A Daughter’s Fight for Her Father—and for Every Family Like Ours

My name is Dawn, and I’m writing this as a daughter who’s doing everything she can to save her dad’s life.

My father is battling stage 3 esophageal cancer. He’s the kind of man who has worked hard, showed up for others, and believed in doing the right thing. But now, when he needs help the most, the system has turned its back on him. He lost his health insurance over an error in his paperwork, my father was receiving medicaid, and the state denied it due to an internal error.

His final chemotherapy treatment costs $17,000. The surgery to remove the tumor? A median of $47,000. We’re trying to raise $65,000 to cover these life-saving medical expenses. It’s a number that feels impossible—but so is giving up.

We’re not just fundraising. We’re fighting for my dad, and the thousands of others experiencing this disparity. We’ve been told my parents' fixed income was over the poverty threshold to qualify for help, yet we don't have enough to afford treatment or access to options to get a loan for treatment.

I’ve launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover my dad’s medical and living costs. My mom's social security covers most of the bills, but not all, or even food. Every donation, every share, every kind word—it all matters. It’s about hope. It’s about showing my dad that he’s not alone.

We’re also calling on lawmakers to fix the policies that failed us. No one should lose coverage over a few dollars. No one should have to choose between treatment and survival.

If you’ve ever loved someone fiercely, if you’ve ever felt the weight of watching them suffer, then you understand. This is our story, I hope it doesn't have to be someone else's

Please help us fight. Please help us heal.

Share our story. Speak up. Stand with us.

With gratitude,

Dawn