Lucas's Unexpected Fight Against Cancer

Treatment

Hello. My name is Angela Tomasello. I am reaching out to friends and family, anyone that knows how difficult a cancer diagnosis can be, I am starting this GoFundMe me page in behalf of a special family I deeply appreciate. Cancer invaded one of my employees family members life, his father Lucas Montgomery is only 39 years old. He is an amazing husband to his wife Jessica and father to his three beautiful children 7, 17 and 21. This diagnosis has shocked Lucas and his family, and his children who never expected that a single Bug /Flu episode would result in such a devastating medical diagnosis.

This is Lucas story and how it all began;

Lucas Montgomery

On the weekend of October 26th, 2024, Lucas started feeling sick, and we thought it was a bug, maybe the flu. Monday and Tuesday came, and he was still in pain in his abdomen. A trip to urgent care Tuesday resulted in minor meds being given, and he was sent home. Hoping the meds would kick in and bring relief soon, he returned to work Wednesday, October 30th.

That evening brought the worst pain yet. Reluctantly, he decided that he would need to go to the emergency room because something was still not right. On Halloween, October 31st, 2024, at noon, we were delivered the horrible news we feared. They found a mass in his stomach, and he needed to go to the operating room right away. The surgery lasted a few hours, and thankfully, he was able to be “put back together” and the tumor was removed. The doctors delivered another shocker, the tumor looked like colon cancer, and the pathology would soon confirm this was the case.

After almost a week in the hospital, he was released to go home on November 6th. A few hours at home, and unfortunately, a new problem showed its colors, and he was rushed back to the emergency department. Apparently, the surgery site had unraveled, and an abscess was present. We made the tough decision to forgo emergency surgery that night, to wait for the original surgeon to come the next morning and discuss. Morning of November 7th, 2024 came and the surgeon visited and said he was glad we waited as there could be another option, they couldn’t do the procedure at Zeeland Hospital but he would work to arrange and see if they could get us transferred. On the evening of November 7th, 2024, Lucas was transferred to Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. There was a doctor willing to look at placing a drain. This would help empty the fluid/gas pocket that had built up. The next morning, he was wheeled back to interventional radiology to place the drain. However, once under radiology, it was determined that a drain could not be done as there was not enough space. Another test later that day confirmed that Lucas’ bowel had an active leak, and major surgery was scheduled for Saturday, November 9th, 2024. The 3-hour surgery resulted in another section of colon removed (30% total has now been removed) and a colostomy bag. Infection had started to set in, so he was also flushed out quite a bit. He is currently recovering at a steady rate, and as of today, November 14th, he is still undergoing tests and recovering.

We've started a GoFundMe page to help Lucas and his beautiful Family going through these tough times. Any donations to help with medical bills are much appreciated. Sharing our page, or even just kind words, would mean the world to them .

Lucas is unable to work, and Jessica is trying to support her family while being along side her husband Lucas bed side. She will not let him do this alone.

Some Family and Friends have stepped up to stay with the children, drive them to school and back home, prepare cooked meals.

What Lucas and Jessica could use now is some help with financial support. They do have health insurance but it’s not enough to cover there expenses. They will quickly fall behind as bills start to add up. We are not certain how much it will end up costing for the Family out of pocket as of today.

Not everyone is able to give, especially during this time of the year with the holidays around the corner. We appreciate any help you could give this wonderful family.

- UPDATE: We went home after a drain was put in on the 15th, they released us on the 16th. We've got many appointments, he went today to see about drain and hoping it would come out but it did not. Hopefully another 7-10 days and then it will. We've got oncologist on 12/6...genetics testing for he and the kiddos in case this is a rare genetic mutation and thats starts 12/30