Please help save my father's life
Donation protected
On February 14th 2018 my family received devastating news that has changed our lives completely. My father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
My father, Spiros, first noticed he had difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) in November 2017. By December this had intensified and was happening everyday. The dysphagia caused him to lose a tremendous amount of weight in a short period of time. We urged him to seek medical attention. A gastrointestinal specialist downplayed his symptoms and sent my father home, advising him to chew his food more.
In January 2018, my father went to the emergency room because he had a hard time consuming any liquid that day. It was very scary and we knew there was something wrong. The emergency room doctors referred him to another GI Specialist and a endoscopy appointment was booked to check his digestive tract. The endoscopy revealed a large growth blocking almost all of my father's esophagus just above the stomach. A biopsy was taken from the mass and about a week later we found out that the growth was cancerous.
The surgeon advised my father that, due to his weight and limited lung capacity, he could not be fully sedated and so could not safely undergo surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation were his only options, but these would offer only a 4%, five year survival rate.
With the support of the family, my father decided he would tackle his cancer using alternative natural therapies. He wanted to take control of his life, improve his health, restore his immune system and detoxify his body.
My father’s journey so far has not been an easy one, but through naturopathic IV therapy, colon hydrotherapy, coffee enemas, infrared sauna sessions, an abundance of vitamins and liquefied organic produce, a healthy, healing and positive lifestyle change was made. At the start of the therapy my father weighed almost 500 lbs and now he weighs 228 lbs. He also used to have high blood pressure of 165/98 which he has managed to bring down to 118/78.
Through hard work and dedication, my father has successfully improved his overall health tremendously, and he would like to continue his journey using alternative therapies to help battle and conquer his cancer. However, none of these therapies are covered by OHIP leaving our family to cover the cost of all treatment.
In the past nine months since his symptoms appeared, we have spent tens of thousands of dollars, and we continue to pay thousands of dollars per month in support of our father's battle. It has become an extremely difficult financial burden for us to manage.
My father has an enormous heart, always caring for others. He is an amazing dad to his three daughters, a wonderful grandfather to five grandkids, and a loving husband. Growing up, our home was always open to friends, family and neighbours. It is extremely difficult for us as a family to now have to reach out to others for help and to share so much of our personal pain, but we really want our beloved father to survive.
Our father is the foundation of our family. Please help us to continue his efforts to recover and live a healthy cancer-free life by donating to our campaign. Please help us to save his life.
Thank you so very much for your support.
My father, Spiros, first noticed he had difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) in November 2017. By December this had intensified and was happening everyday. The dysphagia caused him to lose a tremendous amount of weight in a short period of time. We urged him to seek medical attention. A gastrointestinal specialist downplayed his symptoms and sent my father home, advising him to chew his food more.
In January 2018, my father went to the emergency room because he had a hard time consuming any liquid that day. It was very scary and we knew there was something wrong. The emergency room doctors referred him to another GI Specialist and a endoscopy appointment was booked to check his digestive tract. The endoscopy revealed a large growth blocking almost all of my father's esophagus just above the stomach. A biopsy was taken from the mass and about a week later we found out that the growth was cancerous.
The surgeon advised my father that, due to his weight and limited lung capacity, he could not be fully sedated and so could not safely undergo surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation were his only options, but these would offer only a 4%, five year survival rate.
With the support of the family, my father decided he would tackle his cancer using alternative natural therapies. He wanted to take control of his life, improve his health, restore his immune system and detoxify his body.
My father’s journey so far has not been an easy one, but through naturopathic IV therapy, colon hydrotherapy, coffee enemas, infrared sauna sessions, an abundance of vitamins and liquefied organic produce, a healthy, healing and positive lifestyle change was made. At the start of the therapy my father weighed almost 500 lbs and now he weighs 228 lbs. He also used to have high blood pressure of 165/98 which he has managed to bring down to 118/78.
Through hard work and dedication, my father has successfully improved his overall health tremendously, and he would like to continue his journey using alternative therapies to help battle and conquer his cancer. However, none of these therapies are covered by OHIP leaving our family to cover the cost of all treatment.
In the past nine months since his symptoms appeared, we have spent tens of thousands of dollars, and we continue to pay thousands of dollars per month in support of our father's battle. It has become an extremely difficult financial burden for us to manage.
My father has an enormous heart, always caring for others. He is an amazing dad to his three daughters, a wonderful grandfather to five grandkids, and a loving husband. Growing up, our home was always open to friends, family and neighbours. It is extremely difficult for us as a family to now have to reach out to others for help and to share so much of our personal pain, but we really want our beloved father to survive.
Our father is the foundation of our family. Please help us to continue his efforts to recover and live a healthy cancer-free life by donating to our campaign. Please help us to save his life.
Thank you so very much for your support.
Organizer
Angela Theodorakopoulos
Organizer
East Toronto , ON
