RICK RUNNELS
A Letter from Rick’s Daughter Keri
For as long as I can remember, my Daddy has always been a mountain of a man. He's hard working, often times up before sunrise and home after sunset to provide a life for our family. He worked as a brick mason building homes and businesses in our community for years, and then more recently worked as a trusted and sought-after crane operator.
One morning in July 2019, my daddy called me before he left for work to tell me that one side of his face was numb. He went to the hospital to have it checked out, and while there the doctors found a mass on his neck that they were concerned about. After numerous scans, tests, and biopsies, we were told that Daddy had been diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma which presented in his lymph node.
We were told that Daddy would need to be treated with both radiation which would take place five days a week, as well as chemotherapy which would take place one day a week for approximately two months. Unfortunately, the treatments made Daddy so sick he lost too much weight and a feeding tube had to be placed in order to provide him with the nutrients his body needs.
Daddy has now finished up with his radiation and chemo treatments, and in February all of his updated scans and tests showed that the cancer is gone! He still has a very long road ahead of him as he still has his feeding tube and is learning how to eat solid foods again. The treatments were very aggressive and as a result he lost 40 pounds and is still extremely weak.
Throughout the entire process, he has been unable to work to provide income for him and my mom, so expenses have been piling up. We are forever thankful for being selected as a beneficiary this year, and we are so very grateful for those who are willing to donate to this cause.
Thank you,
Keri Norton
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