Former Marine, Mendham Fireman Fights For His Life Against Cancer

MENDHAM, NJ - John S. Irving, know to his friends as "Irv," served his country as a Marine, his community as a fireman and now is in the fight of his life against throat cancer. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help.

According to friend Lisa Monge, doctors are linking the source of his cancer to his deployment in Somalia and Okinawa as a nuclear, biological, and chemical instructor for the United States Marine Corps.

Monge said her friend was diagnosed before Thanksgiving with cancer on the right tonsil and the cancer spread to his two lymph nodes.

"Surgery was ruled out because of the large size of the tumors," Monge said. "John was immediately placed into a case study at UNC-Chapel Hill Cancer Hospital in North Carolina and begun weekly chemotherapy and daily radiation for the last six weeks. Although his prognosis is good that will not be determined until he can get another PET scan in three months to see if the tumors have shrunk to a size where the cancer can be possibly be removed surgically.

Monge said that the GoFundMe page was created to help his family offset the mounting medical bills for his treatment.

Irving and his wife Kelly have three children, Jack, 17, graduated early from high school and will attend ECU in the fall, Katie, 15, is a sophomore in high school, and Megan, 11, who is in 5th grade.

Irving was in the USMC from 1991-1995 as an active duty member in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia where he was a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Instructor, before being sent to Somalia Irv replaced the used chemical gear to include the gas masks from Desert Storm. After Operation Restore Hope, Irving was stationed in Okinawa for a year training and running the gas chambers.

While the doctors believe that this is related to this type of cancer-through the materials he was exposed to while serving the country, the VA will not be assisting the Irving family with his medical needs or treatment, Monge said.

That is why Mongestarted the GoFundMe page.

"Any assistance would significantly help his family," she said. "I am asking for your consideration to help the Irving family with the large amount of medical bills that have come in as a result of the cancer."

Irving is in good spirits although he is not suffering from the aftereffects of radiation and chemotherapy, he has a difficult time speaking and has radiation burns on his upper check and neck, Monge said.

On the fundraiser page, well-wishers have been leaving messages as well as donations.

"Very sorry to hear about this, John. Hang in there," Kurt Christensen said. "It’s clear you’ve got a lot of us praying and rooting for you."

George Dragonetti said that Irving has always been a fighter.

"Best wishes for a speedy recovery my friend," he said.

And Samantha DiNicola extended her thoughts to the entire family.

"Sending all of my love to John, Kelly, Jack, Katie, and Megan," she said.

Currently the campaign has raised northwards of $16,000 toward the $25,000 and Monge noted they don't want more than that amount.

"All the money collected over the amount asked for will be donated to the Chapel Hill Cancer Hospital for the other families in need," Monge said.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.

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