Join us in John's Fight

I want to tell you about a man named John Gafney, a man who has always given more to the world than he ever took. He’s the kind of man who is willing to give the shirt off his back to anyone in need, and who has done this more times than I can count in my lifetime. He can walk into a grocery store for a gallon of milk and walk out best friends with the manager and plans to play a round of golf with the cashier. That’s just who he is as a person. He’s the one who stops his car to help someone change their tire on the side of the road or the man who volunteers his time to hand out meals to the elderly early in the morning before work. He’s the volunteer coach who steps in to make sure the kids learn to love the game. He’s the boss that stayed late to help a struggling employee learn. He’s the first to open his home to anyone in need, and I can’t tell you how many animals he and his wife have rescued. He’s the father who worked three jobs so his daughter could go to a private school. He’s the husband who worked every day to give his wife the retirement she always wanted. He’s a protector, a hard worker, and a fighter for those he loves. He’s the kind of friend everyone wants and truly needs in their life. He’s done all this with a smile on his face and he’s never asked for anything in return. No one is perfect, but of this I am certain: John Gafney is a man of character and humility. He married a woman who embodies strength, love, and compassion. And together they represent everything that is good in this world. So as their only daughter, I ask you now to please consider helping them during the biggest fight of their lives.

John was recently diagnosed with stage 3 cancer which has spread to one of his lymph nodes. Due to the location and size of the cancer, it is currently medically inoperable. He has begun his first cycle of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. His treatment will consist of radical radiation every day, Monday through Friday, and chemotherapy once a week. There is concern he could lose his ability to swallow and even speak, so he will also need physical and speech-language rehabilitation care. The hospital and these additional services are located over an hour away from his current residence. With the travel distance and price of gas alone, this will be extremely time consuming and burdensome financially, not to mention the additional out of pocket expenses for medical bills.

It may be one thing to show kindness, but it’s entirely different to be touched by it. Whether or not you are able to bless John and Karen financially, I ask you to please keep them in your prayers. I believe God can and will take care of the rest!

“In this family, no one fights alone!”