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My father, Tom, had a history of colon polyps, rectal bleeding and hemorrhoids. Routine screenings/scopes included removing of polyps and getting some relief afterwards. I remember a phone call I got when living in Milwaukee, I forget the year, but it was my father asking me if I could go up to Fond du Lac and pick him up to drive him to an appointment in Oshkosh. He mentioned the fact that he needed to get some polyps removed and they wouldn’t let him drive himself. For whatever reasons, I don’t recall, I told him I couldn’t. Soon after that, I was asked to step in and see how my father was doing at his apartment in Fond du Lac. The journey started. Dementia was setting in, hoarding, bipolar issues, and of course, the ongoing issues with his bottom end. It finally got to a point where my Dad refused to go see the doctor or do anymore testing for his bleeding. Eventually, I ended up releasing him into the care of Harbor Haven Health & Rehab in Fond du Lac (wonderful loving staff). We all tried to get my father to agree to tests but finally gave up as the condition got worse. Just yesterday I received a phone call “Tom woke up in a pool of blood today”. My heart sunk. The next call was “Jean, we had to change him twice in the last couple hours and there are large clots coming out”. Pain medications were ok’d and administered. The last phone call. “Jean, we went in to check on your father and he had passed away”. Was he ever formally diagnosed? No. I don’t think there was any doubt in anyone’s mind what he had, nor will there ever be.

I am hoping to share this story of my dear caring father, Tom, to raise awareness of colon cancer and the importance of getting screened regularly. (Especially if you have immediate family with it) I started getting tested a few years ago and have had polyps removed and have to return now every 3 years. I would rather have an ounce of prevention than to have things get so bad that nothing can be done and to have to suffer with a turned head. Please. Give. I thank you, my Father thanks you, and the Colon Cancer Alliance thanks you for your donation.