Gregory Mitchell, 68, is a devoted father of two and a loving grandfather to nine. For more than a year, he has been battling stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, while raising three of his grandchildren, ages 12, 16, and 17, whom he has cared for since birth. To them, he is everything.
Gregory’s health struggles began long before his cancer diagnosis. In the year 2000, he suffered a severe back injury, rupturing a disc that left him on disability. But nothing prepared him for the moment he learned he had cancer. It started when he began to cough up blood, leading to a PET scan that confirmed his worst fears. “The hardest thing was telling the kids,” Gregory recalls. “Being their main support, I didn’t know how they’d take it. While very difficult for them, they handled it better than I expected.”
Wanting to give back, Gregory’s grandchildren have stepped up to help with household chores. Despite his illness though, Gregory continues to do all the cooking yet he himself cannot eat. One of the most difficult aspects of his journey has been the inability to eat, relying entirely on a feeding tube. His last PET scan showed scarring from radiation and chemotherapy, making it unclear whether the cancer is gone. Now, he faces a two-month wait before another MRI determines if his trach can be removed—something he has endured for the past nine months.
Financial struggles added another layer of stress. Unable to meet his daily living needs, Gregory worried he might lose his home. That’s when he was connected to Vickie’s Angel Foundation through a social worker at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute in Lancaster. While he is now over our temporary financial bridge, we were able to help him for several months by paying his car, phone and electric bills, making it possible for him to maintain stability in their lives.
When Gregory met Mickey Minnich, he found more than just financial assistance, he found a guiding hand and a compassionate heart. “Mickey is a very, very great man,” Gregory says. “I felt as though I didn’t have a way to move forward, and he stepped in and held my hand. He understood what I was going through, brought clarity, and most importantly, listened. I’ve only known him for a short time, but it feels like much longer.”
Offering advice for others, Gregory said “It’s not easy, but it’s not the end—no matter how bleak it looks. There’s always a ray of sunshine. When you hear its cancer, open your heart and mind. That’s what the foundation did for me.” Now, Gregory is focused on changing his outlook and embracing the future with hope. “I thought I had no future after the cancer diagnosis. Then I talked with Mickey and the angels, and now I realize I do.”
Gregory’s journey is a testament to resilience, love, and the power of community. At Vickie’s Angel Foundation, we are honored to be part of his story, walking alongside him as he finds strength in the face of adversity.
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