WE CAN-CER VIVE!

“Cancer does not have a face until it’s yours or someone you know and hurts the hearts of the ones who fight from the sidelines”

         My parents, Robyn & George have been married for over 30 years. Fours years ago they said goodbye to thier New Jersey roots and moved to Fort Myers, FL where they found happiness and sunshine all year around. My mother, 61, has been a home maker for the last 15 years as she is legally blind and permanently disabled. My father, 73, still working part time doing security for a local golf course/community to try and make ends meet. 
         In February of this year my family had received some heart breaking news. My father was diagnosed with stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma. Drs recommendations were 10 weeks of chemo & radiation therapy and possible surgery  after treatment was completed. As any cancer diagnosis, this was difficult for the family to process , we all kept are chins up and went into this as positive as we could to keep my fathers spirit alive. Any family that has had a loved one go through chemo and radiation therapy knows how physically and emotionally heart breaking that process can be. The losses you face during those weeks , from hair and weight to faith and hope can be some of the hardest things me and my family have had to overcome. Because my fathers cancer was primarily in his throat and with chemo and radiation he was not able to eat or swallow which eventually lead to a feeding tube.
       One month shy of my father finishing up all of his treatments we received some more heart breaking news... there was a nodule found on my mother’s lung that has grown significantly in the past couple months. Her physician wanted to act aggressively. On June 4th my mother underwent a robotic lung biopsy procedure , unfortunately we did not receive the news we were hoping for. She was also diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. Because the cancer cells had spread to her lymph nodes the surgeon had to perform a lower lung resection . Thankfully her surgery went well and is currently recovering. Chemo therapy and radiation was also recommended after recovery.
        My mother and father always took care of one another and are each other’s primary care givers. During this difficult time my brother and I had to take time off from work to assist In their healthcare.
        As this has been a hard time emotionally for my parents and family it has been a financial burden as well. My father is not able to work at this time. Treatments 5 days a week include copays, gas to and from appointments, nutritional formula for peg tube (insurance does not cover), prescriptions, financial responsibilities for surgical procedures and radiology scans.
My parents would be mortified/embarrassed if they knew I was turning to social media, family and friends for help. I have seen what these last 3 months have done to them emotionally and to lift some of the financial weight off their shoulders could help bring back their sanity and relieve some of their stress and focus on recovery. One thing I have learned through this chapter in our lives is hope is the only thing stronger than fear.