Support Kenny's Battle Against Pancreatic Cancer

My Story Of Kenny And His Amazing Wife

My name is Kristen Carter Fojtik and I’ve set-up this fundraiser on behalf of a dear family friend, Kenny Griffin. Kenny has been the next-door neighbor of my parents in Suffolk, VA since 1998. He and his beautiful wife, Pam, have supported me and my family through the loss of both of my parents. My mother had a Pancreatic Cancer battle of her own which she lost in 2015, and my father died suddenly in the summer of 2023. Kenny actually found my father collapsed and made the dreaded call to inform me of his passing. My entire family was scheduled to arrive the very next day for a week-long visit with my Dad.

You truly won’t find kinder, more loving and generous people than these two. The level of love and support that they have given me and my parents over the past couple of decades has been unwavering. I cannot put into words what they mean to me and so many others. Kenny was recently diagnosed with Pancreatic and Lymphatic Cancer. I want to ensure they have all the support they can get right now. It’s the least I can do to help pay it forward for all they’ve done for me, my family, and so many others.

Kennyʻs Story - Help Kenny Fight Cancer

Kenny is a lifelong resident of Suffolk, VA where he attended Suffolk High School. He has worked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard since 2002, and prior he was at the Newport News Shipyard for 18 years. He is married to the love of his life, Pam Griffin. In Nov 2023, Kenny started to have abdominal pain and went to the ER where a Gastroenterologist was assigned to him. Sadly, he was not properly diagnosed for 5 months even though he made multiple trips to Doctors and Specialists due to his constant pain and discomfort. Bloodwork also showed increasing cancer markers throughout this time and imaging showed masses on his Pancreas. They were literally told not to worry about the masses or bloodwork results. Due to Kenny and Pam's persistence, they sought a second opinion at Duke University where he was finally diagnosed.

Kenny was officially diagnosed on 3/15/24 with Pancreatic Cancer and was accepted at the Duke Cancer Center on 03/27/24. He was a candidate for the Whipple procedure, a very invasive surgery that took 7 hours and left him with 41 staples. The surgeon removed the head of the pancreas and pathology reports revealed that cancer had moved into his lymph nodes. Kenny’s Oncologist says he is Stage 3 and his cancer type is extremely aggressive, so he must fight this with the strongest chemo they have, Folfirinox. He will start chemo on 5/22/24 with treatment every 2 weeks for 6 months. Doctors say there is a 40% chance the cancer will return in some form.

The Fundraising Goal

We are hoping to raise $40,000 to get Kenny and Pam through the next 9 months (through the end of treatment and recovery).

Funds raised will help pay for 9 months of uncovered expenses, including:

-Medical care not covered by insurance

-Lost wages

-Travel and lodging expenses to Duke Medical

-Other expenses to support day-to-day comfort and ease

All funds raised will go directly to Kenny, so he can apply funds directly where they are needed most. Your support is deeply appreciated.

There will likely be additional unforeseen expenses and weʻll keep everyone updated here on the GoFundMe page.