We’re Craig’s kids, and we’re asking for help on behalf of our parents, because anyone who knows them knows they would never ask themselves.

A few weeks ago, all of our lives got turned upside down with the word no one wants to hear, cancer. Craig was recently diagnosed with oral invasive squamous cell carcinoma, a type that thankfully tends to respond very well to treatment. While that gives us a lot of hope, his tumor is very extensive and is encasing his carotid artery, making his case more complex. Because of this, we’ve come to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX to make sure he’s getting the absolute best, most specialized care possible. All of this is happening extremely fast with little time to prepare. 

Craig and Alicia are currently down in Houston until May 8th. The team there is running all sorts of scans and tests to ensure that they target the radiation perfectly and avoid additional nerve damage. They will have a short period to go home and get things in order and then head back down to MD Anderson on May 20th. From there, Craig will undergo at least 8 weeks of chemoradiation. Surgery is not an option due to how extensive the tumor is. His cranial nerves 9 and 12 are damaged which is greatly affecting his speech and swallowing abilities. We are hopeful he will be able to regain some nerve function post-treatment. Between lodging, food, and medical expenses, the costs are already adding up quickly, but we know being here gives him the best chance, so it’s exactly where they need to be.

Our parents are the kind of people who show up for everyone else, no questions asked. They are strong, selfless, and would never want to put this on anyone. We just want them to be able to focus on healing, and not on financial burden. 

Craig is not only an incredible husband and dad, but an amazing grandpa, and we know there are so many more memories ahead of him. More time with his grandkids, more holidays, more milestones. Our dad means absolutely everything to us and to his grandkids. 

If you’re able to give, support, or even just share this, it means more to our family than we can put into words. Most importantly, we ask for your prayers, love, and encouragement as our dad begins this fight.

Thank you for all of the love and prayers. We will carry it with us throughout this journey.

-Tayler, Erin, Sabrina, and Nikoli