Jesse's Cancer Treatment Expenses
Donation protected
Hi. My name is Dolores. I‘m setting up this account for Jesse, the husband of my twin sister, Donna Stallone. In 2012, he was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive cancer called Polyblastic Lymphoma. He was admitted into the MD Anderson Program for cancer treatment and two months into the process, he was told that the pathology diagnosis was wrong and instead he had Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck. MD Anderson told Jesse that they were the best in the world to treat SCC; however, the treatment could kill him, but they most likely would cure him.
They were correct. When he started the program, Jesse, 6’2’’, weighed 228 pounds and after seven weeks of radiation treatments, he was declared “cancer free” … but he had lost his sense of taste, his saliva glands stopped working and he had lost 85 pounds!
A potential side effect of excessive exposure to radiation therapy is a condition called Osteoradionecrosis. In layman’s terms, Jesse’s jaw has become infected and is rotting due to his radiation treatments. As if all of this were not enough, Jesse now needs reconstructive surgery of his mandible and hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Doctors will remove his jaw, and create a new one using the small bone (fibula) from his lower leg. This surgical procedure will take 12 hours, followed by 2 to 3 days in the ICU and 5 to 7 more days in the hospital. Barring any other difficulties, his overall recovery will take three months… During which he will be on a feeding tube, and he will have to be trained to walk again.
This fight for his life and health has drained all of this family’s savings, including Jesse’s 401(k) fund. However, the fight is not over. He needs help to finish these treatments so he, his wife, and child can heal.
His insurance will only cover a portion of the costs, so I am asking you to please help them, however you can. Jesse desperately needs the surgery as soon as possible. Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated!
They were correct. When he started the program, Jesse, 6’2’’, weighed 228 pounds and after seven weeks of radiation treatments, he was declared “cancer free” … but he had lost his sense of taste, his saliva glands stopped working and he had lost 85 pounds!
A potential side effect of excessive exposure to radiation therapy is a condition called Osteoradionecrosis. In layman’s terms, Jesse’s jaw has become infected and is rotting due to his radiation treatments. As if all of this were not enough, Jesse now needs reconstructive surgery of his mandible and hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Doctors will remove his jaw, and create a new one using the small bone (fibula) from his lower leg. This surgical procedure will take 12 hours, followed by 2 to 3 days in the ICU and 5 to 7 more days in the hospital. Barring any other difficulties, his overall recovery will take three months… During which he will be on a feeding tube, and he will have to be trained to walk again.
This fight for his life and health has drained all of this family’s savings, including Jesse’s 401(k) fund. However, the fight is not over. He needs help to finish these treatments so he, his wife, and child can heal.
His insurance will only cover a portion of the costs, so I am asking you to please help them, however you can. Jesse desperately needs the surgery as soon as possible. Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated!
Organizer
Donna Stallone
Organizer
Cypress, TX
