It’s the word you think you and your family will never hear…cancer. On May 11th, 2022 that word turned our family’s world upside down.

 

It was a normal Monday on May 9th, we all went about our day. Dad woke up with some chest pain and didn’t feel quite right. Knowing he was traveling the next day, he decided to take himself to the ER to make sure everything was ok. The news was the farthest thing anyone was expecting to hear. During his initial chest MRI, the technician accidentally took a picture a little too low, but that accidental image is what will save our Dads life. During review, they noticed a mass on his left kidney. He was immediately admitted. After numerous tests and anxious waiting, we finally got the call no one ever wants to get....cancer. Renal (Kidney) Cancer on his left kidney. Before we even had time to process this news, we went right to work setting up consultations, more tests, researching , etc. Nothing will stop us from getting the best care!

 

As of today, about a month after getting the news, our Dads surgery to remove his kidney and a part of his renal vein is scheduled for Friday, June 17th through Fox Chase Cancer center. We know it is Stage 3 localized.

 

We decided to create this as a way to help our parents from this sudden emotional, mental and unexpected huge financial burden. As some may know, our Dad is an independent Government Contractor with the Army. This means he pays for his own health insurance for him and our mom. They currently use a ministry health sharing plan, which not a lot of hospitals and health care facilities recognize, which is already causing a stack of medical bills for my parents.

 

Please know, we do not expect anything, this is just to hopefully help where we can for our amazing parents! All we truly ask is to keep our Dad in your thoughts and prayers as our family goes through this journey.

 

If you know my Dad, you know he has a story for everything...lets add the story about kicking cancers ass!!!!

 

Love,

Mike Jr., Jennina, Shelbi