Help Perry Fight Stage 2 Cancer and Support His Family

Hello! My name is Perry and I’m sharing my story with the hope of finding support during one of the most challenging times of my and my family's lives.

I’ve been blessed with a loving and supportive wife, Jen, and 4 amazing kids (2 are grown). We live in Farmington, NM, where Jen has been homeschooling our children while also battling her own autoimmune illnesses. Life hasn’t been easy, but we’ve always done our best to stay strong and provide for our family.

The past two years in particular have been incredibly difficult. Between layoffs, manageable health battles, and vehicle issues, it felt like we couldn’t catch a break. Then, things seemed to turn around when I landed a full-time job with an international steel supplier this January. But that very same day, I heard the three words no one ever wants to hear: “You have cancer.”

I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Squamous Cell Carcinoma that started at the base of my tongue and has spread to two lymph nodes in my neck. Mind you, I'm not a smoker or a drinker. Since then, I’ve undergone biopsies, scans, dental clearance, and several consultations to prepare for treatment. There will also be port placement, audiology, speech pathology, and more. Surgery isn't an option because of risk associated with how close the tumor is to my carotid artery and vagus nerve, so high-dose chemotherapy and radiation is the best option. Fortunately this version is very receptive to treatment, but the treatment itself is going to be tough.

What Comes Next:

Within the next couple weeks, I will begin 33 rounds of radiation (Monday-Friday), combined with chemotherapy. My doctors have prepared me for how difficult this treatment will be. The chemo sessions, weeks 3-7, and the following month are going to be really hard. My salivary glands and taste buds will likely be destroyed, fatigue will be at an all-time high, and recovery could take months.

During this time it’s very possible I won’t be able to work, putting an additional strain on my family. Even in week 1, I'll be starting chemo and radiation the same day. This means I'll likely be too sick to work much of that week. I haven't been with my employer long enough to have earned PTO. They have been incredibly understanding through this situation. I've been able to work through my lunches to go to my shorter appointments as needed, but the longer stints will be largely be uncovered.

I’m also facing several upfront costs and financial aspects, including:

-Things like mouthguards for radiation and sleeping, lotions for the radiation, comfortable clothes for when I'm sick, and vitamins and supplements.

-I'll be on a soft food diet for at least a couple months, which means different food than the rest of the family. Doctors have recommended I also stock up on meal replacement and protein drinks, since I'll have difficulty swallowing.

Jen has been doing what she can to help our family financially by working Amazon delivery, but it’s been tough. We only have one vehicle (which is 20 years old with 220k miles), which I’ve been using to get to work and now for medical appointments.

How Can You Help?

We are humbly asking for your help to cover:

-Medical expenses not covered by insurance.

-Daily living costs while I’m unable to work during treatment and recovery. Things like the house payment, utilities, food for the family, and other necessities.

-Repairs or a replacement for our aging vehicle to ensure Jen and I can do what we need individually and as a family.

I am sure there are other things that will come up, but these are the things that are top-of-mind right now.

Any donation, no matter the size, would make a huge difference for my family. If you’re unable to contribute financially, sharing this fundraiser with your friends and family would mean the world to us.

This journey is going to be tough, but I’m determined to fight for my wife, my kids, and our future. Thank you for your kindness, support, and prayers during this time. We're not going to come out of this unscathed, but you can help make it much easier!

From the bottom of our hearts,

Perry