Please help Ken Kick Cancer

My name is Jerry Palagian and I am setting up this fundraiser to help my Brother Ken Palagian and his family.

Ken is battling a very serious form of esophageal cancer and is undergoing chemo and radiation treatments and is scheduled for a lengthy surgery to remove the esophagus and then make a new one at the end of March. We are told this is a very lengthy and risky surgery with a long recovery ahead.

Ken has worked all of his life, and for the past 30 years as a long haul truck driver and takes pride in rarely needing to accept help from anyone. Ken and his wife would not normally reach out for help because that is just who they are. However, with this condition, working is no longer an option for the foreseeable future. I know Ken may not have wanted to reach out for help, but the reality is, it has become necessary in order to cover some of the expenses related to his treatment and to help out with day to day life needs until he gets through this process, recovers and hopefully returns to work. To make matters worse, the company Ken works for cancelled his short term disability coverage because of the increase in payroll taxes levied by the federal government recently. This in turn leaves him with very little financial support to keep up with household expenses, and to pay for the expenses for the numerous trips to Regina and Saskatoon for Dr's appointments, tests and treatments. As anyone who has had a loved one go through this process knows all too well, all of this is extremely costly and no matter who you are, the costs are punishing at absolutely the worst time of one's life. Ken has been off of work since the middle of October and will be off for at least the next several months leaving them to fall even further behind which is causing an enormous amount of stress for their family on top of battling a very serious life threatening form of cancer.

Ken is in the fight of his life and we would like him to be able to concentrate on his treatment and recovery and not have to to worry quite as much about bills and how they will afford to travel for medical care he desperately needs.

Ken, his wife, their son and their 18 month old grandson who also live with them part time would be benefit greatly from not only the financial support, but also emotionally and mentally to get some relief from the financial pressures involved.

This whole situation has taken a tremendous toll on Ken and his family and any amount would help tremendously. Thank you for taking the time to read Ken’s story.