It was unexpected news just a little over a week before Christmas.
"He was complaining about having chest pains, he couldn't hold nothing down but broth. He ended up going to the ER and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with him," said Cole Van Zandt.
It was stage four pancreatic cancer.
When Cole Van Zandt heard of his father's diagnosis, he felt the need to do something. And with an idea that came from his girlfriend, Cole has organized a fundraising event called "Fight the Fight."
"We know that we don't have enough money to keep things going," said Cole." He's got a lot of the animals he needs to feed, bills that he needs to pay and he's also got a lot of prescriptions that he needs to get filled. I just, I feel helpless and this is about the only thing I can do to support my dad and let him know that I'm here for him."
Leslie started his chemotherapy just three days before Christmas. And coming together for Leslie this holiday season has been hard on the entire family.
"It's not an easy deal. It's hard to look at dad in his condition because he's been so strong and he's been, he's what's kept me going and gave me the personality and the heart and helped me become the man that I am today," Cole explained.
But Cole says he wants this difficult time to bring the family closer together.
"It's hard you know, when someone you care about is going through this," he said. "It's hard to realize that this is what it takes to make you realize that every second that you've got is precious and you need to take advantage of it."
And hoping that this fundraiser will be just one more way to help his dad get better.
The fundraising event, "Fight the Fight," will be Saturday, December 29 at 6pm at the Wylie Christian Church.
"He was complaining about having chest pains, he couldn't hold nothing down but broth. He ended up going to the ER and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with him," said Cole Van Zandt.
It was stage four pancreatic cancer.
When Cole Van Zandt heard of his father's diagnosis, he felt the need to do something. And with an idea that came from his girlfriend, Cole has organized a fundraising event called "Fight the Fight."
"We know that we don't have enough money to keep things going," said Cole." He's got a lot of the animals he needs to feed, bills that he needs to pay and he's also got a lot of prescriptions that he needs to get filled. I just, I feel helpless and this is about the only thing I can do to support my dad and let him know that I'm here for him."
Leslie started his chemotherapy just three days before Christmas. And coming together for Leslie this holiday season has been hard on the entire family.
"It's not an easy deal. It's hard to look at dad in his condition because he's been so strong and he's been, he's what's kept me going and gave me the personality and the heart and helped me become the man that I am today," Cole explained.
But Cole says he wants this difficult time to bring the family closer together.
"It's hard you know, when someone you care about is going through this," he said. "It's hard to realize that this is what it takes to make you realize that every second that you've got is precious and you need to take advantage of it."
And hoping that this fundraiser will be just one more way to help his dad get better.
The fundraising event, "Fight the Fight," will be Saturday, December 29 at 6pm at the Wylie Christian Church.
