Help me beat my tonsilar cancer
Donation protected
I'm a retired respiratory therapist who always thought of myself as lucky that I always had good heatlh. I retired four years ago and looked forward to a long life with my wonderful wife of 34 years. When we retired I used my accumulated retirement funds to purchase a modest retirement home here in Orlando.
Last month, my luck ran out. During a routine physical exam my primary care physician found a lump on one of my tonsils. After seeing an ENT and a head/neck surgeon it was diagnosed as stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma. With income limited to social security and Medicare the expenses of early treatment are gobbling our meager savings like a vulture. Although the diagnosis seems extreme, the physicians offer a 90% survival rate for those who undergo chemoradiation.
I have never considered myself a charity case, nor have I been very active on social media. I have no idea how successful this plea will be in helping us avoid really dire financial consequences, but I do know that bills are starting to come in that will likely cripple us for years without some help. My wife is especially insistent that we do all we can to beat this cancer. Lord knows why she thinks I'm worth all this trouble....
The funds will be used to pay copayments for physician visits, procedures, and dental care that needs to be performed prior to radiation of the mouth. For the anticiapted course, our out-of-pocket expenses will approach $10,000. Any funds that are not used for these specific expenses willl be donated by September 1, 2016 to the American Cancer Society.
I have many friends and colleagues who have been kind to me over the years. I would like to be around for years to help repay their kindness by paying it forward.
Last month, my luck ran out. During a routine physical exam my primary care physician found a lump on one of my tonsils. After seeing an ENT and a head/neck surgeon it was diagnosed as stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma. With income limited to social security and Medicare the expenses of early treatment are gobbling our meager savings like a vulture. Although the diagnosis seems extreme, the physicians offer a 90% survival rate for those who undergo chemoradiation.
I have never considered myself a charity case, nor have I been very active on social media. I have no idea how successful this plea will be in helping us avoid really dire financial consequences, but I do know that bills are starting to come in that will likely cripple us for years without some help. My wife is especially insistent that we do all we can to beat this cancer. Lord knows why she thinks I'm worth all this trouble....
The funds will be used to pay copayments for physician visits, procedures, and dental care that needs to be performed prior to radiation of the mouth. For the anticiapted course, our out-of-pocket expenses will approach $10,000. Any funds that are not used for these specific expenses willl be donated by September 1, 2016 to the American Cancer Society.
I have many friends and colleagues who have been kind to me over the years. I would like to be around for years to help repay their kindness by paying it forward.
Organizer
Brian Parker
Organizer
Orlando, FL
