“Lindsey Lou, how do you do?” I am sure this phrase doesn’t mean much to any of you, but it does to me. This is the phrase that my Uncle Lonnie used to say to me every time he saw me. I can hear his voice as if he were sitting right next to me. When I saw him recently at a cousin’s wedding, this greeting was not present. Sitting next to my uncle, I was heart broken to see the shell of the once vibrant, smiling, goofy guy I remember from my youth. Even worse, I didn’t get to spend much time with him on this occasion because he quickly became ill and had to leave early. In October 2024, after having an upset stomach and quickly dropping weight, my Uncle Lonnie visited the doctor where a mass was discovered on his pancreas. Unable to tell if the mass was cancerous, doctors decided the best course of action would be to perform a Whipple procedure, a complex operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder and the bile duct. At that time, it was determined that he had Stage II Pancreatic Cancer. Since then, he has undergone two rounds of chemotherapy and one round of radiation, yet the cancer continues to progress. Lonnie’s cancer has progressed to Stage IV. He began his treatment at the University of Iowa and eventually was sent to Mayo Clinic. At his most recent PET scan, concern arose that the cancer had progressed further. Following an MRI, it was determined the cancer has progressed and likely has spread to his liver. Further testing is needed to determine if the two spots found on the liver during the MRI are, in fact, cancer. Because of this, he has been given a prognosis of 6 months. Lonnie has been a hard worker his entire life. He is a Marine Corps vet and received the award for expert shooter for his platoon four times in a row. He was also named Marine of the Month, Marine of the Quarter and Marine of the Year at McAllister Naval Ammunition Depot. After his enlistment, he began working for the Iron Workers Local 89 out of Cedar Rapids. In this role, he helped with the construction of the Five Seasons Center (now Alliant Energy Power House) in downtown Cedar Rapids. He was then a successful and well-loved auto salesman for many years until an on-the-job auto accident caused him to seek different employment. He later owned and operated The Steel Wheel Lounge in Tipton for many years. He then decided to return to the construction field starting with the Carpenters Local 1260 out of Iowa City and then the Carpenters Local 308 out of Cedar Rapids, helping in many projects including the University of Iowa Eye Clinic. Lonnie is the youngest of seven children and proud father to four boys. Having lost his mother and two brothers to cancer, this is a scary time for him. Having pancreatic cancer has taken its toll not only physically but financially as well. While Medicare covers some costs, it does not cover everything. As time has gone on and the cancer has progressed, more and more out of pocket costs have arisen which has placed Lonnie in a difficult spot. Being someone that is used to taking care of things himself and not one to ask for help, I created this page in hopes that others could help this wonderful man during his time of need. These funds will help him greatly in paying uncovered medical expenses, travel expenses to Mayo, and other daily needs. If you are unable to contribute financially, please share and please pray for him. Thank you in advance.
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