The malignancy known as cancer has struck many great human beings, and this time it has afflicted someone very close to me; my father.

Hi, my name is Taylor Piplar and I am fundraising for my dad, Brad Piplar. Around March 2024, he was diagnosed with a rare form of stage 4a throat cancer. The cancer started in his tonsils and has spread to his lymph nodes in his neck as well. He is currently getting a seven weeks of daily radiation and chemo once a week at Lacks Cancer Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A few weeks into his treatments, he completely lost his sense of taste, has had consistent vomiting, his hair has fallen out, he has lost a ton of weight, and he has open sores covering his whole mouth and throat, making it impossible for him to drink or eat without severe pain. The doctors are debating putting him on a feeding tube because he is constantly vomiting and in pain. Due to radiation, the skin on his head and neck is also extremely sensitive, resembling a horrible sunburn. Furthermore, he has additional complications that landed him in the emergency room requiring further tests and scans.

Along with the burden of having cancer, the medical bills are becoming another stressor and fear. My father has been trying to get short-term disability through his place of employment, but it got denied. The financial burden on top of the medical burden has caused our family lots of hardship and dread. Even though I do my best to help when I can, I am in college, and have tuition and other bills to pay. While my mom, Heather Piplar, still works, she has been having to take time off work to take care of my dad.

Luckily, just before his diagnosis, my dad upgraded our insurance plan because my mom and I were having medical issues and my dad was concerned; now the tables have turned. Furthermore, he rarely ever got sick and needed to go to the doctor. Even with insurance, it does not cover everything and my parents are struggling to make ends meet.

As a family, we can't do this alone, and we need any help we can get. If anyone decides to donate, anything helps, and 100% of the funds will go straight to my father's bills. The Piplar family thanks anyone and everyone who takes the time to donate and to hear my dads story.