My Dad's Fight Against Cancer
Donativo protegido
My dad’s name is Jon Garber. He is 46 years old, husband to Bridget and father to me (19), Karleigh (16), Kendall (14) and Clayton (5).
A year ago, he was active in his church, coaching his kids sports teams, and working his own business plus two other jobs to support our family. At six feet tall, he weighed about 220 pounds.
Last fall, he started losing weight, but he was trying to eat better so he didn’t think much about it until it didn’t stop.
In February, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Esophageal Cancer. His only symptoms were weight loss and difficulty swallowing. A mass inside his esophagus was making it almost impossible for food to pass to his stomach. He began throwing up nearly every day.
We were all in shock. My dad was a very active, pretty healthy guy who never smoked or drank alcohol (the biggest risk factors for this type of cancer). He didn’t even eat spicy food.
Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital gave him a treatment plan that included six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. The pain and weakness from these treatments made it impossible for him to work, and he lost even more weight. He now weighs 140 pounds.
Following treatment, the doctors said the next step is a very complicated and dangerous surgery to remove his esophagus and stretch his stomach up to his throat. He would be put on a feeding tube and be in lots of pain. The cure rate with surgery is only 30 percent, and two out of every 80 patients do not make it out of the operating room alive.
After doing lots of research and watching tons of documentaries, my dad, with the support of our family, found an alternate place to receive treatment. It is called Infusio, a clinic in Germany. It has an 80-85% cure rate and does not involve surgery.
Treatment is five weeks long and uses no harmful procedures that could leave him dead on the operating table. It would not make him lose more weight and would not give him harmful chemicals and drugs. It would give him all natural supplements that would heal his body and strengthen his immune system that way his body could fight the cancer naturally. My dad, along with our entire family, believes that this is the safest and best option to have his cancer cured.
The only downside to this treatment is the cost: $50,000 plus. That’s a lot of money for a family whose dad has been out of work for five months. Insurance will not pay for treatments outside the U.S., so, unfortunately, this would all have to come out of pocket. With the help of your donation, we will be able to send him to Germany for the treatments he needs to get better, or send him to clinics around the area if the full amount is not reached.
My dad has always found a way to take care of my family through the good and bad times. He would do anything for me like any great father would. He has done things for me that I will never be able to repay him for. I would not be able to imagine a day go by without him in my life. I love him so very much.
Please do not feel obliged to give, but any sacrifice you feel moved to make will help my dad tremendously. We believe Germany is the safest and best hope for him to beat this disease!
Regardless of whether or not you donate, please pray for my dad and our family as we fight this battle.
Thank you very much for whatever can do.
-Sincerely, Noah (Jon’s Son)
If you would like to read updates about my dad, please see Jon Garber’s Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/jon.garber.338 .
If you would like to find out more about the clinic, click here - https://www.infusio.org/programs/cancer/
A year ago, he was active in his church, coaching his kids sports teams, and working his own business plus two other jobs to support our family. At six feet tall, he weighed about 220 pounds. Last fall, he started losing weight, but he was trying to eat better so he didn’t think much about it until it didn’t stop.
In February, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Esophageal Cancer. His only symptoms were weight loss and difficulty swallowing. A mass inside his esophagus was making it almost impossible for food to pass to his stomach. He began throwing up nearly every day.
We were all in shock. My dad was a very active, pretty healthy guy who never smoked or drank alcohol (the biggest risk factors for this type of cancer). He didn’t even eat spicy food.
Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital gave him a treatment plan that included six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. The pain and weakness from these treatments made it impossible for him to work, and he lost even more weight. He now weighs 140 pounds.
Following treatment, the doctors said the next step is a very complicated and dangerous surgery to remove his esophagus and stretch his stomach up to his throat. He would be put on a feeding tube and be in lots of pain. The cure rate with surgery is only 30 percent, and two out of every 80 patients do not make it out of the operating room alive.
After doing lots of research and watching tons of documentaries, my dad, with the support of our family, found an alternate place to receive treatment. It is called Infusio, a clinic in Germany. It has an 80-85% cure rate and does not involve surgery.
Treatment is five weeks long and uses no harmful procedures that could leave him dead on the operating table. It would not make him lose more weight and would not give him harmful chemicals and drugs. It would give him all natural supplements that would heal his body and strengthen his immune system that way his body could fight the cancer naturally. My dad, along with our entire family, believes that this is the safest and best option to have his cancer cured.
The only downside to this treatment is the cost: $50,000 plus. That’s a lot of money for a family whose dad has been out of work for five months. Insurance will not pay for treatments outside the U.S., so, unfortunately, this would all have to come out of pocket. With the help of your donation, we will be able to send him to Germany for the treatments he needs to get better, or send him to clinics around the area if the full amount is not reached.
My dad has always found a way to take care of my family through the good and bad times. He would do anything for me like any great father would. He has done things for me that I will never be able to repay him for. I would not be able to imagine a day go by without him in my life. I love him so very much.
Please do not feel obliged to give, but any sacrifice you feel moved to make will help my dad tremendously. We believe Germany is the safest and best hope for him to beat this disease!
Regardless of whether or not you donate, please pray for my dad and our family as we fight this battle.
Thank you very much for whatever can do.
-Sincerely, Noah (Jon’s Son)
If you would like to read updates about my dad, please see Jon Garber’s Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/jon.garber.338 .
If you would like to find out more about the clinic, click here - https://www.infusio.org/programs/cancer/
Organizador
Noah Garber
Organizador
Quakertown, PA