Our family is very close and we all do a lot of family events together. We celebrate every holiday as a big family. This year is a little different because my grandpa does have cancer and is getting chemotherapy treatment for it.
My grandpa, Robert Krauter, is 65 years old and he has bladder cancer. My grandpa is a very strong individual but cancer is one hard thing to beat. He has had cancer for 10 months, since February 2023. When he first got it he kept it to himself. He didn’t want to scare his grandchildren or any of his loved ones but not long after he did tell his daughter who is my mother and also told his son who is my uncle.
Katie Kleeschulte is my mother and Craig Krauter is my uncle. Katie is 32 years old and Craig is 40 years old. My grandpa and my grandma (Mary Krauter) got a divorce when their kids were younger but my grandpa does have a wife that helps a lot. When he finally released the news to his kids, they were both obviously very devastated but had to think about good times and just remember he is still with us now. When I was told of the news, I was very upset and worried. I had so many questions and so many thoughts running through my head at that moment. My grandpa is one of my favorite people and he is one of my number one supporters. I couldn’t imagine him being gone.
I hate cancer so much. It’s horrible. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, with one in six people dying from it. This results in around 608,507 death yearly from cancer alone, according to the American Cancer Society. In 2023, an estimated 609,820 people will die of cancer in the United States. Lung and bladder cancer is responsible for the most cancer related deaths with a total 127,070 people expected to die from this disease. That is nearly three times the 52,550 deaths due to colorectal cancer, which is the second most common cause of cancer death.
My family has gone through a lot since we found out my grandpa has cancer. We have tried our absolute hardest to be there for him every step of the way and help with whatever he needs. My grandpa is a very strong individual person and likes to do things for himself but he is starting to learn that we do need to help him and we are only helping because we love him. He likes to be in control of a lot of things but it is very hard when he has cancer. He needs a lot of help whether he likes it or not.
One of the best memories I have with my grandpa is when me and him went camping for the first time together. We used to always go camping on the Fourth of July, but since his cancer came, we haven’t been able to. Another one of my favorite things about my grandpa is that he is one of my biggest supporters when it comes to my sports. He used to always come to my games no matter how cold or hot it was and I really appreciate him for that. I really do love him.
My grandpa loves camping. He used to go all the time but his cancer has gotten very serious and camping isn’t the best thing for him to do all the time. Since my grandpa got cancer, he can’t do a lot of the things he likes to do.
Some of my grandpa’s hobbies were driving his side-by-side around and trying new things with it, going out with his friends and family, working, camping and playing with his dog. Now that he has cancer, it is very hard for him to do most of these things.
Cancer doesn’t just impact him, it impacts our whole family. In 2021 we actually lost a family member, his mother, my great grandmother. That was a serious heartbreak and it still impacts my family to this day, not a day goes by that I don’t think about her. I know that if she was still with us today she would want to do anything and everything she possibly could for him. My great grandmother had the kindest heart and soul. Everyone loved her but her son loved her the most. It has been so very hard for him losing her they did everything for each other and with each other.
My grandpa has been fighting cancer for a very long time and we pray for him everyday hoping he beats it. I love my grandpa with my whole entire heart and soul. I hope he makes it out of this terrible nightmare.
