Help Mitch Fight Cancer and Ease Financial Strain

**Update** This journey has been a roller-coaster ride. We were back in the ER yesterday down in Coeur d'Alene. They successfully treated the issue we went down there for, but as we sat there waiting to be discharged he began feeling sicker and sicker. I went and found a drink and gave him his pain meds but by the time we were in the car headed home he was feeling so ill he contemplated asking me to take him back to the ER (he didn't tell me this until we were home). This morning he is looking and feeling awful so I fear another ER trip may be in our future.

Also this week we received the results of the overnight oxygen study the Pulmonologist did. His O2 levels dropped down to 82 as he slept so he is now on Oxygen overnight.

We are so grateful to everyone for your support and prayers. Asking for help goes against everything I have ever believed, but I honestly don't know what else to do. I have seen so many people who have been through similar journey's seemingly remain positive during every turn, but I am struggling to do that. I know God has a plan, but I don't know if that plan includes healing Mitch. Or what we will do when he passes.

Thank you for allowing me to share our journey. I have read and heard some amazing things about Mitch from friends and co-workers. I am proud to be married to such a warm, caring, loving man. If you can help or share this story, we appreciate it more than I can ever express.

Asking for help is tough. We have always been the ones who try to help everyone, but right now we need to swallow our pride and ask others to help us. This spring, Mitch developed a bad cough. He went to the doctor numerous times. He was first diagnosed with Bronchitis, but antibiotics and breathing treatments weren't helping. We went on vacation to visit our son in Indiana. When we got back to Idaho, Mitch was feeling worse so he went back to the doctor.

Upon further testing, they discovered Mitch had blood clots in both lungs. While reviewing the CT scan, they discovered a mass in his lung, nodules on his thyroid, and a lesion on his rib. Further testing revealed tumors in his brain and on his skull and in other bones. The Oncologist shared that Mitch has Stage 4 Lung Cancer. Although he did smoke when he was young, he had quit in October 1996. The doctor stated that typically cancer will affect former smokers soon after they quit. It was unusual for it to wait 28 years. They have also determined the bone damage is much more significant than originally thought.

He is undergoing Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy and has had Gamma Knife surgery (pinpoint radiation) on 4 brain tumors. Medical treatments, traveling 1.5 to 2 hours to go to appointments, hospital stays and my having to take unpaid time off because I have used all my sick and vacation time is stressing us financially. Times are so hard for everyone right now, but if you can help us out we would so appreciate it. The 5-year survival rate for a man with Stage 4 Lung Cancer is 7 percent. I am devastated at the thought of losing him so I have to help any way I can.