HELMICK STRONG

This is for George and my BIG Brother, My Parents first child, Kristys Love, Afton, Rowan and Pasley's Daddy and  your friend

The week before Thanksgiving 2015 Kevin left work and went to the doctor with discomfort in his stomach.  Recently he had been diagnosed with pancreatitis.  The doctor put him in the hospital to run more tests.  When the tests came back it was not pancreatic is but a mass on his pancreas that after a biopsy was found to be a VERY aggressive Pancreatic Cancer.  Our family was devastated.  Kevin and Kristy stayed in the hospital for two days waiting for a bed to open at VCU in Richmond Virginia.  After two days they were finally on their way.  For three weeks Kevin's Billy Rubin count was too high for him to be accepted into the clinical trials.  At the end of the three weeks all the prayers were answered and his Billy Rubin numbers were down low enough to be accepted into the clinical trials and the super dose of chemo began.
For the two months Kevin and Kristy will be traveling to Richmond (180 miles round trip) once a week for a igh dose of chemo.  Around the 22nd of February they will have to travel down to VCU EVERYDAY for the chemo and radiation.  
Right now the mass is inoperable because of its proximity to a major artery.  They are trying to reduce its size before the surgery.  
The fatigue and nausea from the treament has been EXTREME.   It is very difficult for Kevin to go about his daily routine.  Christmas morning and day was rough for him and spent in bed.  He missed seeing his three little girls opening their packages.
Both Kevin and Kristy have missed ALOT of work.  Kevin tries to go in to The Highland School as much as he can, but the pain and fatigue is overwhelming.  He misses his Highland family to include the Boys Lacrosse team that he has coached for a number of years.
Kevin can not go on long term disability for another TWO MONTHS and then will only get paid 60% of his salery.  Kristy is having to take UNPAID leave from her teaching job.  Since December the medical bills are over $8000.  His co-pays have to be paid BEFORE the insurance will pay anything.  There child care of bills run between $625 and 750 per month. They have been told the house must be kept as clean as possible. Kevin's resistance is very low due to the chemo, so he is very susceptible to getting sick. The everyday bills and transportation costs are rising. We need your help.
Kevin had just celebrated his 46 birthday when they receive the devastating news. He is a wonderful loving father  of 8 year old twins  and a two year old. He is a well-loved lacrosse coach in the Northern Virginia area. Kristy his wife of 18 years is very strong, but can only do so much. She a full time teacher. When she not with Kevin in the hospital and at the doctors appointment she's the mother of the three very active little girls involved in soccer, lacrosse, and play on a club ice hockey team in Haymarket sponsered  by the Washington Capitals (Go Caps! :-) )Kristy spends much of her time trying to coordinate where the girls are going to spend the night when she is out of town with Kevin, how they're going to get to and from school, how they're going to get to all of their many activities, and take care of Kevin. Everyone is working so very hard to help but the stress is taking its toll. Kevin and Kristy reluctantly agreed to this posting, to share their story, and ask for help. So many people have come forward and helped from bringing meals to drive in the girls to where they need to be. People even went so far as to come and decorate their house for Christmas. Many people have asked what they can do to help with the burden this is put on the family. DONATE and PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE, Hopefully this fundraiser will bring everyone together to help ease a financial burden and tremendous stress caused by this horrible disease and mounting costs. The entire family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love prayers and support they have received from friends family and complete strangers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts please keep the prayers coming!!! He will beat this! #HELMICKSTRONG