Current:Home > Finance'Home Alone' star Ken Hudson Campbell has successful surgery for cancer after crowdfunding -AssetScope
'Home Alone' star Ken Hudson Campbell has successful surgery for cancer after crowdfunding
View
Date:2025-04-26 07:10:47
Ken Hudson Campbell, known for his role as Santa in "Home Alone," crowdfunded his way to a successful cancer surgery after losing his SAG-AFTRA health insurance, according to his daughter.
Campbell's daughter Michaela organized a GoFundMe page on Dec. 1 ahead of the actor's planned "10-hour surgery" on Dec. 7. Campbell was diagnosed with cancer in October after "a tumor had elusively grown on the bottom of his mouth and it began encroaching on his teeth," his daughter wrote in the crowdfunding page description.
Campbell was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer that is not typically life-threatening, his daughter told People. It can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated, according to Mayo Clinic.
His fundraiser for surgery surpassed its goal of $100,000 with top donations from other Hollywood figures including Steve Carell, Yeardley Smith and "Big Bang Theory" co-creator Bill Prady.
Campbell's daughter later shared that his "cancer was removed successfully, and his jaw bone has been reconstructed from his fibula and attached."
"The day after surgery, they took him off the respirator. He is in very good condition. He's giving us hand signals at times, writing his thoughts down and trying his hardest to communicate with us, even though he cannot speak," she added. "He's been making small improvements in different ways as each day goes by."
During the surgery, "a large part of his jawbone" was set to be removed, "along with his lymph nodes, and part of his leg bone. Surgeons plan to reconstruct a new jaw for Ken from this leg bone, install it, and treat him with radiation. He will have a 6-month recovery period & Chemo may be needed afterwards as well," his daughter wrote.
Shannen Dohertysays she learned of ex's alleged affair shortly before brain tumor surgery
She added: "Even though physical therapy and speech therapy are covered, we are anticipating huge out-of-pocket costs for caregivers/skilled nursing, insurance premiums, medical equipment, transportation, dental implants, dentures and who knows what else."
Before Campbell's recent surgery, the actor was getting routine checks until he lost his health insurance in January. In that time, his cancer became more aggressive, his daughter told People.
"He lost his health insurance with SAG and he had to stop going to the same doctors that he had been going to for a while about his mouth. And it discouraged him a little bit and he just didn't really check on it," she said. "I think it was really shocking for us because we thought he was taking care of it, at least I did. It was really hard for me to hear and I had a hard time emotionally."
In addition to "Home Alone," Campbell has had minor roles in "Groundhog Day," "Armageddon," "Coyote Ugly" and more. He is slated to voice a character named Boomer in Paramount+ series "Adventures in Wonder Park" in 2024, according to IMDb.
Hilary Swank sues SAG-AFTRA Health Planover ovarian cyst coverage: 'It’s time we are treated fairly'
veryGood! (76261)
Related
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Taylor Swift continues to shriek during this song. At first fans thought she was falling.
- Why Team USA hurdler Freddie Crittenden jogged through a preliminary heat at the Olympics
- Social media bans could deny teenagers mental health help
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Cat Righting Reflex
- Noah Lyles wins Olympic 100 by five-thousandths of a second, among closest finishes in Games history
- Financial markets around the globe are falling. Here’s what to know about how we got here
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- From fun and games to artwork, try out these free AI tools for your entertainment
Ranking
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- Americans are ‘getting whacked’ by too many laws and regulations, Justice Gorsuch says in a new book
- Jimmer Fredette injury update: 3x3 star to miss 6 months after Olympic-ending injury
- Chinese businesses hoping to expand in the US and bring jobs face uncertainty and suspicion
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Too late for flood insurance? How to get ready for a looming tropical storm
- Everything you need to know about the compact Dodge Neon SRT-4
- Delaware authorities investigate the fatal shooting of a murder suspect by state troopers
Recommendation
Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
The internet's latest craze? Meet 'duck mom.'
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is Sunday. Here's how to get a free cookie.
U.S. women cap off Paris Olympic swimming with world-record gold in medley relay
Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
Simone Biles slips off the balance beam during event finals to miss the Olympic medal stand
USA breaks world record, wins swimming Olympic gold in women's medley relay
U.S. takes silver in first ever team skeet shooting event at Olympics