Restore Hope: Larry's Fight to Walk Again

Friends, family and anyone who knows our beloved Larry,

I never thought I’d be sitting here writing these words. Our family’s world has been turned upside down with the recent medical events that have rapidly succeeded for my grandfather. Around Easter 2025, some mild imbalance in his walking quickly evolved into countless falls, body numbness and near complete loss of his lower body functions. On May 19, 2025, after no sign of help from his primary care team, we begged him to go to the Emergency Room as his symptoms were rapidly progressing, so he did. After numerous scans, a biopsy of his brain and conflicting medical opinions, we learned that my grandfather has a rare and aggressive cancer called, Melanocyte. On June 30, 2025, he completed his 10th round of radiation treatment while still in the hospital 42 days later. On the same day, prayers were answered when we found out my grandfather was accepted into Casa Colina, after a long battle over his medical insurance. He has since been in their care, receiving orthopedic therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy. On July 12, 2025, we learned the radiation treatment was effective and shrunk both his brain tumors. While basking in the wonderful news, we couldn’t help but wonder about the glaring question for my grandfather… why is he still unable to move from the waist down? Above all else, and the hard battles won in such a short time, we know my grandfather’s greatest wish is to be able to walk again. We remain left with many unanswered questions, one of those questions being where he will go next since we were just told he can no longer stay at Casa Colina. While they have been extremely valuable for his mental and physical well-being, they have concluded that they can no longer help him, as his symptoms far exceed what is workable within their care. We are not giving up hope for him, as he is the greatest man any of us have ever known and deserves more. We could never fully express our gratitude for your continued love, support, thoughts and prayers. When my grandfather was first given this news his words were, “I have a lot of faith.” His statement alone describes the man that he is and just how meaningful faith can be for the human spirit. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for your faith and for any help you can and are willing to offer. The medical expenses are quickly starting to pile, and this is only the beginning of a long fight ahead. My grandfather is the most humble, hard-working and generous man who never asks anyone for anything. Even during his most trying days, we have had to beg him to speak up about his needs. Our pleading has proven unsuccessful, because he simply won’t ask for a thing, but his granddaughter will for him. Please know that I would not ask for help if I did not believe it was absolutely necessary during this difficult time. Thank you all for taking the time to read this. I will do my best to keep you all updated with what is to come.

July 26, 2025

To anyone reading,

There are no words to adequately express my and my family’s gratitude for everyone’s generosity towards my grandfather. Times are anything but easy for him right now. I always say, God works through people and you all are proof of that. Seeing the outpouring of love and support for him is an indescribable feeling. Thank you from my core for donating to help ease some of the financial burden of fighting this horrible disease.

Update on my grandfather:

He is currently in a nursing facility in Fontana. One that he and my grandma dreaded the idea of due to past experiences with their family members being there. However, it was the only one with a bed for him the night Casa Colina discharged him. My grandfather knows this is only temporary and said he can do anything for a few weeks while my family explores better options. While it hasn’t been long that he has been there, it certainly has been eventful, with an emergency transport to Kaiser. While he is back at the nursing facility and okay, it is safe to say that place is no good for him.

For some brighter news, he had his first appointment with his Oncology team to get established on Thursday, July 24, 2025. While nothing happens quickly and everything requires the approval of his insurance, my family left the appointment feeling hopeful. Hopeful for a plan and hopeful for my grandfather to experience a better life with the right help.

It is safe to say the cancer is living in his back. However, more scans need to be conducted in order to pin point where exactly the next round of radiation treatment needs to target. He has no movement in his lower body, which makes it quite difficult to get to his appointments, among many other day to day necessities. To think he has not complained once is pretty astounding, to say the least. He has said, “I sure hate this”, and apologizes to my grandma that this is happening. It is absolutely heartbreaking but his spirit is unlike any other.

Thank you for reading and for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate you all more than we can put to words.