Kermit's Cancer Medical Fund
Donation protected
My name is Krystal daughter of Kermit Swenson. I am starting this GoFundMe account to hopefully raise some money to help my Father with his unexpected medical bills. He was diagnosed with Esophageal and Stomach Cancer on June 4th 2015.
I'd like to give you a little background on this man. He has been together with my Mother Karen Swenson for 40 years. Together they raised 3 children Kyle, Karl and myself. In addition to us, my Father had two other children before my Mother. This was Jeremy and Tarra. He is a wonder, caring, gentle and sweet Grandfather as well. He has 12 Grandchildren who absolutely adore him.
My Father worked in Construction to support his family. He was the hardest working man I'd ever known. I never saw him miss work even when he was sick or had an injury. Supporting his family was TOP priority for him. My Father has not worked for several years after being injured on the job. He was left with no medical insurance. Finally, when he reached 65 years of age his medicare had kicked in. He was trying to be proactive by also purchasing what he thought was a secondary insurance through AARP, but later finding out that it was actually a Replacement plan. He has what's called United Healthcare AARP Medicare Complete Plan 3.
My Dad is not one to complain. He usually is taking care of everyone else that he puts his own problems on the back burner. After several months of feeling like it was getting more and more difficult to swallow and after losing close to 50 pounds my Father agreed to be seen. He was seen by a physician’s assistant at The Vancouver Clinic. She advised my Dad that he would need an Endoscopy. She scheduled him out 7 weeks. That time felt like forever. He was losing 1/4 to 1/2 pound a day.
On June 4th, the endoscopy was performed and we were told that my father has a tumor 6x6cm in his lower esophagus and in his stomach. My Father's first words to me were "I feel like I just got hit by a Bus!" On that day, my daughterly instincts finally kicked in. I was on a mission to make sure he got the proper medical attention needed to beat this CANCER!
9 days later he had a Cat Scan that revealed that the cancer hadn't spread anywhere else. That day I begged the medical professionals to put a feeding tube in my father. I guess I got my point across because he got a call the next morning agreeing to do the surgical procedure that day. My Mother and Brother Karl have been a huge help with making sure my Dad gets his 3 feedings a day.
The first week of July he started his 6 week course of Chemotherapy and Radiation. He seemed to have breezed through these treatments. Just 3 days after completing them the symptoms came on FULL FORCE.
It's now been 1 month or so since his last treatment. It's so terribly sad to see my Father in this condition. He is extremely weak. He has started to use a cane, His poor stomach is upset 24/7. You can just see the pain he's in. He has lost a total of 75 pounds. He doesn't have an ounce of fat on his body. He is starting to lose his hair. I do love that his beautiful blue eyes haven't changed. You can see his soft, genuine, loving soul through those baby blues. I'm grateful that he says "The Good Lord Will Take Care Of Me." That definitely puts my mind at ease a little.
Well, I'll try and sum this up. We go see a surgeon at OHSU tomorrow. He is having a Pet Scan done first thing in the morning before his consult with the doctor. They have said that this is a very intensive surgery. The hardest part is not knowing if my Father is strong enough to recover from it. The previous surgeon we met with mentioned they'll need to remove some of his esophagus as well as all or part of his stomach. He'll need to recover at a nursing facility which could take up to 3 months.
My Mother is on disability and my Father has his social security. Before all of this they were able to make ends meet. Now, with all the unexpected medical bills piling in, they don't know what they're going to do. I know my Father is feeling this stress of not being able to fully provide. right now. Before finding out he had Cancer he was selling things on Ebay to help cover some of the extra household expenses.
I know I'm not the best at writing... I hope that I was able to help you all understand the situation. I plan on updating this as much as possible. Please share this with others. I hope with this GoFundMe account I'll be able to relieve some of the financial stress my Father is feeling during this horrible time. If you can contribute anything at all I can assure you that it's going to help pay his medical bills and household expenses. Please pray for my Father and his upcoming surgery. Please pray that he'll have a quick and full recovery. Lastly, please pray for my Mother and Family.
Love,
The Swenson Family
I'd like to give you a little background on this man. He has been together with my Mother Karen Swenson for 40 years. Together they raised 3 children Kyle, Karl and myself. In addition to us, my Father had two other children before my Mother. This was Jeremy and Tarra. He is a wonder, caring, gentle and sweet Grandfather as well. He has 12 Grandchildren who absolutely adore him.
My Father worked in Construction to support his family. He was the hardest working man I'd ever known. I never saw him miss work even when he was sick or had an injury. Supporting his family was TOP priority for him. My Father has not worked for several years after being injured on the job. He was left with no medical insurance. Finally, when he reached 65 years of age his medicare had kicked in. He was trying to be proactive by also purchasing what he thought was a secondary insurance through AARP, but later finding out that it was actually a Replacement plan. He has what's called United Healthcare AARP Medicare Complete Plan 3.
My Dad is not one to complain. He usually is taking care of everyone else that he puts his own problems on the back burner. After several months of feeling like it was getting more and more difficult to swallow and after losing close to 50 pounds my Father agreed to be seen. He was seen by a physician’s assistant at The Vancouver Clinic. She advised my Dad that he would need an Endoscopy. She scheduled him out 7 weeks. That time felt like forever. He was losing 1/4 to 1/2 pound a day.
On June 4th, the endoscopy was performed and we were told that my father has a tumor 6x6cm in his lower esophagus and in his stomach. My Father's first words to me were "I feel like I just got hit by a Bus!" On that day, my daughterly instincts finally kicked in. I was on a mission to make sure he got the proper medical attention needed to beat this CANCER!
9 days later he had a Cat Scan that revealed that the cancer hadn't spread anywhere else. That day I begged the medical professionals to put a feeding tube in my father. I guess I got my point across because he got a call the next morning agreeing to do the surgical procedure that day. My Mother and Brother Karl have been a huge help with making sure my Dad gets his 3 feedings a day.
The first week of July he started his 6 week course of Chemotherapy and Radiation. He seemed to have breezed through these treatments. Just 3 days after completing them the symptoms came on FULL FORCE.
It's now been 1 month or so since his last treatment. It's so terribly sad to see my Father in this condition. He is extremely weak. He has started to use a cane, His poor stomach is upset 24/7. You can just see the pain he's in. He has lost a total of 75 pounds. He doesn't have an ounce of fat on his body. He is starting to lose his hair. I do love that his beautiful blue eyes haven't changed. You can see his soft, genuine, loving soul through those baby blues. I'm grateful that he says "The Good Lord Will Take Care Of Me." That definitely puts my mind at ease a little.
Well, I'll try and sum this up. We go see a surgeon at OHSU tomorrow. He is having a Pet Scan done first thing in the morning before his consult with the doctor. They have said that this is a very intensive surgery. The hardest part is not knowing if my Father is strong enough to recover from it. The previous surgeon we met with mentioned they'll need to remove some of his esophagus as well as all or part of his stomach. He'll need to recover at a nursing facility which could take up to 3 months.
My Mother is on disability and my Father has his social security. Before all of this they were able to make ends meet. Now, with all the unexpected medical bills piling in, they don't know what they're going to do. I know my Father is feeling this stress of not being able to fully provide. right now. Before finding out he had Cancer he was selling things on Ebay to help cover some of the extra household expenses.
I know I'm not the best at writing... I hope that I was able to help you all understand the situation. I plan on updating this as much as possible. Please share this with others. I hope with this GoFundMe account I'll be able to relieve some of the financial stress my Father is feeling during this horrible time. If you can contribute anything at all I can assure you that it's going to help pay his medical bills and household expenses. Please pray for my Father and his upcoming surgery. Please pray that he'll have a quick and full recovery. Lastly, please pray for my Mother and Family.
Love,
The Swenson Family
Organizer and beneficiary
Krystal McMahon
Organizer
Camas, WA
Kermit Swenson
Beneficiary