Cancer sucks!

Hi, guys! We haven't shared with a lot of people, but in January, Phil was diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer (one of the ugliest to have). For several months he had been having trouble keeping food down and had lost about 35 lbs. When it got to the point that he was only able to keep down liquids, we knew it was not his long history of acid reflux and began making doctors appointments. His first test was a CT scan and that confirmed our worst fear. Cancer.

The goal is to have chemo once a week and radiation daily for 5 weeks, a 4 week rest for his body, and then a pretty rough surgery to replace the esophagus using the stomach. After that, prayers that it doesn't return. It's going to be several months of difficult work for Phil, but we are praying for the best possible outcome.

As some of you know, last May, my dad was diagnosed with cancer and while visiting to help with his needs until he passed, we decided to move here to be with my family. With that being said, neither of us have been working at our current school district long enough to qualify for any type of extended leave or additional insuranes we have purchased, and quickly ran through our available paid time off.

The last thing either of us wanted was to have to ask for help, but with his treatment program starting, we will inevitably be looking at more days off work (if he is even able to continue to work through it). Our daily commute for chemo and radiation is about an hour and 20 minutes round trip and his oncologist and surgeon is about a four and a half hour round trip. What hours we are getting in at work are being used a lot for transportation expenses now.

Thoughts and prayers are so welcomed and any help you might be able offer.