Traveling for Hopeful Treatment

Aaron is a father to 3 wonderful sons, a brother, an uncle, and a friend to anyone that needs one.  Aaron is the type of person that will lend a helping hand to anyone in need.  Aaron has always been in pretty good shape, enjoying the outdoors mostly with his 10 year old son, loves water sports, camping, cooking meals, and participating in just about anything competitive; my dear friend Aaron was diagnosed with stage II Pleomorphic Liposarcoma in August of 2014.  Aaron’s Sarcoma is rare, only being diagnosed in 10% of all Sarcoma cases (http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?lng=en&Expert=99969). Basically, Aaron has tumors throughout his body that can eventually take over, and will continue attacking his soft tissue if not treated.  Early on Aaron’s prognosis was quite positive.  His Oncologist advised him to remove some of the tumors that were easily assessable surgically.  Along with chemotherapy treatments he should have been in remission by the holidays.  After one surgery, different combinations of Chemotherapy, increased dosages, and many rounds of Chemotherapy, Aaron has not shown positive results.  Unfortunately, one of Aaron’s tumors erupted causing it to gravitate to the soft weak parts of his underarm, producing a couple dozen small tumors that are now spreading.

     Aaron’s current treatment plan is to surgically remove the bigger tumors in hopes that the Chemotherapy treatments will have an effect on the smaller tumors, before they spread into his lymphoid, blood, and affect other organs. While emotionally he feels like he can handle the Chemotherapy, his body is having a hard time with it.  Aaron’s been hospitalized for fever, dehydration, infectious blood counts, low fever, and extreme stomach pains on multiple occasions. Even with all of the odds against him, he is still very optimistic for the future. 

     Aaron’s journey down the road to recovery has taken him to the Sarcoma Specialty Center in Stanford, CA. Aaron and his Oncologist feel Stanford is the best option for his upcoming surgery, continued treatments, and recovery going forward. Unfortunately, traveling to Stanford which is three hours from his home will require overnight hotel accommodations, travel expenses, meals, and extended absences from work.  Aaron is in need of financial assistance to cover these costs as they are an extreme burden to him financially that he cannot afford on his own.  I pray that this financial burden doesn’t affect his recovery, for the additional stress of trying to come up with money that is not there is an extra challenge he should not have to take on. 

     Any donations will help relieve some of the financial strain that Aaron and his family will endure during these times. I thank you in advance for any financial support you are willing to contribute.  Please keep Aaron and his family in your prayers.  Thank you and God bless you and your loved ones.