Stand with Mark Larimer in His Battle Against Cancer

After months of hospital stays in Florida and Michigan that involved extensive tests and examinations, our dad, Mark Larimer, was diagnosed with a rare form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (less than 5% of lymphoma cases). The type of cancer treatment he needs is exceptionally painful and involves chemo being inserted directly into his spinal fluid; this is a specialized treatment that is only performed at facilities such as Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Throughout this journey, our parents have faced numerous medical expenses including transportation from Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan to the Mayo Clinic, via a van staffed with medical personnel so he could arrive safely at Mayo to begin his treatment; this expense alone was $5,000 out of pocket.

We are so thankful to have our dad in such great hands at Mayo (we have seen so many positive improvements already) but the clinic is considered out of network and doesn’t bill his Medicare Advantage; therefore, all expenses must be paid up front. With a staggering number of appointments, specialized medications, treatments, and a parade of specialists - our parents will continue to face an insurmountable amount of medical bills. We are anticipating he will need to be at Mayo Clinic until September and your funding will go towards a long-term housing facility, transportation, and meals. While his mobility is very limited, other expenses include medical equipment like a hospital bed, wheelchair, and a shower chair.

We have always believed that when people come together, the impossible becomes possible. We are taking this moment and reaching out to our amazing community of friends and family and asking for your help. Our parents would never ask for financial assistance from any of their friends or family, but we also know that certain things in life require more than one can give. We want our dad to focus on his treatment without having to make difficult financial decisions. For our dad’s quality of care, we need our parents to stay in the Rochester area until his full treatment is complete.

Life is fragile, precious and unpredictable. Each day is a gift, not a promise. We will stand by our dad in this fight; he refuses to give up, and neither will we. Cancer is only going to be one chapter in his life, we won't let it be his whole story. Any support in this journey is greatly appreciated. If you are unable to give a monetary gift at this time, we would love and appreciate the extra prayers.

Thank you for your generosity, love, support and prayers.

The Larimer family

*Special note that Lila (granddaughter) wanted to share:

Over the past few months my papa has been battling cancer and is continuing to fight every day. He is a beloved member of our family, and we spend as much time as we can by his hospital bed. Please keep our papa in your thoughts and prayers.

-Love, Lila