Dennis Hall, who is suffering from a rare form of cancer, has appealed for assistance. - Contributed

Once an active, independent man, Dennis Hall now lives a life of restricted movement, relying on family members to assist him to carry out basic functions.

Hall, an entrepreneur, was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme cancer in June. Life as he knew it has completely changed. He has been taking eight pain-killers per day, along with other medication. To add to his distress, Hall said he is affected by bouts of vomiting, because of digestion problems.

In an interview with The Gleaner recently, Hall sat in one place, the left side of his body drooping heavily.

Rising from his chair was a painful exercise as his partner, Andria Jones, had to lift him.

"Right now... excruciating head-ache," he said repeatedly, as he slowly shook his head from side to side, groaning rhythmically at times.

Despite his circumstances, Hall has not allowed his sickness to break his spirits.

"I am not afraid of challenges," he said, his eyes oozing with confidence.

"Challenges only make you stronger when you face them head-on," he added.

Jones agrees that Hall has been maintaining high spirits.

"In sickness, out of sickness, Dennis is always trying to be happy and make ev-erybody else around him happy, so that part hasn't changed."

But while Jones is happy that Hall has not changed much, she is still struggling to come to grips with the drastic change that has affected their lives.

"Life was normal and happy but since the cancer, it's like everything just spiralling around, and I have to keep wondering, 'Why it have to happen to him because I'm used to him being up and going'," she said.

Hall is father to five girls, two of whom were adopted, but his financial resources have been dwindling because of his many visits to the doctor. As a result, he is seeking financial assistance from the public in order to get chemotherapy and radiation treatment, as the treatment could cost over $1.7 million. Hall says his doctors told him that a surgery should not be done, as this might leave him in a vegetative state.

Hale-hearty individual

Former Public Defender Howard Hamilton has agreed to be one of the signatories of any fund that is set up to assist Hall.

"When I met him he was a hale-hearty individual and I am astounded by the fast deterioration in his health. When I last saw him, he couldn't walk," said Hamilton.

Amid his pain, Hall reinforced his belief in the Almighty.

"Prayer moves mountains and I believe in it," he said. "I am not only asking for assistance financially."

kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com