Blue Ribbon For Emerson
Donation protected
This November has been an unfortunate month for my family and I. The day after losing my last living paternal grandparent to congestive heart failure, my youngest and only sibling was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21. My brother, Emerson, has been in and out of Southbridge, MA and Worcester, MA hospitals and medical centers since May of 2017. What started off as only pain one day after working, slowly but progressively lead to an abundance of medical appointments, admittance of 14 day Psychiatric hospitalization on June 21st, due to symptomatic psychosis, and lastly the discovery of an invasive adenocarcinoma in his descending colon following by the diagnosis of colon cancer on November 13th 2017.
Emerson will be having a partial colectomy of his descending colon on the morning of Monday, December 4th. Assuming that there are zero complications, or infection, he will be in the hospital for 5-6 days following the laparoscopic procedure. Pending pathology results of the tumor and the surrounding lymph nodes, and staging of the cancer will be done during this time. Treatment options and genetic testing will be discussed as well before his release home. We will then also know if he will require certain medications for treatment, but regardless of the staging he will need continuous medical appointments, oncology and gastrointestinal visits throughout 2018.
Once home, Emerson will be laid up for a minimum of 6-8weeks and will be required to follow a strict diet, with additional supplementation to aid healing and avoid common symptoms associated with colectomies. During this time he will have to regain normal bowel function, and will not be able to eat most solid foods until his colon has resumed its normal functioning. He may even no longer be able to eat certain foods that he once enjoyed, due to digestive changes, and changes in bowel transit timing. He will require smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day, and proper supplementation to ensure he is absorbing as much nutrients as possible with his new diet. It is expected that he will be weak for a few weeks following the surgery, and I, his sister, will be taking care of him and driving him to any of his future appointments on days my mother cannot take off from work.
Due to Emerson’s sudden and unfortunate hardships, he has not been able to obtain job stability throughout this year. Emerson was employed all of last year and had to resign from his position in May, after 16 months with a local pizza shop. Despite his perseverance in landing another job working Sept-Oct this year at a construction company, he eventually had to resign from this position as well due to his physical pain and mental health.
My family and I are here on GoFundMe asking for all and any information, advice, and financial aid for his treatment and over all well-being after surgery. We are looking to gather $5,000 by the end of this year to aid in what we hope is a smooth recovery and remission. Below I have provided a 3 month projection for expenses.
· We are expecting to spend $100 a week on organic and whole foods for his new diet, totaling $400 a month for 3 months. $1,200
· We will be buying additional supplements and vitamins to work up his immune system and correcting his blood panel. Examples such as Vitamin B food complex, Vitamin D, live culture probiotics, digestive enzymes, and omegas. Totaling $200 a month for 3 months. $600
· We are setting aside funds for gas, as transportation costs in and out of the city of Worcester, from Southbridge, MA. As Emerson will have additional medical concerns to address, doctor visitations, and follow ups. At $2.60 a gallon, it is roughly $35 per fill up. $140 a month, for 3 months. $400
· Due to being unable to collect unemployment from his most recent job, only working there for 8 weeks, and based on the financial aid being provided for basic necessities as listed, we will use a portion of the aid to cover at least part time pay at $11hr, 20hrs a week for 3 months. $2,640
· Lastly, depending on insurance coverage, we would like to spend additional funds by sending Emerson to a Certified Massage Therapist for Abdominal Fascia release therapy. As further aid to any inflammation and digestive issues due to his procedure.
Depending on the funds raised, and after any other unforeseen expenses, money left over will be donated to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and used to donate food to the local Brookfield Ecumenical Food Pantry at the Merrick Public Library in Brookfield, MA in name of our Grandmother Rita Toto, whom recently passed away November 12th, 2017.
Please do your part in sharing this campaign; whether you are able to donate or not, every page view is a step closer to reaching those who can help our family in this time of need.
With deepest gratitude,
The Toto family.
Emerson will be having a partial colectomy of his descending colon on the morning of Monday, December 4th. Assuming that there are zero complications, or infection, he will be in the hospital for 5-6 days following the laparoscopic procedure. Pending pathology results of the tumor and the surrounding lymph nodes, and staging of the cancer will be done during this time. Treatment options and genetic testing will be discussed as well before his release home. We will then also know if he will require certain medications for treatment, but regardless of the staging he will need continuous medical appointments, oncology and gastrointestinal visits throughout 2018.
Once home, Emerson will be laid up for a minimum of 6-8weeks and will be required to follow a strict diet, with additional supplementation to aid healing and avoid common symptoms associated with colectomies. During this time he will have to regain normal bowel function, and will not be able to eat most solid foods until his colon has resumed its normal functioning. He may even no longer be able to eat certain foods that he once enjoyed, due to digestive changes, and changes in bowel transit timing. He will require smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day, and proper supplementation to ensure he is absorbing as much nutrients as possible with his new diet. It is expected that he will be weak for a few weeks following the surgery, and I, his sister, will be taking care of him and driving him to any of his future appointments on days my mother cannot take off from work.
Due to Emerson’s sudden and unfortunate hardships, he has not been able to obtain job stability throughout this year. Emerson was employed all of last year and had to resign from his position in May, after 16 months with a local pizza shop. Despite his perseverance in landing another job working Sept-Oct this year at a construction company, he eventually had to resign from this position as well due to his physical pain and mental health.
My family and I are here on GoFundMe asking for all and any information, advice, and financial aid for his treatment and over all well-being after surgery. We are looking to gather $5,000 by the end of this year to aid in what we hope is a smooth recovery and remission. Below I have provided a 3 month projection for expenses.
· We are expecting to spend $100 a week on organic and whole foods for his new diet, totaling $400 a month for 3 months. $1,200
· We will be buying additional supplements and vitamins to work up his immune system and correcting his blood panel. Examples such as Vitamin B food complex, Vitamin D, live culture probiotics, digestive enzymes, and omegas. Totaling $200 a month for 3 months. $600
· We are setting aside funds for gas, as transportation costs in and out of the city of Worcester, from Southbridge, MA. As Emerson will have additional medical concerns to address, doctor visitations, and follow ups. At $2.60 a gallon, it is roughly $35 per fill up. $140 a month, for 3 months. $400
· Due to being unable to collect unemployment from his most recent job, only working there for 8 weeks, and based on the financial aid being provided for basic necessities as listed, we will use a portion of the aid to cover at least part time pay at $11hr, 20hrs a week for 3 months. $2,640
· Lastly, depending on insurance coverage, we would like to spend additional funds by sending Emerson to a Certified Massage Therapist for Abdominal Fascia release therapy. As further aid to any inflammation and digestive issues due to his procedure.
Depending on the funds raised, and after any other unforeseen expenses, money left over will be donated to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and used to donate food to the local Brookfield Ecumenical Food Pantry at the Merrick Public Library in Brookfield, MA in name of our Grandmother Rita Toto, whom recently passed away November 12th, 2017.
Please do your part in sharing this campaign; whether you are able to donate or not, every page view is a step closer to reaching those who can help our family in this time of need.
With deepest gratitude,
The Toto family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Marissa Toto
Organizer
Southbridge, MA
Emerson Toto
Beneficiary
