I Survived, Now I Want To Live

wallygator007.wixsite.com/jesse I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable form of blood cancer found in the bone marrow, in May of 2017, just 2 months before my 40th birthday. I underwent an exhausting 6 week Stem Cell Transplant process at Mayo clinic in November of 2017. I am fortunate to have achieved a full cellular recovery and am in remission for the time being. The initial level of support I got from people was overwhelming. And I am lucky to be able to continue my life. I was so focused on survival and the next treatment, that I was not completely prepared to deal with the unfortunate aftermath of battling cancer. I am currently unable to work due to the effects of the Myeloma, and having exhausted all my financial resources, I am stuck in a very uncomfortable and unfamiliar situation. The needs of my family have not stopped to wait for this ugly disease to go away. Financial problems have arisen, bills and housing costs built up because everything had to be put on the back burner while I was fighting to survive and now I need help more than ever. I want my children to be able to live as normally as possible without feeling the financial stress. I didnt want them to have to go another summer sacrificing due to my illness. I want to be able to have fun with them while my remission lasts. I want them to be able to participate in the activities they wish to. I want more than anything, for them to have thieir basic needs covered while I get back on my feet and can provide financial stability again. Not being able to work for now has proven to be far more difficult than I could have imagined. Besides the obvious financial problems it causes, mentally it is harder than dealing with cancer. As a paramedic I spent my career in a role as a caregiver. I loved every minute of it. There is no way to replace the fulfillment I got from getting paid to help others. Having to ask for help is extremely difficult and humbling to say the least. I never thought I'd be in this postition, yet here I am, respectfully and graciously asking for your help. Please know that as difficult as this is, any donation made to me and my family will be appreciated and hopefully paid forward in the future. I just need a little help to get thru this current stage of my life so I can break free from the current financial stresss, and get busy living and enjoying the second chance I have been blessed to have been given.