Tim's Cancer Fund

A little over a year ago, Tim had what everyone would have believed was a routine dental procedure to have a tooth removed. Little did any of us know or expect, he would soon be in a fight for his life. 

Shortly after the tooth removal Tim began to experience complications. On December 22, 2016 he was diagnosed with Squamous cell carcinoma of his gum. This cancer is commonly referred to as dippers or smokers cancer, of which Tim has never been a user of either.   Tim had multiple procedures in an attempt to remove the affected areas, only to have the cancer re-mass. Tim has battled multiple rounds of 5 - FU chemo treatments.  The 5-FU has a high toxicity level, with a wide range of side effects, requiring hospital stay for the first rounds of treatment.  Tim described his results as reducing the tumor to the size of a smoked almond.

Tim’s next steps were to travel to Houston for removal of a portion of his jaw and resection followed by a skin graft of the impacted areas. Hurricane Harvey had a different plan and he was forced to turn around and go home.  Back in Phoenix on Tuesday September 12, Tim had had his jaw removed and reconstructed with titanium. Much of the soft tissue on the right side of his neck was removed and replaced with graft from his leg. The surgery was a grueling twenty plus hour procedure.  I have lost count of the number of procedures and days in the hospital that Tim has endured.

Tim has had multiple complications post-surgery and additional surgery to remove a minor infection.  The donor site on his leg is suffering with delayed healing.  His uphill battle continues as he faces several rounds of radiation treatment.

Medical and living expenses for Tim and Kari continue to be a burden during this time of need.  Tim has been unable to work, unable to collect Social Security disability or unemployment to assist in off-setting day to day and medical expenses.

Your donations will provide Tim and Kari additional hope and strength that the devastating emotional toll has taken.  Tim has the fight to beat this, a wife with unwavering support, family, friends like no other, with hope anything is possible.