Help Me Save My Father
Donation protected
I was at work when I received the phone call from home. The time was a little past noon and I was quick to selfishly assume that it was either my mom or my sister calling, yet again at an inconvenient time for me, to chat and catch up.
My sister was on the other end of the line. She spoke to me with the numbest voice I've ever heard her mutter; she told me that my father wanted to speak to me. At this point I was confused and clueless as to what the purpose of the call was. My father started talking; he wasted no time and calmly and methodically explained that he had gone to the doctor for a routine exam and that he was diagnosed with a cacoethes colon cancer that had already metastasized to his liver.
My instinct reaction was to go in denial of what I had just heard and to downplay its criticality. I started muttering questions that barely held any meaning. As it slowly came together and settled in my head, my stomach turned and I started tearing. I knew that I needed to remain strong and optimistic so that I may transfer positive thoughts and words of support to my dad - but I was unable to do so. My father gave me a moment to digest the foul news and continued by explaining to me that he wanted to be the one to break the news to me; he was concerned and upset about how he would break such news to his son who was 6000 miles away.
That’s my father – that’s how he’s always been. Always putting his family and loved ones before everything and constantly worrying about their well-being.
Unsurprisingly, my father’s main concern right now is not about his own health, but rather about staying financially afloat and not burdening his family with debt. Since he will not be able to work for an undeterminable period of time as he goes through treatments, he is concerned that he will not be able to provide for my mom who is already emotionally distressed, and my sister who will not graduate college for another three years. He had already been struggling with the monetary problems the failing Greek economy had brought upon him, but this harrowing event is a guillotine added to his cancer struggle.
I have always admired my father, I have always looked forward to the time where he will become a grandfather to a child bearing his name; to the time where he will help me raise my child as well as he raised me; to the time where my future child, him and I can go fishing together.
My father is an intelligent and proud man; he is quick to give help to those who need it yet adamant about keeping his palms closed when it comes to receiving help.
He would never give his consent for the creation of this crowd-funding plea. However, as a son that admires his father as a hero, I am prepared to go to any lengths to help my father and family as much as I possibly can. For that I need your help.
I want him to be able to focus on his health and treatment so that he may triumph over this terrible illness.
This is my plea to you. Please help me help my father. Please help me spend future holidays with him again. Please maintain positive thoughts for him at the very least if you cannot afford to donate.
From a son for his father.
My dad and my mom:
My dad, my sister and I:
My dad and I on graduation day from Penn State:
My dad and I diving for Octopi in Greece, just this past summer:
This was my Sister's/Dad's 21st birthday message to me (In Greek, but my family's kindness is obvious):
My sister was on the other end of the line. She spoke to me with the numbest voice I've ever heard her mutter; she told me that my father wanted to speak to me. At this point I was confused and clueless as to what the purpose of the call was. My father started talking; he wasted no time and calmly and methodically explained that he had gone to the doctor for a routine exam and that he was diagnosed with a cacoethes colon cancer that had already metastasized to his liver.
My instinct reaction was to go in denial of what I had just heard and to downplay its criticality. I started muttering questions that barely held any meaning. As it slowly came together and settled in my head, my stomach turned and I started tearing. I knew that I needed to remain strong and optimistic so that I may transfer positive thoughts and words of support to my dad - but I was unable to do so. My father gave me a moment to digest the foul news and continued by explaining to me that he wanted to be the one to break the news to me; he was concerned and upset about how he would break such news to his son who was 6000 miles away.
That’s my father – that’s how he’s always been. Always putting his family and loved ones before everything and constantly worrying about their well-being.
Unsurprisingly, my father’s main concern right now is not about his own health, but rather about staying financially afloat and not burdening his family with debt. Since he will not be able to work for an undeterminable period of time as he goes through treatments, he is concerned that he will not be able to provide for my mom who is already emotionally distressed, and my sister who will not graduate college for another three years. He had already been struggling with the monetary problems the failing Greek economy had brought upon him, but this harrowing event is a guillotine added to his cancer struggle.
I have always admired my father, I have always looked forward to the time where he will become a grandfather to a child bearing his name; to the time where he will help me raise my child as well as he raised me; to the time where my future child, him and I can go fishing together.
My father is an intelligent and proud man; he is quick to give help to those who need it yet adamant about keeping his palms closed when it comes to receiving help.
He would never give his consent for the creation of this crowd-funding plea. However, as a son that admires his father as a hero, I am prepared to go to any lengths to help my father and family as much as I possibly can. For that I need your help.
I want him to be able to focus on his health and treatment so that he may triumph over this terrible illness.
This is my plea to you. Please help me help my father. Please help me spend future holidays with him again. Please maintain positive thoughts for him at the very least if you cannot afford to donate.
From a son for his father.
My dad and my mom:
My dad, my sister and I:
My dad and I on graduation day from Penn State:
My dad and I diving for Octopi in Greece, just this past summer:
This was my Sister's/Dad's 21st birthday message to me (In Greek, but my family's kindness is obvious):
Organizer
Panos Pantazis
Organizer
Astoria, NY