Sixty-three-year-old Roger Haist and his grandson, Kyle, have spent 20 years together doing the things that grandparents typically do with their grandkids.
They’ve even made the annual U.S. Postal Worker’s food drive for Oxford/Orion FISH a family affair, seeing as Roger’s wife, Vicky, is a letter carrier in town. Now, they’re both battling two terminal illnesses together.
Roger, a longtime Oxford resident, has been suffering from vascular disease, kidney disease and an ischemic colon, which is a disorder that causes insufficient blood flow to his colon, causing the walls to die off or perforate.
According to his daughter, Lori Bourgeau, he’s had two surgeries to have pieces of his colon removed.
‘The next time it happens, that’s gonna be it,? she said. ‘There’s nothing else to do.?
Kyle, a Lake Orion resident who graduated from Lake Orion High School in 2006 with honors, has Stage 4 Melanoma.
One year after having a mole removed from his back and being cleared of cancer, Kyle found a lump under his arm and found the cancer had spread to his lymphnodes, leaving numerous tumors throughout his body.
He has been through surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy. Some of the medical treatments Kyle goes through are experimental, so they’re not covered by insurance.
Kyle’s also engaged to his high school sweetheart, Lindsay Halliday, and has fought his cancer with a great sense of humor since being diagnosed two years ago.
Although both men have been battling their diseases with strength and bravery, their family and friends have decided to organize a bowling benefit to help raise money to pay for the numerous medical bills they’ve incurred during their illnesses. The prognosis for their recovery is grim.
‘We’re also going to have funeral expenses, which we expect to have around the exact same time,? Bourgeau said.
If you’re interested in helping the Haist family, the benefit will take place on Sunday, July 13, at Collier Lanes in Oxford (879 S. Lapeer Rd.), from 12:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. The bowling alley generously offered to open on a Sunday for this event.
Cost is $10 for adults, $7 for children 6-16, five and under bowl free. This includes two games and shoes. There will also be raffles, a 50/50 raffle, auctions, karaoke and much more fun.
The Haist Family Fund has been set up at Oxford Bank, and anyone can send donations to it to P.O. Box 225, Oxford, MI 48371.
For more information, contact Daryl Lilly at (248) 460-3523.