Unfortunately, we hardly write a GoFundMe to announce good news. Cancer sucks. We all agree on this.

You receive the cancer announcement and you want to keep it private. You hope you can simply nip in the bud and move on, but does cancer and healthcare ever work that way? As we always do, we turn to community. It takes a village and Millinocket has one of the strongest communities ever.

Last year our Dad, Barry (or notoriously known as Big Bear), received the news that he has prostate cancer. As most of these cases are slow growing and something you can monitor over time, his was more aggressive.

Words of advice: please get the bloodwork done, get the extra check up, get a second opinion, advocate for yourself and get those check-ups!

In positive news, this is a type of cancer that can and will be beaten (we’re a competitive family that doesn’t quit - as every ref in Millinocket knows), but an expensive ask nonetheless. After many doctor visits, test, labs, and drawn out processes, he’s begun radiation! Sadly, insurance covers so little. And living in a small town, he’s required to drive to Bangor and back five times a week for each round treatment. If you’ve ever dealt with your insurance company, these visits are not cheap in the slightest.

Our dad never asked for any of this, and still didn’t love the idea of a go fund me account, but we reminded him of how many people they help or show up for! It took a little convincing, but we all know our dad has always been there for anyone that’s needed a joke, a helping hand, or to talk extensively about any sporting event taking place. We’re hoping that same community he’s helped build up over the decades will be able to build him back up.

We know this ask comes at a rough time with all that’s happening in our country, yet cancer waits for no one. Please consider helping or sharing to give as much awareness to our Dad as we can. We appreciate this community more than ever and we’re looking forward to coming out the other side! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! <3