Meet Alan Goodfellow: WOH Recipient for Cinderella

Help Alan by purchasing tickets to Cinderella and by donating via Venmo @givehopebox

Alan is a devoted husband and dad in a blended family of five children, plus two dogs who help run the household! He has worked as an electrician for 25 years and loves spending time with his family and supporting their interests.

Alan is also a musical-theatre fan who enjoys The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables, Wicked, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Beauty and the Beast, and Newsies! A few of his favorites include the color green, smoked or barbecued food, Reese’s Pieces, Bear Lake, and the Oregon Coast.

When asked for synonyms for hope, Alan shared: “Love, tears of joy, pure kindness.”

Alan's journey with cancer started in September of last year. He could tell that his body was feeling unsettled in some way. The symptoms felt more like an upset stomach or stress-related. Restless nights, difficulty eating, taking time off from work, and a diminished level of energy became a daily struggle. The abdominal pain progressively increased. It didn't dawn on Alan that he had a serious problem until one day in January. He was reflecting on how frequently he used pain medications to alleviate his symptoms. An appointment was made that week with a family Physician, and new medications were introduced to overcome some symptoms. Anxiety, high blood pressure, and irritable bowel were all plausible causes for the discomfort. A colonoscopy was ordered as part of the overall well-being and comprehensive check-up. After the procedure, the gastroenterologist informed Alan and his wife that a tumor was found and that it was life-threatening. He did not sugarcoat the news of a large tumor attached adjacent to the valve between the small and large intestines.

At this point, Alan was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. A biopsy confirmed the fear. Little hope was given that day, and a realization that this was life-altering settled in. In the upcoming days, an Oncology team was introduced along with an amazing surgical staff. This marked the beginning of poked arms for blood draws and sleepless nights in hospital beds. The surgery took place a few weeks later and was a success, linking the intestines back together. When Alan woke up from the surgery, a large incision with twelve staples adjacent to his belly button had been placed. Shocked was an understatement to describe his reaction when he learned that staples were holding him together. Although the surgery was a success and they were able to remove a substantial amount of intestine, cancer cells were found in the surrounding lymph nodes. This meant chemotherapy would need to be assessed and introduced.

In April, Alan had surgery to install a port to administer the infusions, and the treatments began. His version of chemo was an infusion every three weeks along with twice-a-day pills for the first two weeks. This was an aggressive approach to eradicate all fast-growing cells. Alan did not lose his hair through this process. This version of chemo affected his nervous system and heightened his sense of touch. For example, the ability to touch something cold had become impossible without gloves. The pain was too much to retrieve items from the fridge. Bathroom frequency became hourly experiences. His lungs became weak, and oxygen was introduced. Alan was hospitalized with kidney concerns that involved stints to relieve the pain. Kidney stones were surgically removed. He was also hospitalized due to seizure-like symptoms and was monitored over several days. In all, Alan had twelve nights of hospital stays between March and July. The last of the chemo treatments ended August 19th, with test results showing negative traces of cancer. Alan's recovery has started, and his energy levels are beginning to improve. He is looking forward to the day he can work again, contributing by bringing in an income. Patience has become the new word to continue to endure. 

Help Alan by purchasing tickets to Cinderella and by donating via Venmo @givehopebox