Support Randy's Journey to Health and Housing

Greetings,

My name is Randy Fickes and I am embarrassed to need to try this platform but I am at a loss for the first time in my life.

I am a 63 year old, single man that up until 10 years ago, worked my entire life and provided for myself as well as my responsibilities. 10 years ago, while I was at work in the far Northern Arctic, (I worked in the oil industry), I called my mother to do my weekly check in and she stated that she couldn't be alone anymore due to her health and need for help.

I did not hesitate and in 2 days, I had left my job, left my rental home and moved to rural Virginia to start what was the most difficult task of my entire life. My mother was fighting MS as well as many other health issues including onset Dementia. Long story, short.......8 years went by and my mother passed peacefully, in her own home and bed while I held her hand.

2 years before Jean passed (Evelyn Jean F......... was my mother's name), I was having a routine medical check-up and was told that I had some concerning issues with my health and that I probably had lung cancer. I was in shock and ignored these medical findings. I explained to my mother what the doctors had said and that I was probably in denial about their findings. Jean asked if I felt OK at which I answered yes. She responded by asking me if I could just handle the issues after she finished her path in life. I responded yes which wasn't the best or smartest thing to do. My mother passed peacefully on Feb 2022.

Jump ahead to July 2025. I have been back in California for 2 years, floating through life and just making a go of it. Doing pick up work and basically trying to live my life and exist.

In June of 2025 I was at a restaurant eating breakfast and having coffee and I woke up on the floor. A very expensive ride in an ambulance and admittance into the local hospital turned up the worst case scenario.

I was diagnosed with cancer, underwent a bowel resection surgery and given the not so pleasant news all in the same week I turned 63 years old. Confusing that nothing was found in my lungs during all of the CT scans that were performed during this time. The cancer was found in my stomach, colon and lower extremities.

Jump forward again to present day. I am supposed to start Oncology Therapy next Monday, I am losing my housing on the Sunday before that and my truck broke down yesterday. It's been a hell of a few weeks.

I live in rural Mt. Laguna CA as a caretaker for a property that is being sold and I am told I need to be out by Sunday the 20th of July. I am at a loss as to what I am going to do and where I will go. The doctors and my surgeon tell me that except for the cancer, I am very healthy and they will fix the issues I have.

I am using this platform to embarrassingly ask for help in order to fix my truck, locate housing and continue with my medical care. I am not finished with my path yet and feel I am here for some reason well past the last 10 years of my life.

I am running the gauntlet of applying for assistance where it is available but not really having much luck with anything due to the need to walk into the many offices and go through the steps to ask for help. I have found the trying to apply for any assistance on the internet is almost impossible and walking into the different agencies is the best way to go.

Please feel free to comment, ask questions or reach out to me and I will gladly respond. I will update my situation as it progresses or declines. I am hoping for the progression path as I am not ready to give up yet.

Thank you sincerely,

Randy