Bruce's Battle With Blood Cancer
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I created this fund on behalf of myself and my brothers Mark, Scott, and Stephen to hopefully get some much needed help for our father, Bruce DeMayo. The past few years have been trying for our family to say the least. We have gotten through it by coming together sharing love and resources. Unfortunately, I must humbly admit that it has gotten beyond us and we are asking for help. This does not come natural to us but we have, and will do anything for our father. Bruce was recently diagnosed with Multiple Myloma or Blood Cancer. He is unable to work and needs care during the day. He is 3-4 months behind on most bills and while we have pitched together all we can he is in serious danger of being evicted from his apartment, having his car repossessed or losing insurance coverage on his vehicle, and losing power. While the diagnosis is new, this has been a four year battle that began with a simple surgery three years ago.
In 2014 Bruce (our father) decided to take inventory of his health and make some changes in an effort to see his grand daughters grow. At 348 pounds he and his doctor decided that bariatric surgery would not only shed weight but aid in lowering his cholesterol, lower blood pressure, aid in reducing gout and acid reflux. During pre op visits, small polyps were found on his intestine. What was supposed to be a few hour trip to the hospital in September turned into an almost two month hospital stay after the surgeon accidently puntured the intestine wall causing bile to shut down Bruce's vital organs. The first 24 hours saw 3 surgeries and less than 5% survival percentage. The whole family was called and we prepared for the worst. Even after we survived the surgeries organs failed for weeks and things looked bleek until finally Bruce's numbers finally began to stabalize.
Upon coming home from the hospital Bruce did physical therapy before finally returning to work in November as Director of HR for Cenveo. Soon after his division was sold to WestRock Company and in January he was laid off. He attempted to get some temporary work but his health, which had never quite returned to pre surgery form, was preventing him from being able to work. He struggled some days getting out of bed, fealing faint and weak. His diagnosis leaving the hospital was that he was suffering from Anemia and Kidney Disease (having been on dialysis during his 7 1/2 week stay) so we attributed most of his symtoms to that. Over the next year we watched helplessly while his health deteriorated with his weight falling below 200 pounds. Countless doctors visits gave us no answer to what was happening. My father was losing weight and strength daily. Several fainting spells in public lead us to multiple emergency room visits before finally we had an answer: Multiple Myloma or Blood Cancer. It took us over two years of us fighting an uphill battle trying to get Bruce back to where he was only to find out that it will never be. This is a diagnosis that is incurable but can be lived with. In reality its good news because at least we know what needs to be done now. Bruce has begun his treatmant which includes chemotherapy. The hard part is just trying to rebuild Bruce's strength. Daily tasks like showers and shaving are strenous. He uses a cane and The family (including Bruce's ex wife Beverly) have come together and we all have pitched in financially, help with errands, household chores, and even combined households and helped with all things health care. I am very proud of my family and how we have come together in a crisis. Sadly, Bruce's finances have gotten over our heads. We are awaiting his approval for Social Security benefits. That seems to still be work in progress. We have exhausted all avenues including church groups, food stamps, family, medicaid and more in the last two years that this has taken a tough financial turn while my father has not had income. It has humbled us as individuals and as a family and given us new perspective and appreciation for each other and the blessings we have in our lives.
So we ask if there is anyone who can help, anyone who is connected to Bruce or his story, we as a family greatly appreciate any assistance. Bruce is just two weeks away from eviction and losing his car. His financial debts and needs are as follows:
Rent: Behind approx $5200 with payment of atleast $1,100 due in 2 weeks to avoid eviction. If it takes 2 more months for Bruces social security to come in he will need just over $2000 to pay his rent until he can be self sufficient.
Utilities: Bruce is behind $600 to the City of Rock Hill. It will take about $700 to cover his utilities until he can be self sufficient.
Car Payment: Bruce is behind $375 on his car payment. $200 needs to be payed in the next two weeks to avoid repo.
Car insurance: Bruce is $150 behind
Medication: Bruce needs about $200 worth of medicine to get him until he can be self sufficient. Not having health insurance has been a struggle.
Medical: Bruce has $8,000 in medical bills outstanding.
If you have taken the time to read this and/or share this my brothers and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you found it in your heart to donate, just know words can not describe my appreciation. This is not easy for us to do as we have fought this battle as a family in silence. Many of our best friends and extended family do not know, not only what we have gone through with our fathers health, but financially as well. Over the time my father has been ill, Stephen had to go to college a semester late, Mark has been unable to take care of some personal financial matters, Scott has worked and gone to school full time to largely be self reliant, I have been financially responsible for essentially two households (with the help of Kirby Springs), and my mother Beverly has picked us up whenever any of us fell down. We have shouldered this burden for a while and it is not lightly that we come to you, his friends and cancer warriors alike for help. Thank you and God Bless.
Jack DeMayo on behalf of the DeMayo Boys
Mark
Scott
and Stephen
In 2014 Bruce (our father) decided to take inventory of his health and make some changes in an effort to see his grand daughters grow. At 348 pounds he and his doctor decided that bariatric surgery would not only shed weight but aid in lowering his cholesterol, lower blood pressure, aid in reducing gout and acid reflux. During pre op visits, small polyps were found on his intestine. What was supposed to be a few hour trip to the hospital in September turned into an almost two month hospital stay after the surgeon accidently puntured the intestine wall causing bile to shut down Bruce's vital organs. The first 24 hours saw 3 surgeries and less than 5% survival percentage. The whole family was called and we prepared for the worst. Even after we survived the surgeries organs failed for weeks and things looked bleek until finally Bruce's numbers finally began to stabalize.
Upon coming home from the hospital Bruce did physical therapy before finally returning to work in November as Director of HR for Cenveo. Soon after his division was sold to WestRock Company and in January he was laid off. He attempted to get some temporary work but his health, which had never quite returned to pre surgery form, was preventing him from being able to work. He struggled some days getting out of bed, fealing faint and weak. His diagnosis leaving the hospital was that he was suffering from Anemia and Kidney Disease (having been on dialysis during his 7 1/2 week stay) so we attributed most of his symtoms to that. Over the next year we watched helplessly while his health deteriorated with his weight falling below 200 pounds. Countless doctors visits gave us no answer to what was happening. My father was losing weight and strength daily. Several fainting spells in public lead us to multiple emergency room visits before finally we had an answer: Multiple Myloma or Blood Cancer. It took us over two years of us fighting an uphill battle trying to get Bruce back to where he was only to find out that it will never be. This is a diagnosis that is incurable but can be lived with. In reality its good news because at least we know what needs to be done now. Bruce has begun his treatmant which includes chemotherapy. The hard part is just trying to rebuild Bruce's strength. Daily tasks like showers and shaving are strenous. He uses a cane and The family (including Bruce's ex wife Beverly) have come together and we all have pitched in financially, help with errands, household chores, and even combined households and helped with all things health care. I am very proud of my family and how we have come together in a crisis. Sadly, Bruce's finances have gotten over our heads. We are awaiting his approval for Social Security benefits. That seems to still be work in progress. We have exhausted all avenues including church groups, food stamps, family, medicaid and more in the last two years that this has taken a tough financial turn while my father has not had income. It has humbled us as individuals and as a family and given us new perspective and appreciation for each other and the blessings we have in our lives.
So we ask if there is anyone who can help, anyone who is connected to Bruce or his story, we as a family greatly appreciate any assistance. Bruce is just two weeks away from eviction and losing his car. His financial debts and needs are as follows:
Rent: Behind approx $5200 with payment of atleast $1,100 due in 2 weeks to avoid eviction. If it takes 2 more months for Bruces social security to come in he will need just over $2000 to pay his rent until he can be self sufficient.
Utilities: Bruce is behind $600 to the City of Rock Hill. It will take about $700 to cover his utilities until he can be self sufficient.
Car Payment: Bruce is behind $375 on his car payment. $200 needs to be payed in the next two weeks to avoid repo.
Car insurance: Bruce is $150 behind
Medication: Bruce needs about $200 worth of medicine to get him until he can be self sufficient. Not having health insurance has been a struggle.
Medical: Bruce has $8,000 in medical bills outstanding.
If you have taken the time to read this and/or share this my brothers and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you found it in your heart to donate, just know words can not describe my appreciation. This is not easy for us to do as we have fought this battle as a family in silence. Many of our best friends and extended family do not know, not only what we have gone through with our fathers health, but financially as well. Over the time my father has been ill, Stephen had to go to college a semester late, Mark has been unable to take care of some personal financial matters, Scott has worked and gone to school full time to largely be self reliant, I have been financially responsible for essentially two households (with the help of Kirby Springs), and my mother Beverly has picked us up whenever any of us fell down. We have shouldered this burden for a while and it is not lightly that we come to you, his friends and cancer warriors alike for help. Thank you and God Bless.
Jack DeMayo on behalf of the DeMayo Boys
Mark
Scott
and Stephen
Organizer and beneficiary
Jack DeMayo
Organizer
Rock Hill, SC
bruce demayo
Beneficiary
