Battling for Bentley (Shane)
Donation protected
I'd like to thank anyone that takes the time to read this as it's most difficult to write. My husband, my best friend, and Grandpa to 5 little ones was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. MCL is a rare type of cancer of the lymphoid cells; it is an aggressive B-cell type of Non Hodgkins lymphoma.
70% of patients are first diagnosed with advanced stage (stage IV) in where the cancer cells have spread into masses replacing the lymph nodes and spread to other organs. This is what happened with Shane.
He went in for a "scope" after visiting two emergency rooms complaining of a sore throat. Both emergency rooms dismissed him saying they didn't know what it was but to contact a physician for a scope. Shane did and they found that cancer was located in both his tonsils, neck and esophagus (GE Junction) as well as under his arm pits and in the stomach lining.
We visited Mayo Clinic last week and the prognosis was relatively positive aside from what the survival rate is. There is no cure for this cancer and the odds of him beating chemotherapy and radiation are good with a 2-5 year survival rate; we know with the great doctors we have at the West Michigan Cancer Center and Mayo Clinic - we're going to with God's help surpass that.
Shane was told that we needed to start aggressive chemotherapy and radiation immediately as this is aggressive which is what we are starting next week (November 13th) with our Cancer Center. He is looking at having to go to U of M every 6 weeks spending 3 days there rotating with spending 3 days at another clinic for radiation.
As of last month Shane had to leave his employer due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Health insurance did not cover 90% of the local emergency room visits nor the extra fees of treatments or the physician. Our insurance did not cover a week's worth of treatments at the Mayo Clinic in MN either and now we are facing treatments of chemo and radiation - again - not covered.
We learned that because Shane did not have short or long term disability - he doesn't qualify for anything. The Unemployment Agency told us that he won't be able to qualify for Unemployment either because the State of Michigan has requirements that he MUST go look for employment while he is claiming. This is something that Shane can't do because he will be in chemo and/or radiation 3 days straight -
I'm not much on asking for help; but as his wife I run an in home child care full time; and well there just isn't much there to help pay these bills. We know that the bills are going to pile up and with my husband not being able to collect Social Security, or SSI disability there is no way to pay these medical bills.
We're pleading with everyone - if you know of any organizations to help with medical bills, or if you can help in anyway - we'd so appreciate it more than you know. All monies collected will go directly to the medical facility or provider and we will gladly provide proof of this if needed.
Again - thank you for taking the time to read this -
70% of patients are first diagnosed with advanced stage (stage IV) in where the cancer cells have spread into masses replacing the lymph nodes and spread to other organs. This is what happened with Shane.
He went in for a "scope" after visiting two emergency rooms complaining of a sore throat. Both emergency rooms dismissed him saying they didn't know what it was but to contact a physician for a scope. Shane did and they found that cancer was located in both his tonsils, neck and esophagus (GE Junction) as well as under his arm pits and in the stomach lining.
We visited Mayo Clinic last week and the prognosis was relatively positive aside from what the survival rate is. There is no cure for this cancer and the odds of him beating chemotherapy and radiation are good with a 2-5 year survival rate; we know with the great doctors we have at the West Michigan Cancer Center and Mayo Clinic - we're going to with God's help surpass that.
Shane was told that we needed to start aggressive chemotherapy and radiation immediately as this is aggressive which is what we are starting next week (November 13th) with our Cancer Center. He is looking at having to go to U of M every 6 weeks spending 3 days there rotating with spending 3 days at another clinic for radiation.
As of last month Shane had to leave his employer due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Health insurance did not cover 90% of the local emergency room visits nor the extra fees of treatments or the physician. Our insurance did not cover a week's worth of treatments at the Mayo Clinic in MN either and now we are facing treatments of chemo and radiation - again - not covered.
We learned that because Shane did not have short or long term disability - he doesn't qualify for anything. The Unemployment Agency told us that he won't be able to qualify for Unemployment either because the State of Michigan has requirements that he MUST go look for employment while he is claiming. This is something that Shane can't do because he will be in chemo and/or radiation 3 days straight -
I'm not much on asking for help; but as his wife I run an in home child care full time; and well there just isn't much there to help pay these bills. We know that the bills are going to pile up and with my husband not being able to collect Social Security, or SSI disability there is no way to pay these medical bills.
We're pleading with everyone - if you know of any organizations to help with medical bills, or if you can help in anyway - we'd so appreciate it more than you know. All monies collected will go directly to the medical facility or provider and we will gladly provide proof of this if needed.
Again - thank you for taking the time to read this -
Organizer
Laura Bentley
Organizer
Allegan, MI
