Join Bill Barnhart's Fight Against Cancer

My name is Christina Barnhart. This wonderful man in the picture is my dad, Bill Barnhart. My dad had been having some pain and swelling in his right knee that has gotten progressively worse. A few weeks ago I was thinking about my dad while I was out running some errands. Lo and behold I run into him at Walmart that day! He told me he was having some pain and had been for awhile but was able to treat with with shots in his knee and back for it. He said the last time, it didn’t work so well. When he went home that day, he got out of the car and his knee gave out on him. He fell, hitting the side of the car and fractured some ribs. My amazing stepmom took him to the emergency room and found out he broke a few ribs on the right side. The news that came next has turned their lives upside down. My dad was diagnosed with cancer. Things started moving quickly and the oncologist sent him for numerous tests. He saw his oncologist after the tests and it turns out the cancer is stage 3 or 4. He will need a lung biopsy done soon as there is a spot on his lung. We are not sure where it originated or much else as of right now but what we do know is we all have quite the journey ahead of us.

Since then, my dad, who is 70, has had to quite working. All the financial burden is now falling on my stepmom and, as you can imagine she is already stressed. I got permission from them to set up this go fund me to help offset some of the upcoming expenses they will face. There will be numerous doctors appointments, tests, tests, and more tests and whatever else comes with this. This has been a huge shock for myself, my siblings, and most of all my dad and stepmom.

We aren’t the type to ask for help but anything is appreciated. Even if you can just share this and help get the word out. I will update this as we find out more. Thank you all so much for your thoughts, prayers and donations.

Update on dad:

He has been in and out of the hospital since June 1st. As of right now he’s been there since last Friday. He is in ICU. He went in with low blood sugars (it wouldn’t stay up). He was okay but was lethargic. He was coughing up brown mucus as well and was shivering but did not have a temp. Here is what we have found out so far; his platelets were very low. He has received numerous platelet transfusions. His hemoglobin was low so he also received blood transfusions. He kept dropping his blood pressure so he had been on and off a medication to help him keep his blood pressure up. He had 3 different bacteria in his blood and has what is called bacteremia. He is getting antibiotics 2x a day. He has had a scope and they didn’t find any bleeding so we aren’t sure why his blood counts were so low. We do know he has stage 4 small cell carcinoma of the lung. It had metastasized to the bone and other areas of the body. He is in a lot of pain and they are trying to keep him as comfortable as possible with norco and today, morphine. I’m sad to say he has told the doctors that if his heart stops he does not want resuscitated. I get it but myself and my family were not prepared for that. Bills are adding up and my stepmom is the only source of income. She could desperately use your donations. Even if it’s $1 anything helps. We are not sure where this is going to go from here. Please keep my family and dad in your thoughts and prayers. I will keep everyone updated as we learn more.