A chance for Dad!
Donation protected
Growing up my dad was always there for us whenever we needed him, he still is to this day and has always helped anyone who asked without a second thought. He was my biggest supporter as a softball dad and coach, he made every single one of my games through my junior year of college no matter the distance, time or cost. I can still hear his voice from the stands before each batter I would throw to yelling "put 'em in the book". Just knowing my dad was there brought a comfort to me that I can't expain. My parents don't have a lot of money, but we never knew that growing up and they did everything they had to do so that we were all able to play travel sports and them be there for us. Now we are trying to return the favor and be there for them.
In 2005, when I was a senior in college my dad had his right kidney removed, because they found cancer in it. We never knew this at the time, because my parents didn't want us to worry. He had been cancer free for the last 10 years. Then in September of this year my dad had a polyp removed from his sinus cavity that turned out to be clear cell renal carcinoma. It is extremely rare for this type of cancer to metastasize to the sinus cavity and virtually unheard of. After further scans were done it was found on his Inferior Vena Cava as well, which leads directly back to the heart.
After seeing 2 different oncologists we were told that it is terminal and there is not a cure for his type of cancer and traditional chemo is not effective on it. The only hope we had at that point was a chance to do a treatment at the University of Louisville called high dose IL2 therapy that requires hospitalization in the ICU for 3-4 days every 2 weeks to receive the doses of IL2. In 5-10% of patients that are able to withstand the highly debilitating treatment for those couple of days every 2 weeks were CURED. I know 5-10% isn't a good chance, but it was a chance. My dad being able to do the therapy pended on if they were able to remove the tumor on his inferior vena cava.
Sadly last week we were told that the tumor was not able to be removed surgically, because of its location which in turn meant he would not be able to try the IL2 therapy. We were crushed, seeing my dad hurting and trying to put on a brave face for my mom and I was one of the hardest things I have had to see, it brakes my heart every time I think about it. All my dad kept saying was how much he was hurting for my mom knowing what she had been through and the pain she still has from my grandma passing from cancer in 2012 and he couldn't stand the thought of putting her through that with him.
Since being given the terminal diagnosis I have had a hard time accepting it and have read probably a hundred medical journals and searched for information. Today I received a call from a specialist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland from one of the probably 20 emails I have sent to physicians around the country asking for any help. This facility specializes in my dad's type of cancer and the surgery he requires to remove the tumor located close to the heart and give him a chance to do the high dose IL2 therapy. They also have clinical trials they are doing with medication that is showing a percentage of patients being CURED as well.
I am beyond excited at the thought of being able to give my dad a chance, especailly knowing that he had been given the terminal diagnosis with no other options twice within the past couple of weeks. It is a long road ahead, but before we can move forward the first step is taking a trip to Baltimore to JHU and seeing the cardiologist, surgeon and oncologist in person. I will be getting a call on Monday or Tuesday next week and told what day to be there. He wanted to make sure that we would be able to pick up and go to the appointment as early as Thursday the 7th, but he said most likely the following Thursday the 14th. I told him of course we could and would do anything we needed to give my dad a chance.
So, I am starting this page to try and raise money to relieve the financial stress for my parents of being able to book a flight, hotel, car and meals for them on as soon as a 2-7 day notice so that we can get my dad to where he needs to be to be able to fight this. If everything goes as planned there would be a second trip scheduled for the open heart surgery in Baltimore that would most likely span a week's time before being able to return home. Any and all donations would be appreciated more than you would ever know and will make a huge difference in not only my parent's life, but our lives as well as his 7 grandchildren who adore their papa.
With Love,
Krystal Lewallen Totten
In 2005, when I was a senior in college my dad had his right kidney removed, because they found cancer in it. We never knew this at the time, because my parents didn't want us to worry. He had been cancer free for the last 10 years. Then in September of this year my dad had a polyp removed from his sinus cavity that turned out to be clear cell renal carcinoma. It is extremely rare for this type of cancer to metastasize to the sinus cavity and virtually unheard of. After further scans were done it was found on his Inferior Vena Cava as well, which leads directly back to the heart.
After seeing 2 different oncologists we were told that it is terminal and there is not a cure for his type of cancer and traditional chemo is not effective on it. The only hope we had at that point was a chance to do a treatment at the University of Louisville called high dose IL2 therapy that requires hospitalization in the ICU for 3-4 days every 2 weeks to receive the doses of IL2. In 5-10% of patients that are able to withstand the highly debilitating treatment for those couple of days every 2 weeks were CURED. I know 5-10% isn't a good chance, but it was a chance. My dad being able to do the therapy pended on if they were able to remove the tumor on his inferior vena cava.
Sadly last week we were told that the tumor was not able to be removed surgically, because of its location which in turn meant he would not be able to try the IL2 therapy. We were crushed, seeing my dad hurting and trying to put on a brave face for my mom and I was one of the hardest things I have had to see, it brakes my heart every time I think about it. All my dad kept saying was how much he was hurting for my mom knowing what she had been through and the pain she still has from my grandma passing from cancer in 2012 and he couldn't stand the thought of putting her through that with him.
Since being given the terminal diagnosis I have had a hard time accepting it and have read probably a hundred medical journals and searched for information. Today I received a call from a specialist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland from one of the probably 20 emails I have sent to physicians around the country asking for any help. This facility specializes in my dad's type of cancer and the surgery he requires to remove the tumor located close to the heart and give him a chance to do the high dose IL2 therapy. They also have clinical trials they are doing with medication that is showing a percentage of patients being CURED as well.
I am beyond excited at the thought of being able to give my dad a chance, especailly knowing that he had been given the terminal diagnosis with no other options twice within the past couple of weeks. It is a long road ahead, but before we can move forward the first step is taking a trip to Baltimore to JHU and seeing the cardiologist, surgeon and oncologist in person. I will be getting a call on Monday or Tuesday next week and told what day to be there. He wanted to make sure that we would be able to pick up and go to the appointment as early as Thursday the 7th, but he said most likely the following Thursday the 14th. I told him of course we could and would do anything we needed to give my dad a chance.
So, I am starting this page to try and raise money to relieve the financial stress for my parents of being able to book a flight, hotel, car and meals for them on as soon as a 2-7 day notice so that we can get my dad to where he needs to be to be able to fight this. If everything goes as planned there would be a second trip scheduled for the open heart surgery in Baltimore that would most likely span a week's time before being able to return home. Any and all donations would be appreciated more than you would ever know and will make a huge difference in not only my parent's life, but our lives as well as his 7 grandchildren who adore their papa.
With Love,
Krystal Lewallen Totten
Organizer and beneficiary
Herschal Lewallen
Organizer
Louisville, KY
Dawn Lewallen
Beneficiary