Zach's Fight
Donation protected
Hello, my name is AJ and I’m one of Zach’s aunts living in Westfield, IN, and my nephew recently posted the message below on his Facebook page and I thought he said everything so perfectly that there was no point me in trying to come up with something on my own for his go fund me story.
Money isn’t something anyone wants to think about during times like this, but it’s an unfortunate reality. With Zach’s repeated hospital stays, along with the ever rising cost and number of medications he's on, the medical equipment supplies he needs, the monthly premiums... well, the costs are rising rapidly and overwhelmingly. Any amount anyone can give to help him ease the growing strain of the premiums, medical supplies, and prescription drugs is so much appreciated. All donations will go directly to Zach and Casey. The last thing we want is for him to be worrying about money and the costs of his care. Thank you.
Below is Zach's story:
Hello, family and friends! I'm sorry I didn't contact you all earlier but I couldn't figure out what to say. How does someone deliver this kind of message? Moreover, how do I deliver this kind of message to the people I've known and loved for the last thirty-nine years? I guess, you just do it! So, here goes...
On April 11th I was diagnosed with stage four metastatic kidney cancer. I went to the doctor following some lower back pain and blood in my urine. I was in shock and couldn't believe this was happening to me and the doctors couldn't tell me why it happened. My fiance, Casey, directed our treatment to UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX. I began an immunotherapy cocktail called Ipilumimab and Nevolimab and unfortunately, neither have worked. However, it had some negative side effects like damaging my heart. The next step was to switch to a chemotherapy called Cabozantinib. This chemo didn't work as well as the oncologist hoped either. The cocktail of drugs resulted in a femoral artery clot, surgery, and sixteen days in the hospital. The next step was to try a new chemotherapy of Everolimus and Linvatinib, this is my current therapy. I had another hospital stay of seven days due to breathing issues. Now I am trying to eat food and gain back some of the weight I've lost. My beautiful Casey was beside me the whole time, with the support and love that I never thought I would have.
I would like to make a list and thank everyone individually for being in my life, but there's so many, it's not possible. I do know that all the friends I've known in my life were instrumental in making me the person I am today. From my first friend at WC Mills elementary school, then OJ Neighbors elementary, Wabash, North Manchester, Baton Rouge, Ferrara, Hammond, Italy, Austria, San Antonio and the people I've met in Dallas, you are all amazing and I want to send you all the most heartfelt and love filled gratitude for being my friends.
The most important thing I've learned from this experience is all the money in the world, all the possessions, all the stuff, doesn't matter a bit if you don't have someone you love to share it with. My friends and family have been here to share in and enrich my experiences as I have been there for them, and I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. YOU ALL have given me more than you know, and I love you all! I hope some of you will reach out to me or post a fun story on my wall. I would love to see what those look like from another perspective and enjoy the ones I have forgotten.
With Love,
Zach Slough
Money isn’t something anyone wants to think about during times like this, but it’s an unfortunate reality. With Zach’s repeated hospital stays, along with the ever rising cost and number of medications he's on, the medical equipment supplies he needs, the monthly premiums... well, the costs are rising rapidly and overwhelmingly. Any amount anyone can give to help him ease the growing strain of the premiums, medical supplies, and prescription drugs is so much appreciated. All donations will go directly to Zach and Casey. The last thing we want is for him to be worrying about money and the costs of his care. Thank you.
Below is Zach's story:
Hello, family and friends! I'm sorry I didn't contact you all earlier but I couldn't figure out what to say. How does someone deliver this kind of message? Moreover, how do I deliver this kind of message to the people I've known and loved for the last thirty-nine years? I guess, you just do it! So, here goes...
On April 11th I was diagnosed with stage four metastatic kidney cancer. I went to the doctor following some lower back pain and blood in my urine. I was in shock and couldn't believe this was happening to me and the doctors couldn't tell me why it happened. My fiance, Casey, directed our treatment to UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX. I began an immunotherapy cocktail called Ipilumimab and Nevolimab and unfortunately, neither have worked. However, it had some negative side effects like damaging my heart. The next step was to switch to a chemotherapy called Cabozantinib. This chemo didn't work as well as the oncologist hoped either. The cocktail of drugs resulted in a femoral artery clot, surgery, and sixteen days in the hospital. The next step was to try a new chemotherapy of Everolimus and Linvatinib, this is my current therapy. I had another hospital stay of seven days due to breathing issues. Now I am trying to eat food and gain back some of the weight I've lost. My beautiful Casey was beside me the whole time, with the support and love that I never thought I would have.
I would like to make a list and thank everyone individually for being in my life, but there's so many, it's not possible. I do know that all the friends I've known in my life were instrumental in making me the person I am today. From my first friend at WC Mills elementary school, then OJ Neighbors elementary, Wabash, North Manchester, Baton Rouge, Ferrara, Hammond, Italy, Austria, San Antonio and the people I've met in Dallas, you are all amazing and I want to send you all the most heartfelt and love filled gratitude for being my friends.
The most important thing I've learned from this experience is all the money in the world, all the possessions, all the stuff, doesn't matter a bit if you don't have someone you love to share it with. My friends and family have been here to share in and enrich my experiences as I have been there for them, and I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. YOU ALL have given me more than you know, and I love you all! I hope some of you will reach out to me or post a fun story on my wall. I would love to see what those look like from another perspective and enjoy the ones I have forgotten.
With Love,
Zach Slough
Organizer and beneficiary
A.J. Leckrone
Organizer
Westfield, IN
Casey Miller
Beneficiary
