Support for Jeff Reid’s Battle Against Stage IV Cancer

Those of you that know my parents know that they were high school sweethearts, just recently celebrated their 40th anniversary, have three children, and four wonderful grandchildren. They love to travel to the beach and would often go camping in their camper. On May 9, 2023, my dad left work early that morning in excruciating pain and headed to the ER, thinking he had kidney stones. That day, he found out the worse news to ever hit him, mom, his children, family, and friends—preliminary results—he had a large tumor on lung that the doctor believed to be cancer. This is after having a persistent cough, shortness of breath, constant colds, and infections—being missed since 2018. He was referred to Dr. Wells with Lexington Oncology right away and it was confirmed that not only its lung cancer, a PET scan and other testing confirmed it was stage IV and had spread all over his body (femur, spine, spinal muscles, pelvis, spleen, adrenal gland, brain, and a few other places I’m sure I am forgetting). I would like to add that my daddy was never a smoker. Cancer is never fair—but it really is not fair for a man or anyone to get such a type when they did everything to prevent that type. We were told that day that his prognosis was not great and that he had two years to live, although we know that God ultimately determines when that will take place and have hope for him to get better. Dr. Wells told him to travel and go do the things he loves with his family. He has been able to travel a couple of times. The sickness that comes with cancer has quickly taken him down and prevented him from being able to go like he used to.

Dad has been the main provider for most of their marriage and due to his diagnosis, he has been out of work from day one. He has exhausted all his work benefits and will not be able to go back to work. Thankfully, dad was a saver, and has retirement that he will be able to draw in a few more years. I believe they will be just fine with meeting the necessities in life for now. They also downsized a lot and sadly got rid of their camper and all vehicles but one. Friends and family have been so gracious in bringing/sending meals, keeping the yard up, building a ramp, calling, visiting, and so much more. There are the forever ending medical bills plus the costs of his prescriptions keep piling up. I set this up hoping that we can alleviate some of the financial stress this has caused my parents. If you can give to help alleviate some of his bills, I know they would be forever grateful to you, and I would too. If you are not able to help financially that is completely understandable. I do ask that you cover my daddy in prayers and ask God to heal him of this awful disease.

In final, I would like to add that my parents did not ask for me to set up a GoFundMe. I know the stigma that comes with these types of things sometimes, but I would not be doing this if I weren’t worried about the financial outlook in the future for my parents. They are the type to always help others and never ask for anything. When I asked my mom for permission to do this, she said she felt funny about a GoFundMe, that she would think about it, maybe I could do a raffle or something like that. Dad is very private and humble, so hopefully he won’t get too upset with me for setting this up. Mom said, and I know, it would help them pay down the medical bills that keep piling up. Maybe in the future a r a f f l e would be an option too. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Please share and PRAY!