No One Asks For Cancer

No one asks for cancer. No one knows why someone “gets” cancer. Someone goes through life happy and healthy one day and then develops a lump. The lump gets larger. Then another lump develops. Then the lumps start hurting, and the pain worsens each day. The pain makes it difficult to work. The pain is so … bad. And experiencing this and feeling all alone.

Hi, my name is George, and I speak on behalf of our family here at Fare Restaurant. We work with Vernon, and we love him and have seen him go from a vibrant and healthy man to someone who is doubled over in pain. We did not know that in order to work, he would wrap himself up with bandages to withstand the pain. We did not realize how much pain he was in because he was always happy and smiling. We knew something was wrong when we saw the lump growing on the left side of his neck. Vernon is one of the nicest people – always a kind word and a smile. He never speaks poorly of anyone. He makes us smile and laugh. He is unassuming and genuine. A kind-hearted soul living in a material world.

Vernon is a manager/server at our restaurant. Like many in the food service industry, Vernon does not have health insurance. Right now, he is on Medicaid. He is receiving minimal treatment. His sister is advocating and working hard on his behalf to communicate with the doctors, manage pain medication, get things in order for him, and make sure he is eating. The pain is making it hard. We want to help Vernon pay his rent, pay his pain medication, pay for food, and pay for basic household supplies. We realize that we need help from our community.

No, Vernon did not prepare for unforeseen medical conditions. For five months, he tried to weather the pain – not letting anyone know what was happening to him. Two weeks ago, he went to an urgent care clinic in his neighborhood and was told he needed to see a physical therapist, but he would need a pre-authorization. He reached out to his sister about physicians who could do a pre-authorization for him. She gave him a list – he did not tell her about his condition. He weathered it out for the next couple of days. Then last week, his friend came by for a visit, and she saw the lumps. They went to the ER and told his sister about what was happening – the lumps.

Tests were run and … he has cancer.

Right now, his pain keeps increasing, and he has to take pain medication more frequently. He tries to stay positive and happy, but the pain gets so bad that he cries. As Vernon keeps a positive attitude through the pain, we want to ensure his rent is paid, he has funds for his pain medication, food, and basic household supplies. We have created this GoFundMe page to help Vernon.

Please help us help Vernon. Please pray for Vernon and his family. Please consider making a donation to help this kind man – a man that we love dearly and wish only the best for him.

We would love to tell Vernon that he does not have to go all alone in this world and that kind, compassionate people wish him well.

Thank you,

Fare's Family