Mom and Arlen through his cancer journey

Hi everyone, My name is Bianca, daughter of Val and step-daughter to Arlen. As many of you know he has been battling Throat Cancer since the beginning of April. He was told he had strep throat and was sent home with anti-biodics but mom knew better and kept fighting and advocating for him and taking him back to emerg in Whitecourt again and again He was sent to Hinton for a scan and it was that scan that determined what she was dreading so badly but deep down knew that it was that horrible C word. Stage 4. Within days he wasn't able to eat or drink anything without choking on it. When he was admitted to the U of A he went though two initial procedures, one for a Tracheotomy and then a feeding tube through his stomach. Since then it has been at times, a nightmare. We have lost count of how many hospital trips to Whitecourt and Edmonton. Mostly Edmonton. Having to drag this poor soul back and forth with what seems like constantly is heartbreaking to say the least. Watching what he and my mom are both going through is gut wrenching. He's weak and can't walk far on his own. He cant speak well and if he does it's hard and it hurts. He is now on oxygen as well. He hates the hospitals and just wants to be in his home with my mom. He doesn't deserve to go through this wicked awful disease, nobody does. He wants to live for his family, he wants to be on his ride on lawn mower again and he wants to be in his garage building all the wood projects again.

They are seniors and living on their tiny pensions. If you know my mom you know she didn't want to ask for help. She will drive around town to family and pick up all of our bottles for gas, milk and bread money and is the biggest penny pincher I know, but after three months of this she realises that it's okay to ask for a little help sometimes. The liquid nutrients (food) he takes isn't covered, some of his medications are not covered and some of the supplies he needs for his trach are not covered either. (When he is not in the hospital) He is hoping to have the big surgery in about another week and bit but they would like to see the sucreation in his throat/ungs dissipate first so fingers crossed that happens. After that he'll have a long and painful road a head of him. It isn't known until during surgery if he will ever be able to eat again or will have to have the feeding tube as well as a voice box for the rest of his life. The food, travel, medical expenses and a place to stay for mom after the surgery will be a lot. Mom doesn't drive in the city and we all can't be there with her the whole time to take her back and forth so we're hoping we can find her somewhere close. I know that this economy is hard, so hard but any bit will help and we would appreciate it so so much and be forever grateful. And if you can't help financially, we understand but instead could you please say some prayers for Arlen? Thank-you for taking the time to read this. xxx

Bianca