Battle Cancer With Jeff
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Hello I’m Rhonda, I’ve known my brother-in-law Jeff Winkler for 34 years, and this GoFundMe is to raise money to help him with his struggle against cancer. Jeff has spent the last 16 years, when not working, taking care of his ailing mother and her property. In December of 2016 he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, metastasized to his lungs. Despite the cancer, radiation treatment and chemotherapy, he refused to slow down until his mother passed away this April.
His Story
After his father passed away in 2002, Jeff took it upon himself to care for his mother, her house, and her property. Usually working more than 40 hours a week, he would come home every night and spend his evenings helping his mother with maintenance on her home and land, often working to the point of exhaustion.
Jeff with his mother, Amy Winkler (left) and his aunt Adalene Eversole (right).
Things Change
In December of 2016, he met with his doctor and discovered that he had colon cancer. About this time, his mother began dialysis and her health began to fail. Still more concerned about his mother then himself, he continued to work full time, returning home nightly to care for her. He did all this while undergoing radiation treatment and then chemotherapy.
Things Get Worse
A second scan showed that his cancer had metastasized to his lungs. The chemotherapy was making him violently ill and tired, but somehow Jeff still managed to work, and when able, do what he could for his mother. It was at this point that Jeff’s mother had 2 major heart attacks along with small stroke and was placed into a skilled nursing facility for proper care. Jeff and his two dogs were now alone, the only ones living on the property.
Duke and Dexter, Jeff's dogs.
Things Get Better
After the radiation treatment and a course of chemo, body scans showed that some of the tumors had disappeared, some had shrunk, none had grown, and no new ones had appeared. It was around this time in 2017 that my husband (Jeff's brother Greg) and I moved back to Dodge to help him and his mother. Finally, he was able to feel more like himself, regain energy, help his mother and take pleasure in life again.
Jeff and his only great niece, Adaline.
Things Get Even Worse
Then, in April of this year, 4 days before Jeff’s 57th birthday, his mother passed away in her sleep. Adding to his problems, his chemo catheter had become blocked, requiring another surgery to replace it. Several weeks after getting the catheter replaced, a body scan showed that the cancer had once again began to grow and spread. Jeff was put back on chemo, and the misery associated with it returned once again.
Jeff starting chemo once again.
A Moment of Hope
No longer able to work full time, and no longer having to care for his mother and her home, Jeff has cut his work hours down considerably, working only when he feels well enough to do so. In July he was notified of his acceptance into the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, which will begin in December of 2018. Finally, he will be able to slow down and concentrate on himself.
How You Can Help
It will be 4 to 5 months before Jeff will begin receiving his SSDI benefits, his illness is preventing him from working full time and the bills are starting to pile up. While his mother was alive, Jeff overlooked most repairs on his own home and vehicle in order to care for her. Now, he is too ill to do the repairs himself, as he always planned. Your financial help will go a long way in helping him to keep his home in a livable condition, helping him to cover insurance and medical costs, and provide him with a means of survive until his benefits begin.
Most importantly, your assistance will give him hope.
What Is Needed
Jeff is in need of funds to allow him to continue fighting his cancer. Over the next 5 months his expenses are expected to be:
$9,200 for insurance, medicine, food and utilities.
$2,105 for vehicle repair.
$12,495 for home repair.
All contributions will go to meet his needs.
No contribution is too small, everything helps.
Jeff, Duke, Dexter and I thank you.
His Story
After his father passed away in 2002, Jeff took it upon himself to care for his mother, her house, and her property. Usually working more than 40 hours a week, he would come home every night and spend his evenings helping his mother with maintenance on her home and land, often working to the point of exhaustion.
Jeff with his mother, Amy Winkler (left) and his aunt Adalene Eversole (right). Things Change
In December of 2016, he met with his doctor and discovered that he had colon cancer. About this time, his mother began dialysis and her health began to fail. Still more concerned about his mother then himself, he continued to work full time, returning home nightly to care for her. He did all this while undergoing radiation treatment and then chemotherapy.
Things Get Worse
A second scan showed that his cancer had metastasized to his lungs. The chemotherapy was making him violently ill and tired, but somehow Jeff still managed to work, and when able, do what he could for his mother. It was at this point that Jeff’s mother had 2 major heart attacks along with small stroke and was placed into a skilled nursing facility for proper care. Jeff and his two dogs were now alone, the only ones living on the property.
Duke and Dexter, Jeff's dogs.
Things Get Better
After the radiation treatment and a course of chemo, body scans showed that some of the tumors had disappeared, some had shrunk, none had grown, and no new ones had appeared. It was around this time in 2017 that my husband (Jeff's brother Greg) and I moved back to Dodge to help him and his mother. Finally, he was able to feel more like himself, regain energy, help his mother and take pleasure in life again.
Jeff and his only great niece, Adaline. Things Get Even Worse
Then, in April of this year, 4 days before Jeff’s 57th birthday, his mother passed away in her sleep. Adding to his problems, his chemo catheter had become blocked, requiring another surgery to replace it. Several weeks after getting the catheter replaced, a body scan showed that the cancer had once again began to grow and spread. Jeff was put back on chemo, and the misery associated with it returned once again.
Jeff starting chemo once again.A Moment of Hope
No longer able to work full time, and no longer having to care for his mother and her home, Jeff has cut his work hours down considerably, working only when he feels well enough to do so. In July he was notified of his acceptance into the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, which will begin in December of 2018. Finally, he will be able to slow down and concentrate on himself.
How You Can Help
It will be 4 to 5 months before Jeff will begin receiving his SSDI benefits, his illness is preventing him from working full time and the bills are starting to pile up. While his mother was alive, Jeff overlooked most repairs on his own home and vehicle in order to care for her. Now, he is too ill to do the repairs himself, as he always planned. Your financial help will go a long way in helping him to keep his home in a livable condition, helping him to cover insurance and medical costs, and provide him with a means of survive until his benefits begin.
Most importantly, your assistance will give him hope.
What Is Needed
Jeff is in need of funds to allow him to continue fighting his cancer. Over the next 5 months his expenses are expected to be:
$9,200 for insurance, medicine, food and utilities.
$2,105 for vehicle repair.
$12,495 for home repair.
All contributions will go to meet his needs.
No contribution is too small, everything helps.
Jeff, Duke, Dexter and I thank you.
Organizer
Rhonda Winkler
Organizer
Dodge City, KS
