Hi all, Thank you for how much of a loving and giving hand you have showed our family during the past few months. We cannot believe it all. Here’s an update on how our dad is doing: He started at Mission Hospital with a general oncologist. He had a few complications doing chemo, as they had him on a very strong kind. After two treatments at Mission, they were concerned with his Platelet levels and didn’t want to proceed with chemo. With no other options, we were referred to a specialist in San Diego to enter in clinical trials. Through meeting this specialist, he was confident he could get my Dad into remission and that he didn’t need to do trials, he just needed a different plan. After figuring out insurance during this time my parents were able to secure it to be able to begin treatment at Scripps Hospital, under this Doctor who as a specialist has dealt with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. So far, my dad has completed 5 rounds of chemotherapy at Scripps, and only has one left. He looks better than he had at the begging of this year, his spleen has shrunk down almost completely, and the chemo he is on is a type that won’t make his hair fall out. Good news for dad and his full head of hair! He gets treatment at the beginning of every month, so he has three weeks rest where he has been keen on getting projects done around the house. We were also able to go up north to visit our loving family for Thanksgiving after the thumbs up from the doctor (we probably would have gone either way, sorry doc!). He has been on a strict diet from the start, and tries alternative methods. For the past few weeks he has done full Carnivore diet. And throughout has of course avoided carbs and sugars (when we are watching). We are so amazed, but not surprised, at his strength and resilience when it comes to routine and doing what he needs to do in order to win this. Not to mention his ability to push his own uncomfortableness or pain out of his focus to be able to continue a normal life. After we finish with Scripps, they will see where he truly is compared to the start and from there we will be told of a new plan and status. With Mantle Cell, you may reach remission but become resistant to whatever treatment you began with and it has a tendency to come back. So we pray that with new research happening as we do this, it will increase our time and, fingers crossed, find a cure one day or a new drug that keeps it at bay longer. We apologize for not updating this page as he has progressed, it has been one day at a time while still doing school and going to work. I will share some photos taken during these past few months. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to each and every dear friend and incredible stranger who has donated and taken a lot of financial stress off of my parents’ back. It’s times like these where you count each blessing. To our friends and family, we love you and fearfully can not imagine how this would all feel so different without you. I don’t believe he would be at the point he is now if it weren’t for you. ________________________________________________ Update 7/8: After speaking with treatment centers and exploring avenues, the cost for many of them exceed the baseline projection of $50,000. If you have been so gracious to have donated so far, please don’t again. This has far exceeded our hopes already and we are continuing to fight for our Dad to get the treatment he deserves. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. __________________________________________________ Hi everyone, my name is Nina, my brother and I are starting this to help our family's costs in treating our Dads cancer. Kevin was diagnosed with Stage 4 of a rare Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma called Mantle Cell Lymphoma. We've been told to act as quickly as possible as this cancer is aggressive and already in a late stage, but treatable. This news came at the beginning of July and we are currently looking over all of our options. With chemo treatments or centers the baseline cost is $50,000. My parents are without health insurance so this journey ahead won’t be light. My Dad hates the idea of a LFEBridge as he has never been someone to ask for handouts, but my brother and I have set this up to give the many people who love and adore him a way to help out our family in this very scary and unexpected time. The amount of love and support that has already come our way has been so special to see and we are truly grateful. To those who know our dad, I'm sure you are just as surprised as we are. We appreciate anything you are able to donate to help our parent's financial burden in trying to get him the best care possible for this diagnosis. Anything helps, and please do not worry if you aren't able to donate anything at this time we know everyone has their own struggles as well. We would deeply appreciate if this link was shared around to help find people that are able to donate. Thank you all for the love and prayers that have been sent our way already, we are so lucky to have such a supportive community around us. We look forward to fighting this thing head-on with our Dad every step of the way and would love to have you guys by our side in the process. -Nina Barker This is also a beautiful message from our Aunt Nancy that we thought should be posted on here as well: Dear friends and family, I am writing this because I know so many of you have been blessed by the kindness and generosity of Kevin Barker and the Barker family. I am sad to share that Kevin is unfortunately facing an extremely difficult serious health diagnosis and this beautiful family needs help to get through this challenging time. Healthcare in this country is so unaffordable for so many of us and it is so unfair that such hard working, honest, kind, compassionate people have to worry about medical costs affecting their quality of care and possibly limiting their treatment options. If you have been blessed enough to know Kevin, Lori, Cory and Nina, if you have been one of the countless guests who have been welcomed into their home and treated like family, if you have been one of the many friends that had an extended visit because you needed somewhere to stay and their door was open, if you have had Kevin in your home to help you transform it with his beautiful carpentry skills, if you have leaned on them in hard times or had them show up for you during your hard times (as they so often do), if you have shared a meal, a drink, a beach day, special occasion or even just a laugh, if you have been lucky enough to call any of them friend, then I am asking you to please support them in any way that you can. Kevin and Lori have selflessly “paid it forward” their entire lives. Let’s all take this opportunity to pay them back! If you are unable to help financially please pray for them and for Kevin’s health. -Nancy Trost-Sherman Thank you, everyone, again for all and any of the beautiful support you have given us. It means the world to us.
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