Lenny's Medical Expenses
Donation protected
Hello Family & Friends, My name is Austin Lenihan, son to Lenny Lenihan who has been battling cancer for a little under 10 years. I would like to share some of my dad's story and his struggles with you because this is a battle that continues for him.... and I am afraid it will be for the rest of his life!
My dad was diagnosed at the age of 40 with colorectal cancer- stage 3. A large malignant tumor was found in his colon, and the doctors came to the conclusion it had been growing for 10 years. Surgery was required immediately and that is when they removed a large section of his colon. Next major procedure, to re-route his bowels. My dad was left with a illistomy bag for almost a year, which was then followed with 6 weeks of radiation everyday, and then he was introduced to his first chemo treatments... 14 weeks of that to be exact.
After thinking we were winning the battle (my dad was finished with his treatments and he was finally feeling like his old self), the cancer metastasized to his lungs, moving up to stage 4. This resulted in 2 separate surgeries to remove his lower lobe from each lung. This marks the 5th time the cancer had come back causing him at first to go through extensive radiation and then chemo and then later 4 more rounds of chemo that was devastating to his body in many ways.
It's unbelievable to think how my dad went from this healthy (210lb), athletic, full of life individual who rarely drank let alone ever smoke, down to 164 lbs and could only muster up the energy to leave his bed for a chemo or radiation appointment. Needless to say, he wasn't able to provide for our family, financially, emotionally, just even physically be the strong and courageous man he had always been for my mom and 2 brothers. And because of that, he was losing his will to live each day!
What has kept him going...all these years, through his treatments, surgeries, & procedures is the unconditional love and support of our family and extended family & friends. Also, his love for this life he is living (even though tainted with cancer and at one time being told by one of his very first doctors, that he HAD less than a 1% chance of LIVING past 2 years....My dad of course ended up FIRING THAT DOCTOR)!!
At the age of 47, my dad became a grandfather for the very 1st time to a beautiful granddaughter, named Remi Rose and now awaits the arrival of his 1st grandson early Fall. He also has us three dedicated sons and a newlywed wife and her daughter to live for.
With all this said, believe it or not for my dad, cancer has been an amazing journey in its own odd way as he has reassured me more than once. He may have lost a lot of friends to this horrible disease, but he has also gained some new friends, a new prospective at times, as well as a new outlook. His knowledge on the life threatening disease has expanded and he has a great compassion for others and what they are going through. He used to ask, "Why me"? , but then realized "Why not me"? He has met some dedicated doctors that we've all entrusted with his life. And of course learned early on, The power of prayer is amazing, don't ever underestimate it!
And now, our latest update, the cancer has resurfaced in his throat and in both lungs again- very small tumors. Please know, your support, any support would mean so much to myself and my family! My dad continues to be unable to work due to upcoming treatments and surgeries. And he has been buried with medical bills for the past 9 years.
Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and continued prayers! Again, my family and I are forever grateful!
Thank you & blessing always,
Austin Lenihan and Lenihan Family
General timeline:
9/26/09- Diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal
10/09- Radiation: 27 treatments
Chemo-1 round (12 sessions)
01/2010- Surgery: colon resection/rerouting bowels/ illestomy bag
02/2010- Chemotherapy: 1 round(12 sessions)
01/2011- Removed illestomy bag, retrain bowels.
04/2011- PET scan revealed spots on both lungs
04/2011- Surgery to remove lower lobe on each lung ( 2 separate surgeries, only have about 70% lung capacity)
07/2011- Chemo after each lung surgery (1 round each/24 sessions)
04/2013- Flew down to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. Met with Dr. Kundruanda to develop a plan to treat Lenny. The plan was to treat him like a chronic disease until a cure was found.
07/2013- Began working with a new oncologists and began metranomic chemotherapy (low dose)
10/2013- Started developing chemo brain- forgetting his email, how to write checks, and couldnt drive or carry on a conversation.
2/2014- Began healing from chemo treatments, started working again.
02/2014-2015- Cancer free
06/2015- Diagnosed with a tumor in his throat, had throat surgury ,and then recieved chemo for almost a year as treatment and during that time he developed chemo brain. He couldnt carry on a conversation or even add simple math.
07/2016- PET scan revealed 5 more tumors in his lungs.
11/2016- Current - Radiation/ cyberknife treatment. Recieves targeted radiation/cyberknife for 4 straight days and weekends are off.
*Many other surgeries took place that werent noted. (installed port for chemo (3 times) / radiofrequency ablasion/ kidney stones/ 3 hernias) ,
My dad was diagnosed at the age of 40 with colorectal cancer- stage 3. A large malignant tumor was found in his colon, and the doctors came to the conclusion it had been growing for 10 years. Surgery was required immediately and that is when they removed a large section of his colon. Next major procedure, to re-route his bowels. My dad was left with a illistomy bag for almost a year, which was then followed with 6 weeks of radiation everyday, and then he was introduced to his first chemo treatments... 14 weeks of that to be exact.
After thinking we were winning the battle (my dad was finished with his treatments and he was finally feeling like his old self), the cancer metastasized to his lungs, moving up to stage 4. This resulted in 2 separate surgeries to remove his lower lobe from each lung. This marks the 5th time the cancer had come back causing him at first to go through extensive radiation and then chemo and then later 4 more rounds of chemo that was devastating to his body in many ways.
It's unbelievable to think how my dad went from this healthy (210lb), athletic, full of life individual who rarely drank let alone ever smoke, down to 164 lbs and could only muster up the energy to leave his bed for a chemo or radiation appointment. Needless to say, he wasn't able to provide for our family, financially, emotionally, just even physically be the strong and courageous man he had always been for my mom and 2 brothers. And because of that, he was losing his will to live each day!
What has kept him going...all these years, through his treatments, surgeries, & procedures is the unconditional love and support of our family and extended family & friends. Also, his love for this life he is living (even though tainted with cancer and at one time being told by one of his very first doctors, that he HAD less than a 1% chance of LIVING past 2 years....My dad of course ended up FIRING THAT DOCTOR)!!
At the age of 47, my dad became a grandfather for the very 1st time to a beautiful granddaughter, named Remi Rose and now awaits the arrival of his 1st grandson early Fall. He also has us three dedicated sons and a newlywed wife and her daughter to live for.
With all this said, believe it or not for my dad, cancer has been an amazing journey in its own odd way as he has reassured me more than once. He may have lost a lot of friends to this horrible disease, but he has also gained some new friends, a new prospective at times, as well as a new outlook. His knowledge on the life threatening disease has expanded and he has a great compassion for others and what they are going through. He used to ask, "Why me"? , but then realized "Why not me"? He has met some dedicated doctors that we've all entrusted with his life. And of course learned early on, The power of prayer is amazing, don't ever underestimate it!
And now, our latest update, the cancer has resurfaced in his throat and in both lungs again- very small tumors. Please know, your support, any support would mean so much to myself and my family! My dad continues to be unable to work due to upcoming treatments and surgeries. And he has been buried with medical bills for the past 9 years.
Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and continued prayers! Again, my family and I are forever grateful!
Thank you & blessing always,
Austin Lenihan and Lenihan Family
General timeline:
9/26/09- Diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal
10/09- Radiation: 27 treatments
Chemo-1 round (12 sessions)
01/2010- Surgery: colon resection/rerouting bowels/ illestomy bag
02/2010- Chemotherapy: 1 round(12 sessions)
01/2011- Removed illestomy bag, retrain bowels.
04/2011- PET scan revealed spots on both lungs
04/2011- Surgery to remove lower lobe on each lung ( 2 separate surgeries, only have about 70% lung capacity)
07/2011- Chemo after each lung surgery (1 round each/24 sessions)
04/2013- Flew down to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. Met with Dr. Kundruanda to develop a plan to treat Lenny. The plan was to treat him like a chronic disease until a cure was found.
07/2013- Began working with a new oncologists and began metranomic chemotherapy (low dose)
10/2013- Started developing chemo brain- forgetting his email, how to write checks, and couldnt drive or carry on a conversation.
2/2014- Began healing from chemo treatments, started working again.
02/2014-2015- Cancer free
06/2015- Diagnosed with a tumor in his throat, had throat surgury ,and then recieved chemo for almost a year as treatment and during that time he developed chemo brain. He couldnt carry on a conversation or even add simple math.
07/2016- PET scan revealed 5 more tumors in his lungs.
11/2016- Current - Radiation/ cyberknife treatment. Recieves targeted radiation/cyberknife for 4 straight days and weekends are off.
*Many other surgeries took place that werent noted. (installed port for chemo (3 times) / radiofrequency ablasion/ kidney stones/ 3 hernias) ,
Organizer and beneficiary
Lenny Lenihan
Organizer
Kirkland, WA
Lenny Lenihan
Beneficiary