Faith in the Fight

Welcome to our journey of faith, hope, and resilience. This blog is dedicated to sharing updates about Barry's courageous battle with Cholangiocarcinoma,  rare cancer, allowing friends and family across the country to stay informed and join us in prayer. Your support means everything as we navigate this challenge together. As Barry desires "In all this, I just want Jesus to be glorified."

The Diagnosis

Apr 6, 2026 1:15 PM

After arriving at the ER, CT scans were immediately ordered.  As I waited, I call our children. Erin headed our ways immediately.  Results began to come back, but due to no fault of the ER general doctor, specifics were vague.   No internal bleeding, baseball sized tumor in his liver, with lesions throughout both lobes, and “spots” on his lungs.  He would be admitted under the care of Internal Medicine, an Oncologist would be called in and likely a biopsy of the largest mass the next day (Tuesday).  Erin had texted Joe and he swooped in and began carrying some of the load as close family had to be notified sooner versus later. (The first of many provisions by God) A blood transfusion was ordered to try to combat the low hemoglobin count and help with the anemia.

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Our story

This is the beginning of the most unimaginable chapter of our lives.  We're choosing to share it, not because people want details (although they do), but because in this tornado

of tests, fear, uncertainty, questions, and bewilderment, Jesus is in the middle of it all, showing up in such tangible ways that his love for us is undeniable.

 

Approximately 6 months ago, Barry’s A1C begin to climb.  The doctor made the decision to place him on a very common drug to bring it down.  Shortly after beginning this medication, Barry began have night sweats- milder at first, but grew to profusely sweating to the point of soaking the sheets.  Three months passed.  

Thinking we were dealing with a side effect of the medication, we spoke with our PCP who ran more blood work.  The A1C had climbed yet again while on medication. So we changed to a different medication in early February after a trip to the panhandle to visit family. 

 

That’s when things began declining.   Night sweats extended throughout the day.  Then, he started feeling so tired- and due to the poor sleep, neither of us took it as an issue. Afternoon chills shook his body violently, he had little energy to do the things he desired to do.