Jamal's Battle with the Beast
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Bubba’s Battle with the Beast – Brain Cancer
As some of you may know, my brother Ali Jamal Kelley (or as I call him, Bubba) has been battling brain cancer. In particular, the disease he is fighting is called Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). This disease is vicious, unrelenting and cruel which has earned it the nickname “the beast” or “monster” by those who have had it or have had loved ones with it. It is the deadliest form of all brain cancers and the doctors don’t know why some people get it. We didn’t understand. We couldn't understand. Bubba was the very picture of health- 43 years old, 3 children, suspiciously great balance, and played basketball weekly. Why did this deadly disease choose him?
We first started noticing symptoms in September and October which manifested in the form of forgetfulness. The last weekend in October, he went into the ER where they found the tumor the size of a tennis ball. Surgery to remove the tumor was ruled out because it was right in the center of the brain, crossing the corpus collosum into both hemispheres. The told us that the average life expectancy is 12-14 months past diagnosis. He stayed in the hospital for 6 weeks and during that time had seizures and a massive bleed in his brain requiring an emergency surgery where they placed a shunt leading from his brain to his stomach to drain off excess fluid.
These past 7 months have been incredibly for our family and they continue to get harder. Bubba has shown a steady decline over the course of this disease. He no longer seems to recognize me or other family. He does not speak or respond to questions. He is completely bedridden. We made the decision to start hospice. His partner of many years, Spring, has been caring for him full time since he was initially discharged from the hospital. However, it is has been placing a financial strain on the family and particularly on Spring as she cannot go into work anymore.
They have a household of 5, three beautiful children - Jacoby, Charity, and Sierra, plus whoever is over or in town to help, supported only by Spring’s income in a city where the cost of living is not cheap (Portland, Oregon ) and two children are in or entering college. The family has been pitching in but it also puts a strain on us financially with traveling back and forth to Oregon and the money that we spend there. Savings are dwindling on all fronts and we need some assistance with the day to day costs.
My brother has always said that he did not want to have a funeral when he died. He said he wanted to have a party, a celebration of his life. We would like to use this money to pay for household bills and also to go towards his lifetime celebration. If we raise more money than anticipated, we want to have a memorial tree planted for him at MSU which requires a donation of $3000.
My heart is breaking. It is breaking for my brother. It is breaking for Spring. For my mom and my sister. It’s breaking for his children, my nieces and nephew. My heart is breaking for me. We are not sure how much time we have left with my brother but we’re doing everything we can to keep him and our family as comfortable as possible. I know there are dozens of causes out there that we would all like to support, but please if you can donate anything at all, we would really appreciate it.
· $5 pays for one meal for one person
· $10 pays for the gas bill, now that is warming up outside
· $20 pays for the ingredients for dinner
· $45 pays for a tank of gas for one car
· $60 pays for half of an electric bill
· $100 pays for the water bill
· $300 pays for car insurance
· $500 pays for groceries
· $650 pays for a half month’s rent
· $1300 pays for a full month’s rent
· $3000 pays for a memorial tree to be planted in his honor at MSU
Please help us in caring for and keeping my brother comfortable in these last weeks and months.
As some of you may know, my brother Ali Jamal Kelley (or as I call him, Bubba) has been battling brain cancer. In particular, the disease he is fighting is called Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). This disease is vicious, unrelenting and cruel which has earned it the nickname “the beast” or “monster” by those who have had it or have had loved ones with it. It is the deadliest form of all brain cancers and the doctors don’t know why some people get it. We didn’t understand. We couldn't understand. Bubba was the very picture of health- 43 years old, 3 children, suspiciously great balance, and played basketball weekly. Why did this deadly disease choose him?
We first started noticing symptoms in September and October which manifested in the form of forgetfulness. The last weekend in October, he went into the ER where they found the tumor the size of a tennis ball. Surgery to remove the tumor was ruled out because it was right in the center of the brain, crossing the corpus collosum into both hemispheres. The told us that the average life expectancy is 12-14 months past diagnosis. He stayed in the hospital for 6 weeks and during that time had seizures and a massive bleed in his brain requiring an emergency surgery where they placed a shunt leading from his brain to his stomach to drain off excess fluid.
These past 7 months have been incredibly for our family and they continue to get harder. Bubba has shown a steady decline over the course of this disease. He no longer seems to recognize me or other family. He does not speak or respond to questions. He is completely bedridden. We made the decision to start hospice. His partner of many years, Spring, has been caring for him full time since he was initially discharged from the hospital. However, it is has been placing a financial strain on the family and particularly on Spring as she cannot go into work anymore.
They have a household of 5, three beautiful children - Jacoby, Charity, and Sierra, plus whoever is over or in town to help, supported only by Spring’s income in a city where the cost of living is not cheap (Portland, Oregon ) and two children are in or entering college. The family has been pitching in but it also puts a strain on us financially with traveling back and forth to Oregon and the money that we spend there. Savings are dwindling on all fronts and we need some assistance with the day to day costs.
My brother has always said that he did not want to have a funeral when he died. He said he wanted to have a party, a celebration of his life. We would like to use this money to pay for household bills and also to go towards his lifetime celebration. If we raise more money than anticipated, we want to have a memorial tree planted for him at MSU which requires a donation of $3000.
My heart is breaking. It is breaking for my brother. It is breaking for Spring. For my mom and my sister. It’s breaking for his children, my nieces and nephew. My heart is breaking for me. We are not sure how much time we have left with my brother but we’re doing everything we can to keep him and our family as comfortable as possible. I know there are dozens of causes out there that we would all like to support, but please if you can donate anything at all, we would really appreciate it.
· $5 pays for one meal for one person
· $10 pays for the gas bill, now that is warming up outside
· $20 pays for the ingredients for dinner
· $45 pays for a tank of gas for one car
· $60 pays for half of an electric bill
· $100 pays for the water bill
· $300 pays for car insurance
· $500 pays for groceries
· $650 pays for a half month’s rent
· $1300 pays for a full month’s rent
· $3000 pays for a memorial tree to be planted in his honor at MSU
Please help us in caring for and keeping my brother comfortable in these last weeks and months.
Organizer
Tajalli Hodge
Organizer
Charter Township of Ypsilanti, MI