Oof, I really hoped I'd never have to do this again. As many of you know, our family recently asked for help as my little sister Natalia battled through breast cancer. Thankfully she has been doing well (and had a beautiful wedding earlier this year!).
However, it's with a really heavy heart that our family are having to ask for support again as my dad's battle with prostate cancer gets a little more difficult.
My dad, John "Rocky" Rocha, been battling prostate cancer for over 6 years. In June 2018 he learned that the cancer had metastasized into his bones. He’s been a truck driver for over 30 years and didn’t let this stop him from battling on and working to continue supporting the family.
He started immunotherapy where some of his blood was removed, his white blood cells were boosted, and the blood was returned. But a few months later the doctors told us the cancer was more aggressive than they thought. A new hormonal treatment (Xtandi) was required, which has helped keep his PSA levels down, but one of the side effects has exasperated osteoporosis in his leg. He's a truck driver, doing heavy lifting, loading and unloading tractors, driving long distances. The pain was getting to be too much.
Unfortunately, we learned last week that the cancer has now spread to his lung and liver.
He turns 65 in July and was due to retire in 2020, but with this recent news, he has had to leave work sooner than expected. The pain being caused by the tumour in his spine and osteoporosis in his leg means he can't continue working without risking a fall or putting others at risk as a driver.
He has applied for Social Security disability payments, but this can take 4-5 months to process. This puts the family in a difficult spot financially so we're trying a few different things - we're looking at what early retirement might do, seeing what expenses can be cut, and my mom, her sister and friends are organising a fundraising lunch on 7 April (you can get details from Facebook for those who can can attend)!
For those who can't attend the fundraising lunch and would still like to help, the money from this Go Fund Me will help cover my dad's health insurance deductible for this year. We don't know what course of action he'll take at this moment, but since the cancer has spread now to 3 different locations it's likely to be pretty intensive. This would mean at least we don't have to worry about cost being a factor.
Anything raised beyond the deductible will go towards expenses during this 4-5 month period while we wait for his disability payments to start.
In the meantime, we're keeping him focused on staying healthy and maintaining the positivity he’s known for (especially since he has his first grandchild on the way in August!).
Thank you all for any support you've given our family in the past and any support you can give now!
- Julia, Natalia, Adriele, Nelci & John
However, it's with a really heavy heart that our family are having to ask for support again as my dad's battle with prostate cancer gets a little more difficult.
My dad, John "Rocky" Rocha, been battling prostate cancer for over 6 years. In June 2018 he learned that the cancer had metastasized into his bones. He’s been a truck driver for over 30 years and didn’t let this stop him from battling on and working to continue supporting the family.
He started immunotherapy where some of his blood was removed, his white blood cells were boosted, and the blood was returned. But a few months later the doctors told us the cancer was more aggressive than they thought. A new hormonal treatment (Xtandi) was required, which has helped keep his PSA levels down, but one of the side effects has exasperated osteoporosis in his leg. He's a truck driver, doing heavy lifting, loading and unloading tractors, driving long distances. The pain was getting to be too much.
Unfortunately, we learned last week that the cancer has now spread to his lung and liver.
He turns 65 in July and was due to retire in 2020, but with this recent news, he has had to leave work sooner than expected. The pain being caused by the tumour in his spine and osteoporosis in his leg means he can't continue working without risking a fall or putting others at risk as a driver.
He has applied for Social Security disability payments, but this can take 4-5 months to process. This puts the family in a difficult spot financially so we're trying a few different things - we're looking at what early retirement might do, seeing what expenses can be cut, and my mom, her sister and friends are organising a fundraising lunch on 7 April (you can get details from Facebook for those who can can attend)!
For those who can't attend the fundraising lunch and would still like to help, the money from this Go Fund Me will help cover my dad's health insurance deductible for this year. We don't know what course of action he'll take at this moment, but since the cancer has spread now to 3 different locations it's likely to be pretty intensive. This would mean at least we don't have to worry about cost being a factor.
Anything raised beyond the deductible will go towards expenses during this 4-5 month period while we wait for his disability payments to start.
In the meantime, we're keeping him focused on staying healthy and maintaining the positivity he’s known for (especially since he has his first grandchild on the way in August!).
Thank you all for any support you've given our family in the past and any support you can give now!
- Julia, Natalia, Adriele, Nelci & John
Organizer and beneficiary
Nelci Rocha
Beneficiary