Ben Hahn's Lymphoma Battle
Donation protected
Ben Hahn
Shawville, Quebec
Over the past several years 31 year old Ben has been living and carrying on with life and work while coping with Crohn's disease. This past summer(2019) he began to experience nights sweats, weight loss and severe weakness and pains in his legs; Ben thought the symptoms were related to Crohn's disease. However, when he developed jaundice and vision problems, Ben and his doctor knew something else was going on. Blood tests showed his platelet count had dropped to dangerously low levels and Ben quickly found himself in Gatineau Hospital receiving daily platelet and blood transfusions.
Since then, Ben has been diagnosed with Hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma, a rare form of aggressive Non-Hodgkins lymphoma that grows in the liver and spleen. It is linked to Crohn's disease. He began chemotherapy on October 11/19 and will undergo a total of 6 treatments, each lasting 3 days and administered every 21 days. This treatment continues until mid January. Should the chemotherapy be successful, it will be followed by stem cell therapy. During this time, Ben will not be permitted to go home until his platelet count rises to a safe level.
Needless to say, Ben is facing some considerable challenges. He works in construction and the reality is that he won't be able to work for several months and this will have an impact on his financial situation. The hospital is a 90 minute drive (one way) from home and his mom, dad, sister and girlfriend do their best to see him as often as possible to help with his morale, but the cost of driving and parking adds up.
My name is Heather Smiley and I'm Ben's aunt. I'm asking firstly that you keep Ben in your thoughts and prayers - he has a hard battle ahead of him. Knowing that he is not alone will help keep his spirits up. Any contribution you can make to help lessen Ben's worries about looking after himself would be so appreciated!
Ben's family would also like to encourage others, if they have not already done so, to consider donating blood, plasma and/or bone marrow. You can find some links on how to do so below:
http://hema-quebec.qc.ca//index.en.html
http://www.blood.ca/en
For more information on Ben's disease:
http://lymphoma-action.org.uk/types-lymphoma-non-hodgkin-lymphoma-t-cell-lymphomas/hepatosplenic-t-cell-lymphoma
Other useful links:
http://www.lymphoma.ca/
http://www.cancer.ca/en?region=qc
Shawville, Quebec
Over the past several years 31 year old Ben has been living and carrying on with life and work while coping with Crohn's disease. This past summer(2019) he began to experience nights sweats, weight loss and severe weakness and pains in his legs; Ben thought the symptoms were related to Crohn's disease. However, when he developed jaundice and vision problems, Ben and his doctor knew something else was going on. Blood tests showed his platelet count had dropped to dangerously low levels and Ben quickly found himself in Gatineau Hospital receiving daily platelet and blood transfusions.
Since then, Ben has been diagnosed with Hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma, a rare form of aggressive Non-Hodgkins lymphoma that grows in the liver and spleen. It is linked to Crohn's disease. He began chemotherapy on October 11/19 and will undergo a total of 6 treatments, each lasting 3 days and administered every 21 days. This treatment continues until mid January. Should the chemotherapy be successful, it will be followed by stem cell therapy. During this time, Ben will not be permitted to go home until his platelet count rises to a safe level.
Needless to say, Ben is facing some considerable challenges. He works in construction and the reality is that he won't be able to work for several months and this will have an impact on his financial situation. The hospital is a 90 minute drive (one way) from home and his mom, dad, sister and girlfriend do their best to see him as often as possible to help with his morale, but the cost of driving and parking adds up.
My name is Heather Smiley and I'm Ben's aunt. I'm asking firstly that you keep Ben in your thoughts and prayers - he has a hard battle ahead of him. Knowing that he is not alone will help keep his spirits up. Any contribution you can make to help lessen Ben's worries about looking after himself would be so appreciated!
Ben's family would also like to encourage others, if they have not already done so, to consider donating blood, plasma and/or bone marrow. You can find some links on how to do so below:
http://hema-quebec.qc.ca//index.en.html
http://www.blood.ca/en
For more information on Ben's disease:
http://lymphoma-action.org.uk/types-lymphoma-non-hodgkin-lymphoma-t-cell-lymphomas/hepatosplenic-t-cell-lymphoma
Other useful links:
http://www.lymphoma.ca/
http://www.cancer.ca/en?region=qc
Organizer and beneficiary
Heather Smiley
Organizer
Ben Hahn
Beneficiary
