Family Fundraiser for Kent Charles
Donation protected
Cancer seems to be on a mission to personally impact every single person on the globe. The moment it hits your life, everything changes. Our world changed forever in April of 2015 when Kent, husband, father, brother, craftsman, and friend-to-just-about-anyone-he’s-ever-met was diagnosed with signet ring cell gastric cancer.
Ever the fighter and optimist, Kent went through a grueling ten-hour surgery for the removal of his entire stomach and a significant part of his small intestine. From there, Kent’s medical team, with the support of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center created an aggressive treatment plan.
We kind of thought Kent’s cancer would be it for the family, “You did it cancer. You devastated more than 30 people in one hit.” Nope, cancer had other plans when it came for Kent’s youngest sister with the same type of cancer. The circle of those hurt grew. But wait, there’s more! Genetic testing confirmed that the cancer was linked to a mutation of the CDH1 gene. More than half of Kent’s siblings and cousins who were tested came back positive for the gene, the only prophylactic treatment for which is total gastrectomy.
For more information on gastric cancer please reference https://debbiesdream.org/
Kent’s beautiful, vibrant, and incredibly strong little sister died last year. We are still raw with missing her, but cancer doesn’t leave much time for grieving and Kent continues to keep his spirits high.
Until recently, Kent ran a business building and renovating homes alongside his wife, Mary. He very rarely missed work during his first round of treatment—projects remained on budget and on schedule, which if you know much about construction, is rare even with a clean bill of health!
A few months ago, shortly after a clean scan, Kent dissolved the family business in order to accept a position to oversee his “dream” project. He was over the moon happy. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. After two years of being in remission, the cancer is back and Kent is now deemed stage 4. His employer terminated his position and he hasn’t been with the company long enough to collect unemployment or disability.
We find ourselves in dire financial need. We consider ourselves strong, but we are weary and quite honestly frightened like never before. We’ve put our house on the market and are selling the belongings that we can to pull together money for treatment and basic living expenses.
Kent’s life and our family’s existence depend on being able to meet the cost of treating cancer. Our dismay at having to ask for help is rivaled only by our desire to do everything we can for Kent. Will you join us with a donation, a share, or even quiet prayers?
Ever the fighter and optimist, Kent went through a grueling ten-hour surgery for the removal of his entire stomach and a significant part of his small intestine. From there, Kent’s medical team, with the support of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center created an aggressive treatment plan.
We kind of thought Kent’s cancer would be it for the family, “You did it cancer. You devastated more than 30 people in one hit.” Nope, cancer had other plans when it came for Kent’s youngest sister with the same type of cancer. The circle of those hurt grew. But wait, there’s more! Genetic testing confirmed that the cancer was linked to a mutation of the CDH1 gene. More than half of Kent’s siblings and cousins who were tested came back positive for the gene, the only prophylactic treatment for which is total gastrectomy.
For more information on gastric cancer please reference https://debbiesdream.org/
Kent’s beautiful, vibrant, and incredibly strong little sister died last year. We are still raw with missing her, but cancer doesn’t leave much time for grieving and Kent continues to keep his spirits high.
Until recently, Kent ran a business building and renovating homes alongside his wife, Mary. He very rarely missed work during his first round of treatment—projects remained on budget and on schedule, which if you know much about construction, is rare even with a clean bill of health!
A few months ago, shortly after a clean scan, Kent dissolved the family business in order to accept a position to oversee his “dream” project. He was over the moon happy. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. After two years of being in remission, the cancer is back and Kent is now deemed stage 4. His employer terminated his position and he hasn’t been with the company long enough to collect unemployment or disability.
We find ourselves in dire financial need. We consider ourselves strong, but we are weary and quite honestly frightened like never before. We’ve put our house on the market and are selling the belongings that we can to pull together money for treatment and basic living expenses.
Kent’s life and our family’s existence depend on being able to meet the cost of treating cancer. Our dismay at having to ask for help is rivaled only by our desire to do everything we can for Kent. Will you join us with a donation, a share, or even quiet prayers?
Organizer
Mary Charles
Organizer
Poultney, VT