Support for David Cannom's Cancer Campaign

December 7, 2019 is a day that changed our lives and the start of a long, scary journey.  

My husband, David had been sick for months.  Running to the doctors from March 2019 with changing diagnosis from sinus infections, eat infections, to crystals in his inner ear.  He had been fighting fatigue, dizziness, and unbearable vertigo.  His ENT ordered an MRI the day after thanksgiving.  A week had gone by and we still didn't hear the results. 

His condition was rapidly changing.  He was so dizzy and crippled by the vertigo that he was throwing up everyday.  He was having excruciating headaches, double vision and stability issues.  

On Saturday, December 7th, he had gotten up to use the bathroom when collapsed.  He continued to vomit for an hour.  The ambulance was called and he was taken to the ER.  The doctor found out he had an MRI and told him he had a mass near his brain stem. This was the first we heard of this.  The Monday following we saw his ENT where she referred us to a Neurologist ENT surgeon.  Without seeing the MRI he read the report and said it was an acoustic neuroma but that there was an additional mass he was uncertain about.  Two days later my husband's pain was so intense he was in years and pulling at his head. Screaming in pain.  Our doctor called us and said it was much worse, there were three masses.  We were directed to go to Chapel Hill ER at UNC immediately. 

At the hospital we got the news that a chest scan was needed to see if anything was contributing to the tumors.  Upon getting the cscan two masses were found his lungs and several swollen lymph nodes.  Because of his age and some other symptoms given the doctors were saying colon/rectal cancer was something we needed to check on.  

We had a colonoscopy that Friday and had a blessing.  No colon/rectal cancer. 

Next appointment was a biopsy of the lung.  The biopsy was done on January 2nd.  The results came back Tuesday January 7th.  It is lung cancer. My husband is not a smoker but exposed to second hand smoke. 

Now that we have those answers we have additional tests to identify treatment and to see if the brain tumors are connected to the lung cancer or if they are isolated matters.

Over the past two months, my husband has dropped from 300 pounds to 250 pounds.  He's weak and his balance is extremely off, leading him to use a walker for safety reasons. He is very fatigued and mentally just unable to be sharp with wording, thoughts, and completing any concentration tasks.  It's been heartbreaking seeing him go from a capable, energetic, strong man to how he is today.  

We are trying to manage everything in our own but know things will become more challenging through his path of treatment and recovery. Cancer treatment, neurological procedures are financially draining.  We have several specialists caring for my husband's needs and some of the best at UNC Chapel Hill. Stress is something that doesn't lend well to healing and recovery. We are asking for any help financially to help eliminate this stressor so that my husband can survive.  He can see our oldest graduate high school in 2021 and be there for our son through his upcoming years. We celebrate 20 years of marriage in April.  He's my best friend, my whole world.  A life without him would be dim. I

Our faith in the Lord is strong and we know he will see this as a victory in the end. We truly appreciate all the prayers.  This has kept our spirits up in spite of this terrible news. 

Thank you for any support you might be able to provide.

Misty, David, Reagan, and Jackson