Phil's cancer fight
Donation protected
Dr. Phil Pannell was diagnosed with aggressive, metastatic prostate cancer in April 2008. He has been a true warrior (with no complaining) and has endured surgery, multiple rounds of chemo, clinical trials, radiation, and two cyber knife procedures since his initial diagnosis. He continued to teach, see patients and fight on - always waiting until the next medication, clinical trial, or procedure that would put his cancer into remission (which never fully happened). He has dealt with oh-so-many side effects along the way and has been so resolute in putting one foot in front of the other in his fight. His family has been amazing in helping and supporting him through this process.
General body functioning had been increasingly difficult since August 2014. Phil had several bouts of fainting that required hospitalization. He has endured multiple hospitalizations at different times for different things. He started a third aggressive chemo in January, 2015 that left him weaker and more compromised. Then in May 2015, he went into Norris USC Cancer center due to nausea. This led to a 7 week in patient stint - with so many tests, side effects and pain that it was almost unbearable to watch. In that time he lost a lot (a lot) of weight, got a feeding tube (first in his nose for 3 weeks and then surgically in his stomach), uses oxygen, and is dealing with significant lymphadema (his legs are so swollen it's difficult to walk), as well as dealing with blood clots that have required 24 hour medical intervention. It's been rough to say the very least.
After 7 weeks at Norris, his insurance dictated that he needed to suddenly switch hospitals and was at Huntington Hospital for 2 weeks. Phil came home on August 6, and everyone is adjusting to the significant level of care that he needs at home. Hospital bed, oxygen tanks, walkers, wheelchairs and other medical equiptment are now installed in the home. His wife, Luann, has been on a family medical leave for over two months from her job as director of police training and education for LAPD. His kids, Taylor (15) and Eric (12) have been shuttled around to different houses at the last minute and have had remarkably good attitudes about it all.
This is a family who needs help. Phil has had to terminate his psychotherapy practice and they are adjusting to having multiple caregivers in and out of the house. The Pannells are such a giving and loving family and at this time they need assistance with mounting medical/pharmacy bills. They need help with home health. And they need some peace of mind as they go through this terrible cancer battle.
Please, please help my friends in any way that you can. It will be appreciated beyond words. Thank you from the bottom of my heart (and all of the Pannell's)
General body functioning had been increasingly difficult since August 2014. Phil had several bouts of fainting that required hospitalization. He has endured multiple hospitalizations at different times for different things. He started a third aggressive chemo in January, 2015 that left him weaker and more compromised. Then in May 2015, he went into Norris USC Cancer center due to nausea. This led to a 7 week in patient stint - with so many tests, side effects and pain that it was almost unbearable to watch. In that time he lost a lot (a lot) of weight, got a feeding tube (first in his nose for 3 weeks and then surgically in his stomach), uses oxygen, and is dealing with significant lymphadema (his legs are so swollen it's difficult to walk), as well as dealing with blood clots that have required 24 hour medical intervention. It's been rough to say the very least.
After 7 weeks at Norris, his insurance dictated that he needed to suddenly switch hospitals and was at Huntington Hospital for 2 weeks. Phil came home on August 6, and everyone is adjusting to the significant level of care that he needs at home. Hospital bed, oxygen tanks, walkers, wheelchairs and other medical equiptment are now installed in the home. His wife, Luann, has been on a family medical leave for over two months from her job as director of police training and education for LAPD. His kids, Taylor (15) and Eric (12) have been shuttled around to different houses at the last minute and have had remarkably good attitudes about it all.
This is a family who needs help. Phil has had to terminate his psychotherapy practice and they are adjusting to having multiple caregivers in and out of the house. The Pannells are such a giving and loving family and at this time they need assistance with mounting medical/pharmacy bills. They need help with home health. And they need some peace of mind as they go through this terrible cancer battle.
Please, please help my friends in any way that you can. It will be appreciated beyond words. Thank you from the bottom of my heart (and all of the Pannell's)
Organizer and beneficiary
Linda Bortell
Organizer
South Pasadena, CA
LuAnn Pannell
Beneficiary