Roger Hale Cancer Treatment & Lodging Expenses
Donation protected
Dad was diagnosed with stage four cancer earlier this year. We live in Kentucky but his treatment has been handled through Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tn. Currently, we are on the 9th Chemo treatment and the cancer is responding. With help from friends and family, lots of prayers, and dependency on God we have managed to cover the cost of the multiple week (sometimes up to three weekly) trips to Tennessee, lodging, and copays. On June 7th Radiation will begin and it's 5 days a week for up to 9 weeks. Chemo will persist through radiation and the four-hour commute back and forth is just going to be too much with both treatments taking place.
With Covid-19 still looming around, they have discontinued the charity lodging through places like Hope House in order to house essential workers. With Hope House no longer available, the independent assistance from organizations like Joe's House, MAA, etc is exhausted. We have searched for a couple of months, called every organization suggested, been put on the waiting list, and have exhausted every option to no avail. The only thing left is a very pricey hotel stay or air BnB. I've prayed a lot about this and so far, God has seen us through but this has been in the back of my head as that voice that keeps persisting to swallow your pride and allow God to move.
When this all started, I had no idea what it meant to be diagnosed with cancer. This is a word that always struck fear but the magnitude of what is involved is entirely overwhelming. We have been at Vanderbilt every week, sometimes up to 3 times a week. PET scans and MRIs, lab after lab, chemo, test, appointments, moving appointments to make room for other appointments, one day notices that you have to be 2.5 hours away the next morning. It's getting up at 3 am with someone who is sick, driving them in a car with over 220,000 miles on it and praying that today isn't the day it decides to give out. It's having a feeding tube put in and a medicine and feed schedule that manages your day. Last week they had to remove all Roger's teeth because radiation is going to take place in the head and neck, teeth bounce radiation and have a potential for infections that won't heal during radiation. It's helping someone who has always been the strong person in your life, rise up from bed because they are too sore from a port placement or oral surgery or just too weak to do it for themself. It's hope for the best, it's pray and learn what the word faith really means. Cancer is tough, it's humbling, it fights hard and your fight has to be just as hard. Cancer is realizing what is most important in your life, it's a reality check that realigns your priorities. Today cancer was a decision, encouraged with the words that "we wouldn't be doing all this to you if we didn't think we could beat this". Tonight, cancer is putting something out there that is so personal and beyond something I thought I could ever do, it's asking for help.
It's a lot to ask of anyone to take from themselves and their own family to help someone else, so if it isn't possible and you talk with God, say a little prayer for Dad. Pray that this will work out and that God keeps his hand on him to see him through treatment and recovery. If you can help in some small way, may God bless it, multiply it and give it back to you. Again, I know this is a big ask, it is hard for me to even think about posting. I don't know which part is the hardest, admitting that you need help or knowing that it takes someone else's sacrifice to make it happen.
Update: Monday, June 7th.
Radiation was moved back by one day, his tumor is pretty complicated and they ask for an additional day to program and evaluate how to treat. We made it to Nashville and are going to do the hotel thing this week and try to come home for the weekend the first week. We have been notified that a one bedroom furnished apartment that doesn't require a lease has become available. The apartment will be 2750 a month plus tax (legality of no lease is you pay tax as if it's a rental or hotel stay) but it's right across the street from Vanderbilt. We talked to them again today about the Hope House and with this week and a month stay in the apartment, the social worker feels that the Hope House should be reopening by the end of the five weeks and we could move there for little to nothing monthly. I lowered the goal and going on faith that this combo of stays will get us to Hope House in 5 weeks and this will no longer be a worry. I wanted to update everyone and say thank you to everyone that has shared, given and prayed...I know God has got this, but he is using good people to help make it happen....we are so grateful to everyone and to God.
With Covid-19 still looming around, they have discontinued the charity lodging through places like Hope House in order to house essential workers. With Hope House no longer available, the independent assistance from organizations like Joe's House, MAA, etc is exhausted. We have searched for a couple of months, called every organization suggested, been put on the waiting list, and have exhausted every option to no avail. The only thing left is a very pricey hotel stay or air BnB. I've prayed a lot about this and so far, God has seen us through but this has been in the back of my head as that voice that keeps persisting to swallow your pride and allow God to move.
When this all started, I had no idea what it meant to be diagnosed with cancer. This is a word that always struck fear but the magnitude of what is involved is entirely overwhelming. We have been at Vanderbilt every week, sometimes up to 3 times a week. PET scans and MRIs, lab after lab, chemo, test, appointments, moving appointments to make room for other appointments, one day notices that you have to be 2.5 hours away the next morning. It's getting up at 3 am with someone who is sick, driving them in a car with over 220,000 miles on it and praying that today isn't the day it decides to give out. It's having a feeding tube put in and a medicine and feed schedule that manages your day. Last week they had to remove all Roger's teeth because radiation is going to take place in the head and neck, teeth bounce radiation and have a potential for infections that won't heal during radiation. It's helping someone who has always been the strong person in your life, rise up from bed because they are too sore from a port placement or oral surgery or just too weak to do it for themself. It's hope for the best, it's pray and learn what the word faith really means. Cancer is tough, it's humbling, it fights hard and your fight has to be just as hard. Cancer is realizing what is most important in your life, it's a reality check that realigns your priorities. Today cancer was a decision, encouraged with the words that "we wouldn't be doing all this to you if we didn't think we could beat this". Tonight, cancer is putting something out there that is so personal and beyond something I thought I could ever do, it's asking for help.
It's a lot to ask of anyone to take from themselves and their own family to help someone else, so if it isn't possible and you talk with God, say a little prayer for Dad. Pray that this will work out and that God keeps his hand on him to see him through treatment and recovery. If you can help in some small way, may God bless it, multiply it and give it back to you. Again, I know this is a big ask, it is hard for me to even think about posting. I don't know which part is the hardest, admitting that you need help or knowing that it takes someone else's sacrifice to make it happen.
Update: Monday, June 7th.
Radiation was moved back by one day, his tumor is pretty complicated and they ask for an additional day to program and evaluate how to treat. We made it to Nashville and are going to do the hotel thing this week and try to come home for the weekend the first week. We have been notified that a one bedroom furnished apartment that doesn't require a lease has become available. The apartment will be 2750 a month plus tax (legality of no lease is you pay tax as if it's a rental or hotel stay) but it's right across the street from Vanderbilt. We talked to them again today about the Hope House and with this week and a month stay in the apartment, the social worker feels that the Hope House should be reopening by the end of the five weeks and we could move there for little to nothing monthly. I lowered the goal and going on faith that this combo of stays will get us to Hope House in 5 weeks and this will no longer be a worry. I wanted to update everyone and say thank you to everyone that has shared, given and prayed...I know God has got this, but he is using good people to help make it happen....we are so grateful to everyone and to God.
Organizer
Michael Hale
Organizer
Dawson Springs, KY