers and have seldom been in the position to ask for assistance humbly; in this case, it is a financial one.

We keep faith that each day is worth living, no matter how difficult the circumstances seem. And that nothing is too small or big to walk through when you know you are not alone.

I can only give a little money, but it is possible when many offer a little. It will become big enough to make these treatments possible.

The first three-day treatment at Reardon Clinic is $7,800.00

The three weeks of treatment is $18,000.00. All follow-up treatment is additional