Support For Randy Byers

Hello everyone! As some of you may know, in February of 2019, my dad, Randy Byers, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. After some invasive surgery, the doctor was successful in removing some cancerous tissue, but not all of it. As a result, my dad was given an ostomy and a treatment plan that might help reduce the cancerous tissue. By the end of 2019, my dad went through five and a half weeks of radiation and two rounds of chemotherapy that lasted a total of 6 months. Sadly, none of the treatments were successful in reducing the tumors, and the cancer continued to spread slowly throughout his abdominal area. The doctors in Bryan, OH, and Cleveland came to the realization that there was a very slim chance of the cancer ever being cured, and that the best course of action was to be open to different types of chemotherapy that would hopefully slow and/or stop the progression.

In 2020, my dad went through another round of radiation and several different types of chemotherapy, which all came to the same result--no success. However, my dad kept fighting. In March of 2021, my dad was admitted into the ER in Bryan, OH, and immediately sent to Cleveland due to a blockage in his abdomen. After about a month spent in the hospital in Cleveland, the only option given to us was to give dad another ostomy and send him on his way. Soon after, he was approved for a new trial drug to, again, try to help. Sadly, yet again, the drug failed, so my dad was kicked off the trial. In the meantime, due to complications in his kidney and the tumors, my dad was put under and given a drainage tube.

In recent days, the oncologist informed us that, not only has the treatment been unsuccessful in reducing the cancer, but it has spread to his lungs, spine, liver, and lymph nodes. With that being said, there is no drug or treatment that can be administered to him to stop the cancer from progressing. In the coming days, my dad will be preceding with palliative care, and possibly hospice, to make him more comfortable. In addition, my dad was told to make amends and contact whoever he can.

I wish the news could be the only hard part about all of this, but sadly we live in a country where healthcare is not free and/or cheap by any means--especially for a cancer patient. Bills add up fast in two and a half years of nonstop chemotherapy, doctor visits, monthly stays in the hospital, surgeries, trips to Cleveland, time off work, and being laid off and surviving on one income.

To be honest, we absolutely hate the idea of taking/receiving money from others. Throughout this whole journey, all we have ever asked for is just thoughts and prayers. That is all we ever needed. However, all we seem to go through now is just struggle after struggle, so that is why I am setting this GoFundMe page--to hopefully take some weight off our family's back and just make my dad comfortable for the time he has left.

Thank you and God Bless,

The Byers Family

P.S. if you would like to Venmo instead, here is the following information: