Ric Fights Stage Four Cancer
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I am beginning this campaign for my husband, Ric Dorsey and our family. This campaign is to hopefully help with the financial devastation that this illness has caused. But most importantly, I want to ask for continued prayer. Words cannot express what a wonderful man, husband, and father he is; this is our journey...
On July 6, 2012 we received the shocking news that he had colon cancer. At just 38 years old, my husband’s world turned upside down. The next days were a blur as we figured out how to tell the family and explain such news to our, then, 9 year old daughter. Our youngest was only two at the time, and the thought of cancer taking their dad crippled me. At the end of July my husband had surgery to remove the tumor along with about a foot of colon. The tumor was sent for a biopsy as my husband recovered in the hospital. Many complications led to him having to be reopened. He suffered excruciating pain as he recovered for four more weeks in the hospital.
The biopsy showed favorable results as 13 lymph nodes tested negative for cancer. The prognosis was a full recovery, cancer free. After my husband was released from the hospital he endured 6 weeks of radiation and then 6 months of chemotherapy. The doctors assured us it was all for preventable measures and that he was a cancer survivor. After completing chemo we celebrated the miracle, success, and battle my husband bravely fought.
Six months later my husband began to have abdominal pain that landed him back in the hospital. As a routine scan was ordered, the doctors confirmed that he had a blockage in his colon, and to our dismay, spots appeared in his liver. After being released from the hospital a biopsy was ordered and to our horror, my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. The cancer had unexpectedly spread to his liver.
Devastated, we were referred to MD Anderson, in Houston, Texas. Fortunately, we do not live that far away from the center and saw a doctor right away. We were told that his cancer was inoperable, and he began chemo right away to shrink the numerous tumors on each lobe of his liver. Each CT scan revealed awesome results as the chemo worked. Soon, the doctor informed us that many of the spots had disappeared and that she had referred us to a liver surgeon!!! With high hopes, Ric underwent his second surgery to remove the remaining cancer in his liver.
After surgery, the doctor let me know that all spots were removed from the left lobe but the right lobe had too many spots to cut out. It would have to be completely removed. After healing, my husband went through more rounds of chemo and then another surgery in December 2014. He spent five weeks in the hospital and missed Christmas with his family. The surgery was a success and the next scan revealed that my husband was cancer free in his liver, but to our dismay three spots showed in his lungs...
After a lung biopsy it was clear that the spots were indeed cancer. My husband underwent more chemotherapy and finished more radiation. For almost a year the routine scans showed sucess as the lung spots begin to shrink and the liver and colon remained clear! We were beyond thrilled and excited to see the miracles God had worked in Ric's life.
Three weeks ago Ric went for a routine scan, and we were devestated to find out that the cancer has returned to his liver and the spots on his lungs are growing instead of shrnking. No words can express the heartbreak we are feeling. A visit to the oncologist revealed his blood counts were very low so he needed two units of blood and will have to scedule an endoscopy and colonoscopy to see if he is bleeding internally. After that, he will begin more agressive chemo.
My husband has had to be off work for long periods of time and I have taken off work to be with him during surgery, recovery, and when he can not get out of bed due to chemo and radiation induced enteritis, which was caused by his first round of radiaiton on the colon. This will continue as he does more chemo and gets very ill.
He works in the Special Education Department as a job coach at MISD. The high school has been absolutley wonderful and supportive through it all. He also has a passion for leading worship and has been in the worship ministry for over 10 years. He is a wonderful husband and father and we want nothing more than to win this fight, and will not give up faith. We trust God has an amazing plan, even if the outcome is not what we have hoped.
Medical bills are piling and day to day needs are sometimes hard to meet. Trips to doctors, chemo, and three surgeries have led to financial burdens. We have over $10,000 in medical debt. If you feel led to help, we would be so grateful. No amount is too small. Above all, we ask for continued prayers.
I want to thank each of you for your support and prayers. Prayers are needed and greatly appreciated! We believe in God and the power of prayer! Through this journey we have indeed been blessed by many generous people and we have seen God work in amazing ways. Our family has supported us unconditonally and have been by our sides through the whole thing. We have been truly blessed in many ways.
He has brought us so far and led us to MD Anderson where the doctors have been amazing. We give our Savior glory even in our struggles. We know that there is a purpose for suffering even though we may not understand it.
Thank you for reading our story.
You can also visit our blog:
www. gracethroughthejourney.blogspot.com
Or on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/gracethroughthejourney/
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." -John 16:33
Please also pray for Ric's mother, Helen Bottoms. She was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and is fighting her own battle.
On July 6, 2012 we received the shocking news that he had colon cancer. At just 38 years old, my husband’s world turned upside down. The next days were a blur as we figured out how to tell the family and explain such news to our, then, 9 year old daughter. Our youngest was only two at the time, and the thought of cancer taking their dad crippled me. At the end of July my husband had surgery to remove the tumor along with about a foot of colon. The tumor was sent for a biopsy as my husband recovered in the hospital. Many complications led to him having to be reopened. He suffered excruciating pain as he recovered for four more weeks in the hospital.
The biopsy showed favorable results as 13 lymph nodes tested negative for cancer. The prognosis was a full recovery, cancer free. After my husband was released from the hospital he endured 6 weeks of radiation and then 6 months of chemotherapy. The doctors assured us it was all for preventable measures and that he was a cancer survivor. After completing chemo we celebrated the miracle, success, and battle my husband bravely fought.
Six months later my husband began to have abdominal pain that landed him back in the hospital. As a routine scan was ordered, the doctors confirmed that he had a blockage in his colon, and to our dismay, spots appeared in his liver. After being released from the hospital a biopsy was ordered and to our horror, my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. The cancer had unexpectedly spread to his liver.
Devastated, we were referred to MD Anderson, in Houston, Texas. Fortunately, we do not live that far away from the center and saw a doctor right away. We were told that his cancer was inoperable, and he began chemo right away to shrink the numerous tumors on each lobe of his liver. Each CT scan revealed awesome results as the chemo worked. Soon, the doctor informed us that many of the spots had disappeared and that she had referred us to a liver surgeon!!! With high hopes, Ric underwent his second surgery to remove the remaining cancer in his liver.
After surgery, the doctor let me know that all spots were removed from the left lobe but the right lobe had too many spots to cut out. It would have to be completely removed. After healing, my husband went through more rounds of chemo and then another surgery in December 2014. He spent five weeks in the hospital and missed Christmas with his family. The surgery was a success and the next scan revealed that my husband was cancer free in his liver, but to our dismay three spots showed in his lungs...
After a lung biopsy it was clear that the spots were indeed cancer. My husband underwent more chemotherapy and finished more radiation. For almost a year the routine scans showed sucess as the lung spots begin to shrink and the liver and colon remained clear! We were beyond thrilled and excited to see the miracles God had worked in Ric's life.
Three weeks ago Ric went for a routine scan, and we were devestated to find out that the cancer has returned to his liver and the spots on his lungs are growing instead of shrnking. No words can express the heartbreak we are feeling. A visit to the oncologist revealed his blood counts were very low so he needed two units of blood and will have to scedule an endoscopy and colonoscopy to see if he is bleeding internally. After that, he will begin more agressive chemo.
My husband has had to be off work for long periods of time and I have taken off work to be with him during surgery, recovery, and when he can not get out of bed due to chemo and radiation induced enteritis, which was caused by his first round of radiaiton on the colon. This will continue as he does more chemo and gets very ill.
He works in the Special Education Department as a job coach at MISD. The high school has been absolutley wonderful and supportive through it all. He also has a passion for leading worship and has been in the worship ministry for over 10 years. He is a wonderful husband and father and we want nothing more than to win this fight, and will not give up faith. We trust God has an amazing plan, even if the outcome is not what we have hoped.
Medical bills are piling and day to day needs are sometimes hard to meet. Trips to doctors, chemo, and three surgeries have led to financial burdens. We have over $10,000 in medical debt. If you feel led to help, we would be so grateful. No amount is too small. Above all, we ask for continued prayers.
I want to thank each of you for your support and prayers. Prayers are needed and greatly appreciated! We believe in God and the power of prayer! Through this journey we have indeed been blessed by many generous people and we have seen God work in amazing ways. Our family has supported us unconditonally and have been by our sides through the whole thing. We have been truly blessed in many ways.
He has brought us so far and led us to MD Anderson where the doctors have been amazing. We give our Savior glory even in our struggles. We know that there is a purpose for suffering even though we may not understand it.
Thank you for reading our story.
You can also visit our blog:
www. gracethroughthejourney.blogspot.com
Or on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/gracethroughthejourney/
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." -John 16:33
Please also pray for Ric's mother, Helen Bottoms. She was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and is fighting her own battle.
Organizer
Salena M. Dorsey
Organizer
Montgomery, TX
