Larry’s Fight Against Leukemia

After spending 39 years working all across the country for government and military nuclear power plants, my father Larry, finally took a permanent position in Mississippi. This meant that he and my mother, Mary, would never have to move again and could retire in a home that they loved and create relationships within a church and community that they wouldn’t have to leave. Within two months of settling down though, he was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), but we were told that this type of leukemia could be controlled and he was placed on what is called, “watch and wait” to see what happens…. this went on for four years. During this time, he changed his diet, explored many homeopathic remedies, began engaging in more physical activity, prayed fervently over his diagnosis, and praised the Lord throughout every twist and turn.

In March of 2023, he began coughing and experiencing extreme labored breathing and fatigue. He was told by a doctor in Mississippi to not to worry about it…. but by April, it got so bad that he reached out to CLL specialists at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, and scheduled an appointment for May. At this appointment, they drained 2 liters of fluid from his right lung, biopsied it, and told him that he had developed Malignant Pleural Effusion due to the CLL and that the doctors in Mississippi were VERY VERY wrong and that they needed to explore immediate treatment options!

Praise God that he qualified for a clinical trial that is very promising and was scheduled to begin on June 15th…. however, he didn’t make it that far. It got really hard to breathe again and so on June 5th, he called his medical team at MD Anderson, and they said that he needed to come in as soon as possible or go to a local ER… it was very late in the evening already, so they were planning on just risking it and leaving in the morning instead. ((But God))

That night, before they called and told me their plans, I was putting my kids to bed and felt this overwhelming urge to sing them a hymn that my dad used to sing to my sisters and I when we were little instead of their normal bedtime songs. I thought it was weird, but I sang it to my kids and didn’t think anything more of it. The hymn goes like this:
“As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after thee. You alone are my hearts desire, and I long to worship thee. You alone are my strength, my shield, to you alone will my spirit yield. You alone are my hearts desire, and I long to worship thee.. etc”

My parents called me about an hour later and told me what was going on, but that they wanted to wait until the morning to leave. I was floored!!! I told them that I thought the Lord put that song on my heart for a reason and that they should just leave right away. They agreed and bless my mom’s heart, she drove 6 hours, through the night, with my dad wheezing and coughing next to her, with us checking in on her to make sure they made it there safe. Thank God they arrived when they did, because upon arriving, they had to drain 2 more liters of fluid from around his right lung and placed a catheter to continue the draining. He probably wouldn’t have made it more than a few more days with how rapidly the fluid was building up; it would’ve suffocated him! If he had stayed in Mississippi, the doctors probably would’ve continued to dismiss it, which is why get to MD Anderson was so important!

That was June 6th and on the 8th, he is starting full treatment and the clinical trial medicine. This includes several medications and infusions. They were blessed in finding a couple who houses cancer patients undergoing treatment at MD Anderson, in a small detached home on their property. They have been so kind, communicative and hospitable, and even prayed over them when they checked in and already had their room ready when they called and said they had to come earlier than expected! Praise the Lord for His blessings!!!

Their whole lives, they have planned and saved for retirement… CLL was not part of that plan, and while he has good insurance that will cover most everything, there will still be co-pays, percentages that insurance won’t cover, new living expenses, and all of the things that come with leaving his full time job, their home, and living in Houston for at a minimum of two months while he undergoes this extensive treatment. After that, if his body and the CLL accepts the treatment and things go well, he will be able to return home to Mississippi to continue the pills and infusions at a local hospital for upwards of 9 months.

He has no idea if he will be able to work again after this. Short term disability will only last for the next five weeks and that will be at 100% of his salary. Then, he will get another seven weeks at 65% of his salary. After that, well he just doesn’t know…. Cancer is EXPENSIVE and insurance only covers so much. What they’re expected to pay and is already beginning to reach in to the tens of thousands long term.

With their permission, I’ve set up this GoFundMe page and also a Facebook page that I will post updates about his cancer journey too. We are asking for monetary help and we know that God will without a doubt provide that… but so much more than that, we are asking for our prayer warriors to come alive and pray for:
1 - supernatural healing over his body
2 - divine wisdom for his medical team
3 - peace and comfort for my momma, myself, sisters, extended family, and friends
4 - this journey to be used for God’s glory

Everything we go through can be used to reach those who are lost and hurting. I know that God HAS and WILL work through this battle and I ask that you will be a part of this journey with my family and I. Thank you for reading and God be with you!