Help Tom with Alternative Treatment
30 March 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
As many of you know, Michele stood by me when I went through the all too common experience of fighting cancer just three years ago, when I took the traditional treatment path of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Although the oncologist, just 9 months ago, gave me a clean bill of health, a gastroenterologist, after a CT scan, esophageal ultrasound, and needle biopsy, has now told me that the lymphoma has returned, this time in several locations in the area of my abdomen.
After much prayer, research, and consultation, I have decided to take an alternative route for treatment this time. Michele and I have started this page to ask for financial assistance in paying for my current treatment for the recurrence of the lymphoma. I am working with a well-known local cancer center, Reno Integrative Medical Center, which you may visit by clicking on the link.
Michele has spent dozens of hours in the last month researching alternative cancer treatments and therapies, the efficacy of current main-stream cancer treatment practices in the USA, and work being done around the world that is meeting with success in defeating cancer. This research is available on-line for anyone who wishes to pursue it.
As can be imagined, our insurance will pay for very little of the therapy that I will be receiving. Depending on how well my body responds to the therapies, and how quickly my immune system kills and clears the cancer, the costs for the integrative treatments are estimated at between $45,000 and $60,000. That does not count the minimum of $6,000 in co-pays that we have to pay for the treatments that are covered by the insurance. That, sadly, is rather more than I make in one year as a high school teacher.
I have actually already begun the first of the treatments, including being on a Ketogenic diet for the last month, and a series of medicinal foods and supplements. (Have you ever tried chewing a tablespoonful of grated fresh ginger? Shudder!)
I do not like having to ask it of anyone, but I am asking you if you could help out with a contribution of any size for my medical expenses. I promise you that the funds will be used only for these expenses, and if I should receive more money than that requires, the excess will be used to establish a fund to assist others in paying for their own alternative medical treatments. We will keep you updated on my treatment and answer any questions you may have. Thank you so very much for your love, your support, and your prayers.
Sincerely,
Thomas and Michele Smith
