our dad- Stephen Rock

Hi everyone,

Tilly and Amelia here! we’re creating this GoFundMe for our incredible dad, Stephen Rock/ Steve or even some might still know him as Rocky! (Very 90’s) or Papa Rock!

Recently, our world was turned upside down. The past two months have been gruelling to say the least. On Easter Saturday Dad ended up in A&E with severe stomach pains and from there was admitted for a week where he underwent extensive tests to figure out what was going on as well as a stent being inserted his liver duct due to dad being the colour of big bird!

The doctors were worried and so were we but at this point we had no inclination on what we were about to discover. We were told there are numerous lesions on his liver duct that were potentially malignant. Due to his age and fitness we were offered treatment through the Royal Liverpool from which an operation was going to be conducted. Since he left hospital dad went through more tests and procedures and then we were very much left in the dark for a month or so with no referral from Liverpool or much contact from the Maelor.

We then received notice of an appointment in Wrexham to discover the findings of the MANY tests he had. We were praying they had found that they were not malignant and therefore maybe could receive treatment at home in Wrexham, how wrong were we. Being brought into a room with two MacMillan nurses with solemn looks on their faces we knew we might not be receiving the news we longed for. On the 19th May were told unfortunately the cancer had spread to his liver and therefore any further treatment would no longer be offered as dad had been officially diagnosed with stage 4 terminal pancreatic and liver cancer. This diagnosis means that he will now be receiving palliative care at home with both us girls there to care and support him. As devastating as this is, we are focusing on making the most of the precious time we have left together.

Since we have received his diagnosis we would like to raise funds for a few deeply important reasons. Although we both have steady incomes, it’s the unexpected and mounting expenses that have become overwhelming costs we simply couldn’t have prepared for. With Dad finishing work, our financial situation has changed dramatically, and it’s in this difficult moment that we’re reaching out for support...

• To help cover day-to-day bills and expenses, as Dad will soon stop working as his condition will decline.

• To begin preparing for funeral costs, which Dad wants to plan himself with us—as part of his final wishes.

• To have a headstone made for both Mum and Dad as he had requested for his ashes to be buried with our mum.

• With anything left over we want to take Dad on a final holiday, giving us all one last memory together filled with joy, laughter, and love. This is all taking into consideration dads health and insurances, if not a UK break will be just as amazing!

As a family, we are doing everything we can to stay strong and support each other as we don’t know how much time we have left with him (we still haven’t been given any time frame on how long we have, but we know from how aggressive is we know we don’t have too long).

Dad is about to begin chemotherapy within the next month to help slow the process down which will hopefully give us some extra time together. We know the road ahead will be tough but we are willing to do anything it takes to make dad’s end of life care as easy and pain free as possible.

If you can donate anything, no matter how small, it will mean the world to us. We want to raise as much as possible so dad can worry less about money and to give him peace of mind that most things will be taken care of.

We also ask if you pray, please keep us in your prayers. If you don’t, we’d be so grateful for your love, good thoughts, or just holding space for us a family in your heart. It truly means the world to us as we navigate this incredibly difficult time.

This will also help us give dad the peace, comfort, and dignity he deserves.

With love,

Amelia & Tilly

xxxx