Support Mark's End-of-Life Journey

Mark lived with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease without issue for decades before it became our biggest nightmare. On February 21, Mark went to the hospital for unusual abdominal pain, which was found to be late-stage liver cancer coupled with advanced cirrhosis. Worse, he was not a candidate for chemotherapy, radiation, ablation, or transplant – his only option for treatment was immunotherapy. We were told the 5-year survival rate for his diagnosis is 20%. Hoping he would beat those odds, Mark told his doctor, “I guess that gives you 5 years to figure out the next 5 years.” He trusted in science like that.

On May 5, we learned that not only would Mark not get better, but there is nothing more that the doctors can do to help extend his life. So, here we are. While the rest of us are worried about Mark’s needs, he is only worried about his family, especially his wife (and the love of his life), Laura. Despite working multiple jobs for over 5 decades, the McKellars can’t afford the costs of end-of-life care.

Medicare will not cover Mark’s stay at a hospice until he is unable to hit certain “milestones,” such as being unable to take his medication, and being cared for at home is not a viable option due to Laura’s physical limitations from her recent back surgery. Moreover, Mark simply can’t stomach the idea of Laura seeing their home full of happy memories being marred by the tragedy of his eventual passing.

If you are willing and able, please consider donating so we can give Mark the end-of-life care that will give him (and us all) some small comfort. All funds will go directly to the cost of care at a lovely facility close to his family, where his wife, sons, and grandkids can visit him often, and towards a celebration of life for the loving, kind, witty, generous, patient, resilient person we love so so much.