Fighting Cancer w/ Johnny
Donation protected
You hear about it and see it all the time in movies; a family finding out a loved one is diagnosed with Cancer. But to hear a doctor tell you it in person...it's a feeling I cannot explain.
In the Spring time of 2014, my dad noticed a lump in the left side of his neck. After multiple attempts of visiting his PCP and being denied it was anything to be concerned about, he was finally referred to get a biopsy of the lump 4 months later in August because it had grown and at that point, was very noticeable. I'll never forget the day we met with a Thyroid specialist, when he explained the results of the biopsy and to hear him say, "There’s a 99% chance it's Thyroid Cancer." Looking back at it now, I think the doctor knew it was 100% cancer but wanted to give us a slight glimmer of "hope" that there was a chance it wasn't. But it was. A week later, my dad had a Thyroidectomy (complete removal of the Thyroid) as well as the removal of 21 lymph nodes in his neck with 16 of them being cancerous. In a few months after that, he received his first radiation treatment (Radioactive Iodine). Half a year later during a regular check-up with his Endocrinologist (hormone doctor), results from a blood test showed high levels of thyroid activity, which is not normal since his thyroid was removed. This meant that the cancer was still present. My dad underwent another surgery in April of 2015 to remove more lymph nodes in his neck and will be receiving radiation treatment again later this month in June.
For my family, especially my dad, to experience this has been beyond difficult. This unfortunate incident had only added to the pain we were already facing due to the sudden loss of my mother in just 7 months before my dad's diagnosis. The bills for her medical and funeral services put our family in a financial strain and now with my dad's condition, those bills keep adding up. While he had his 2nd surgery in April, we were still paying off the bills from his first surgery and treatment in 2014. We know these bills will continue to add up as more surgeries and treatment is expected for his condition.
As a graphic designer and artist, I tried to come up with ways to raise money. In April, I printed out shirts featuring my artwork and as successful as that project was, people were still asking if there were other ways they could help contribute and donate money. Thus the reason I decided to start this Go Fund Me account. Thank you to everyone who supported our cause in my first fundraiser and thank you in advance to everyone who donates to this one. I am forever grateful for the help you all have given my family—financially, emotionally and spiritually. While money is needed, so are your prayers. Whatever you contribute, thank you so much <3
In the Spring time of 2014, my dad noticed a lump in the left side of his neck. After multiple attempts of visiting his PCP and being denied it was anything to be concerned about, he was finally referred to get a biopsy of the lump 4 months later in August because it had grown and at that point, was very noticeable. I'll never forget the day we met with a Thyroid specialist, when he explained the results of the biopsy and to hear him say, "There’s a 99% chance it's Thyroid Cancer." Looking back at it now, I think the doctor knew it was 100% cancer but wanted to give us a slight glimmer of "hope" that there was a chance it wasn't. But it was. A week later, my dad had a Thyroidectomy (complete removal of the Thyroid) as well as the removal of 21 lymph nodes in his neck with 16 of them being cancerous. In a few months after that, he received his first radiation treatment (Radioactive Iodine). Half a year later during a regular check-up with his Endocrinologist (hormone doctor), results from a blood test showed high levels of thyroid activity, which is not normal since his thyroid was removed. This meant that the cancer was still present. My dad underwent another surgery in April of 2015 to remove more lymph nodes in his neck and will be receiving radiation treatment again later this month in June.
For my family, especially my dad, to experience this has been beyond difficult. This unfortunate incident had only added to the pain we were already facing due to the sudden loss of my mother in just 7 months before my dad's diagnosis. The bills for her medical and funeral services put our family in a financial strain and now with my dad's condition, those bills keep adding up. While he had his 2nd surgery in April, we were still paying off the bills from his first surgery and treatment in 2014. We know these bills will continue to add up as more surgeries and treatment is expected for his condition.
As a graphic designer and artist, I tried to come up with ways to raise money. In April, I printed out shirts featuring my artwork and as successful as that project was, people were still asking if there were other ways they could help contribute and donate money. Thus the reason I decided to start this Go Fund Me account. Thank you to everyone who supported our cause in my first fundraiser and thank you in advance to everyone who donates to this one. I am forever grateful for the help you all have given my family—financially, emotionally and spiritually. While money is needed, so are your prayers. Whatever you contribute, thank you so much <3
Organizer
Janice Gaspar
Organizer
Waipahu, HI
