For Daryl Chappell, the financial assistance he has received from Vickie’s Angel Foundation has been “a saving grace.” In fact, the Lewisberry resident who was diagnosed last year with lung cancer has an interesting analogy to describe how big of an impact the support has been for him and his family.
“It’s like jumping out of a plane. You can either get there real fast and land hard. Or do you have a parachute on and you have a little bit softer of a landing?” Chappell said.
This description certainly seems fitting after listening to Chappell describe what has transpired in his life over the last several months. The 55-year-old said that he was feeling relatively healthy over the summer before he developed a lingering cough that would not go away. After some urging from his family, he went to an urgent care facility, fully expecting that a simple prescription for antibiotics would put the cough behind him.
Instead, an x-ray and further testing revealed several cancerous spots in his lungs, including a mass the size of a walnut toward the right side. He said the official diagnosis was Stage 3B lung cancer. For a person who worked two jobs and was used to getting by on only a few hours of sleep per day, it has been a challenging transition.
“I went from this highly functional life where I could pick up a refrigerator and in a matter of months, I went downhill very fast,” Chappell said. “Now, to pick up a gallon of milk, it’s, ‘Oh my God. That’s heavy.’ A couple hours after being up, I’m exhausted. I feel like I need to lay down.”
To add to the difficult situation, Chappell said that his wife recently spent a week in the hospital’s intensive care unit. She is battling a serious heart issue as her husband has undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Understandably, these hardships led to a situation where the Chappells had quickly exhausted their savings. That’s what led them to turn to Vickie’s Angel Foundation for assistance. The foundation quickly processed their application and helped them cover some of their rent payments. That has helped Chappell focus on his radiation treatments. Meanwhile, later this month he’ll have a follow-up appointment with his oncologist to undergo further testing to assess where he stands.
As for the support he’s received from Vickie’s Angel Foundation, Chappell said he has a hard time finding the words to express his gratitude and thanks.
“If I can beat this thing, it makes me want to do something like what they’re doing. You realize how it grabs your heart and soul and how appreciative you are,” he said. “I think it’s incredible. It brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it.”
About Us: Vickie's Angel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission of helping families fighting cancer who cannot pay their bills because of going through cancer treatment. The foundation’s goal is to take away the financial worry from the family, providing a temporary bridge that allows them to focus entirely on beating this disease. Since 2003, Vickie’s Angel Foundation has raised over $3.8 million and helped more than 2,000 families. Importantly, 100% of all online donations, and monies received at our walk; along with 100% of net proceeds from sponsored events, go directly to those in need.