<Update from the Family>
With heavy hearts, we want to share that our dad passed away peacefully after his courageous fight with cancer on January 5th. We are incredibly grateful for the love, prayers, encouragement, and support shown during his journey…it meant more to him, and to all of us, than we can adequately express.
As we move into this next chapter, we are updating this GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses, which will be used directly and respectfully to honor his life. Any remaining funds will go toward final arrangements & related costs during this time.
If you have already donated, please know how deeply thankful we are. If you choose to continue sharing or supporting, it truly helps lift a burden from our family as we grieve and celebrate his life.
Thank you for standing with us, your kindness will never be forgotten.
<original story>
We are fundraising for our dad, Tom Peterson.
In 2019, dad was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. He went through radiation and surgery, and for five years he remained cancer-free. We were hopeful that chapter of his life was behind him, but in 2024, the cancer returned and he underwent another major surgery to remove the affected areas.
Recovery since that surgery has been extremely difficult. Over the past few months, his strength and weight have declined significantly while he continues to seek further treatment. Most recently, he was hospitalized to have a feeding tube placed, to treat pneumonia, and get a solid foundation for continued treatment.
Dad is doing everything he can to keep fighting, but this journey has taken a major toll on his health, his energy, and his ability to manage daily living expenses.
For anyone who knows him, you know he is the type of person who never asks for help. He is strong, hardworking, steady, and has always been the one to show up for others. Right now, he needs our support.
We are raising funds to help with:
• Medical and hospital bills
• Medication and ongoing treatment costs
• In-home care and nutrition
• Basic living expenses while he is unable to work
Any amount helps... truly. And if you’re unable to donate, even just sharing this link means more than you know. Your support will help lift the stress and allow him to focus fully on healing.
Thank you for your love, kindness, and prayers during this time.
We are deeply grateful.
– Tom’s Family