I am reaching out for your help and support for my dad, Marty, who is battling a rare and aggressive metastatic prostate cancer. My dad is one of the most selfless men I know, giving all of himself to protect and care for others without a thought. He gave himself to his country by serving in the Marine Corps. He gave himself to his kids, taking me and my brothers in and raising us as his own when our birth mother (who was the sister of his wife, Donna) died and fighting for years in courts to give me a safe and secure home. He gave himself to his family, working overtime as a Journeyman Painter and Drywaller to provide for us while always being there to support us, play with us, and make us laugh. And now, when he should finally be able to rest and enjoy a peaceful, well-earned retirement, he has instead been given another battle to fight. Please help me protect his peace. With your donation, we will be able to continue his medical care. All proceeds raised will go directly to his medical treatment.

In March of 2023, after decades of hard work, my dad finally retired, looking forward to spending more time with family, golfing with friends, and maybe even finally learning to play that banjo that had been collecting dust in the corner. However, only a few months later, in October 2023, a routine blood test revealed his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels had skyrocketed at a nearly unprecedented rate. A normal level is 4.0 ng/mL. A PSA level of 10 ng/ml or higher means you have a greater risk of prostate cancer. My dad’s level, which had been normal only 8 months prior, was nearly 800 ng/mL. A few weeks of extensive testing led to a devastating diagnosis of stage 4 ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate, a rare and aggressive type of prostate cancer that accounts for less than 1% of all prostate cancer cases. The cancer has already metastasized and spread all across his bones.

Since that diagnosis, thoughts of golf outings and banjo playing have quickly been replaced with a relentless schedule of doctor’s appointments, testing, and treatments. Due to the intensity of this schedule, Donna, his wife and my mom, has had to cut back on her work hours to support him every step of the way. Initially, my dad was accepted into a clinical research trial for treatment, which meant his treatment cost was highly discounted, but unfortunately, the aggressive nature of his cancer has begun to render the treatment ineffective. This disqualifies him from the trial and imposes a substantial financial burden, as he now requires more intensive care.

Due to the extremely rapid onset and progression of his cancer, my dad’s doctors have speculated that his exposure to contaminated water during his 18 months stationed at Camp Lejeune as a Marine is very possibly a contributing factor. According to the Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, the base’s drinking and bathing water was contaminated with harmful chemicals at concentrati ons from 240 to 3,400 times current safe levels, leading to presumptive conditions that include a variety of cancers. Despite this, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has denied his appeal for medical expense reimbursement, because his specific cancer diagnosis is not currently listed among those covered, likely due to its rarity.