Kicking Cancer With Kevin

Hello, and let me start by thanking you for your time and for simply clicking the link to read this. My name is Kass, and for those of you who don’t already know my father, Kevin, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Non Small Cell Metastatic Lung Cancer that had spread to the brain and surrounding lymph nodes.

In early October my Dad’s doctor sent him for a CT scan for some throat and chest issues he had been dealing with. This is a man I have viewed as indestructible my entire life, from terrible accidents that should’ve killed him, to the devastating blow of burying his son, he has and can survive anything. Nonetheless, this man NEVER skips a beat, misses work, or gets sick, so you can imagine the shock wave it sent through all of us when we received a call that told us a large malignant mass was found in his chest and had spread to surrounding areas. He knew then that he was in yet another fight for his life.

Through the next couple weeks he dealt with several severe complications from seemingly routine and simple procedures. From a failed bronchoscopy that lead to a CT guided biopsy to a punctured lung which later collapsed. After a chest tube, constant high-flow oxygen and a 4 day hospital stay he was finally stable enough to go home. With the pain from the tumors plus the pain of the chest tube, he was discharged with a list of prescriptions and an even bigger list of restrictions to follow. Unable to lift anything heavier than 5 lbs and to pretty much be on bed rest while the incision healed. A few days later another scary complication! He had suffered an upper GI bleed from all the different medications he was and was admitted to the hospital. Again another 4 day stay, one of which being his birthday, and left with another list of prescriptions and restrictions.

The days to follow did not get much better. After a week of nerves and anxiety the results of the MRI & PET Scan came in. The result: Stage 3 Metastatic Non Small Cell Lung Cancer that had spread to the brain and surrounding lymph nodes with larger and more masses than we were expecting.Through the course of the next couple days my dad prepared to start chemotherapy and radiation not only on his chest but also on his brain.

The list of complications continues, but this one was the worst to date. After starting the brain radiation and one round of chemo he had a crippling seizure; which is a common side effect, yet anti seizure meds were not on his list of prescriptions. The seizure was so severe that it brought him to the ground from a standing position where his head bounced off the ground 3 very hard times and he lost consciousness for about 15 minutes. Confused and disoriented, the paramedics got him to the ER where the team there quickly determined he had a grade 3 concussion and had lost function of his right hand and leg.This took away his ability to do anything on his own and for at least a week it was medically necessary for someone to be with him at all times. You see, the radiation and the concussion were both in the same area of the brain that controls and allows your extremities to function.

The following week he returned to chemo and radiation which only prolonged the healing process from all of the previous complications. As weeks went by each chemo treatment felt worse than the last and it took longer to recover from each one, the worst part was, the hand and leg still were not functional. He still could not drive, write, or walk more than across the room on his own, let alone continue to work.

But hope was not lost and finally in the beginning of January the first end goal was reached. The final days of chemo and radiation!! After chemo you inevitably get sick before it gets better. Once the sickness wore off and he was starting to feel a little better, slowly his hand and leg did too! They still aren't great by any means, but neither is the rest of his body, but it is a symbol of hope!

On January 19th the results of the MRI on the brain came back with good and bad news. The largest of the two tumors in the brain shrunk, while the smaller one was completely gone. However 3 more small tumors appeared. The doctors are hopeful that just a little more radiation will clear those out and that's exactly what he did. January 27th the very same day he restarted radiation he received a surprising message from his boss. In the months that my dad was unable to fulfill his duties in his career, the company had made difficult choice to finally lay him off. Now with all of this weighing on his mind it was time for the agonizing wait for the results of the chest scan.

The results came in on February 2nd and we learned that the largest mass on the lung had shrunk by 50% and all of the other tumors had gotten smaller but were not completely gone. My dad was also officially cleared to return to work with little to no restrictions. Great timing right?

So this is why I turn to you, friends, family and friends of our friends and family to find it in your heart to help my dad fight his fight. Every little bit helps and if you can find it in your heart to help my Dad, we would greatly appreciate it.