- K
- T
Hi, I'm Jason. I'm a husband and father of four that has been enlisted in the Navy for 14 years. I am so extremely blessed with four children (ages:17, 9, 7 and 3) and an incredibly strong wife. Our family has been through a bit more than our share of hard times over the past 20 years. I will try to keep this to a summary, but can share more if anyone is interested in hearing it.
We had our first child very quickly, but was then facing secondary infertility. During fertility treatment, the high dose hormones led to bone problems, especially in her jaw that would eventually lead to many oral surgeries that are still underway. The treatment also led to the discovery of cervical cancer. A radical cone biopsy was the only treament needed at first. Immediately after September 11th, I left my job and enlisted in the Navy. I felt that I had to help somehow. Between RTC, school and deployment, I spent less than two weeks with my family in 2002. From 2003-2006, I was deployed two more times. My wife would eventually have treatments and additional surgeries for the cervical cancer and for the bone degeneration in her jaw, I wasn't able to be there but she managed to pull it off without complaint. We were still attempting to conceive our second child and going through TI and IUI. In 2005, she asked a military doctor to remove a suspicious spot from her back. He declined referring her to dermatology, stating it was cosmetic reasons.
Finally there seemed to be a break. In 2006, I received orders to a shore duty assignment and we found out that she was pregnant! We loaded up the Uhaul and moved to the new location to find our housing had fallen through. While staying in hotels and a cabin, my wife developed a cough. At 8 months pregnant and still waiting for a home, she had pneumonia. During the follow up for the pneumonia, a doctor spotted the mole that the previous doctor had brushed aside. He wanted it removed immediately. In January 2007, we learned that my wife had Melanoma.
She had the original tumor removed. Followed by a C-section to deliver our daughter early. Followed by a wide local excision, a sentinel node biopsy and radical lymph node dissection of her right axilla. She was considered Stage 3b due to the ulceration of 2.99mm tumor spreading to her lymph system. After a lot of prayer and research, she decided to accept a spot in a Phase 2 clinical trial of an immunotherapy drug. She handled the trial well, but faced a huge emotional setback when two close family members died unexpectedly right as she finished treatment.
I believe that the deaths made a lot of future diagnosis incorrect. Her extreme fatigue was blamed on depression. She explained her on going joint pain, skin irritation and hormone sensitivities; but with mostly normal lab work, they just treated the symptoms. Eventually she quit medications and tried to control symptoms with diet and exercise. Quitting medicines led to a very surprising, unplanned pregnancy!
Right after the baby was born, we relocated again for sea duty orders. I deployed two more times, in 2011 and 2012. A week into the 2012 deployment, we found out that there was another surprise baby on the way! It was a very complicated pregnancy and made even more complicated when our military housing was deemed unlivable due to mold. She somehow still managed it all and I made it home two weeks before our baby was born. It was a hard deployment, followed by a hard adjustment to being home. Things just weren't snapping back into place, as they had the other deployments. Eventually, after many bad decisions and what I now know as unhealthy coping strategies; I was diagnosed with PTSD. Treatment is ongoing and I am trying everything to keep my focus on rebuilding my health.
We bought a house after finding more mold in our apartment. A few more cancer problems popped up: another melanoma, a NHL and a basal cell. My wife is back on immunotherapy drugs, which now have more research. And it is now believed that the original clinical trial may have triggered or caused an autoimmune disorder. With all of the old diagnosis and symptoms taken together with current tests, she has been diagnosed with Lupus. To treat the Lupus, she takes high dose prednisone. Each time she takes prednisone, new skin lesions appear.
I'm overwhelmed. She is overwhelmed. The kids are resilient, but the one with Autism is especially overwhelmed. Every doctor's appointment is another copay or cost share. She sees so many specialists. She has went without the prescribed sleep monitor and wheelchair because of cost. Our dental insurance doesn't cover much of anything and my wife and kids all have a list of dental work that they desperately need completed. Most of my daughter's autism treatments are now covered, but we pay out of pocket for another daughter's dyslexia treatment. Because we purchased an affordable house; there are constant repairs to keep it mold free and healthy. We try to keep within budget by doing our own home repairs and vehicle repairs, we garden and mostly dress the kids in hand me down clothes. We coupon and plan outings based on free military tickets. We have had to pull all of the kids from extracurricular activities. I want to work another job, but she needs me at home. I sell my plasma as often as I can. But still there are unpaid bills and shutoff utilities.
The reason I am finally deciding to ask for help is the anxiety that my wife has been handling today. She is currently on prednisone for a flare up. Over the weekend an abnormal mole changed and started bleeding. Between her nightmares of having to remove the mole herself to save money, she might have slept two hours. She woke up and tried to keep the anxiety at bay while she scheduled the appointment to have it removed tomorrow. Then she went to the grocery where her check card was declined for the $40 she spent on food for the next three days. She was barely able to make it home through the anxiety. Between us, we have 6 doctors appointments this week and over half will have copays. One appointment is three hours away and requires gas and a desperately needed tire. We haven't bought any school supplies. Today was pay day and her card was declined for $40 worth of groceries.
As my wife's health declines there are so many things I want to do with her and for her, while I can. But most importantly I would like her to be able to have electricity and food. I've pushed aside so much thinking that there would be time later to make it better.
I know that it's hard to find extra to help others. We have recently had to quit our own volunteer work with church and Girl Scouts; because sometimes there is nothing left to give. But any thing you can give or any prayers you can send up or shares would be very appreciated. Truly thank you.
We had our first child very quickly, but was then facing secondary infertility. During fertility treatment, the high dose hormones led to bone problems, especially in her jaw that would eventually lead to many oral surgeries that are still underway. The treatment also led to the discovery of cervical cancer. A radical cone biopsy was the only treament needed at first. Immediately after September 11th, I left my job and enlisted in the Navy. I felt that I had to help somehow. Between RTC, school and deployment, I spent less than two weeks with my family in 2002. From 2003-2006, I was deployed two more times. My wife would eventually have treatments and additional surgeries for the cervical cancer and for the bone degeneration in her jaw, I wasn't able to be there but she managed to pull it off without complaint. We were still attempting to conceive our second child and going through TI and IUI. In 2005, she asked a military doctor to remove a suspicious spot from her back. He declined referring her to dermatology, stating it was cosmetic reasons.
Finally there seemed to be a break. In 2006, I received orders to a shore duty assignment and we found out that she was pregnant! We loaded up the Uhaul and moved to the new location to find our housing had fallen through. While staying in hotels and a cabin, my wife developed a cough. At 8 months pregnant and still waiting for a home, she had pneumonia. During the follow up for the pneumonia, a doctor spotted the mole that the previous doctor had brushed aside. He wanted it removed immediately. In January 2007, we learned that my wife had Melanoma.
She had the original tumor removed. Followed by a C-section to deliver our daughter early. Followed by a wide local excision, a sentinel node biopsy and radical lymph node dissection of her right axilla. She was considered Stage 3b due to the ulceration of 2.99mm tumor spreading to her lymph system. After a lot of prayer and research, she decided to accept a spot in a Phase 2 clinical trial of an immunotherapy drug. She handled the trial well, but faced a huge emotional setback when two close family members died unexpectedly right as she finished treatment.
I believe that the deaths made a lot of future diagnosis incorrect. Her extreme fatigue was blamed on depression. She explained her on going joint pain, skin irritation and hormone sensitivities; but with mostly normal lab work, they just treated the symptoms. Eventually she quit medications and tried to control symptoms with diet and exercise. Quitting medicines led to a very surprising, unplanned pregnancy!
Right after the baby was born, we relocated again for sea duty orders. I deployed two more times, in 2011 and 2012. A week into the 2012 deployment, we found out that there was another surprise baby on the way! It was a very complicated pregnancy and made even more complicated when our military housing was deemed unlivable due to mold. She somehow still managed it all and I made it home two weeks before our baby was born. It was a hard deployment, followed by a hard adjustment to being home. Things just weren't snapping back into place, as they had the other deployments. Eventually, after many bad decisions and what I now know as unhealthy coping strategies; I was diagnosed with PTSD. Treatment is ongoing and I am trying everything to keep my focus on rebuilding my health.
We bought a house after finding more mold in our apartment. A few more cancer problems popped up: another melanoma, a NHL and a basal cell. My wife is back on immunotherapy drugs, which now have more research. And it is now believed that the original clinical trial may have triggered or caused an autoimmune disorder. With all of the old diagnosis and symptoms taken together with current tests, she has been diagnosed with Lupus. To treat the Lupus, she takes high dose prednisone. Each time she takes prednisone, new skin lesions appear.
I'm overwhelmed. She is overwhelmed. The kids are resilient, but the one with Autism is especially overwhelmed. Every doctor's appointment is another copay or cost share. She sees so many specialists. She has went without the prescribed sleep monitor and wheelchair because of cost. Our dental insurance doesn't cover much of anything and my wife and kids all have a list of dental work that they desperately need completed. Most of my daughter's autism treatments are now covered, but we pay out of pocket for another daughter's dyslexia treatment. Because we purchased an affordable house; there are constant repairs to keep it mold free and healthy. We try to keep within budget by doing our own home repairs and vehicle repairs, we garden and mostly dress the kids in hand me down clothes. We coupon and plan outings based on free military tickets. We have had to pull all of the kids from extracurricular activities. I want to work another job, but she needs me at home. I sell my plasma as often as I can. But still there are unpaid bills and shutoff utilities.
The reason I am finally deciding to ask for help is the anxiety that my wife has been handling today. She is currently on prednisone for a flare up. Over the weekend an abnormal mole changed and started bleeding. Between her nightmares of having to remove the mole herself to save money, she might have slept two hours. She woke up and tried to keep the anxiety at bay while she scheduled the appointment to have it removed tomorrow. Then she went to the grocery where her check card was declined for the $40 she spent on food for the next three days. She was barely able to make it home through the anxiety. Between us, we have 6 doctors appointments this week and over half will have copays. One appointment is three hours away and requires gas and a desperately needed tire. We haven't bought any school supplies. Today was pay day and her card was declined for $40 worth of groceries.
As my wife's health declines there are so many things I want to do with her and for her, while I can. But most importantly I would like her to be able to have electricity and food. I've pushed aside so much thinking that there would be time later to make it better.
I know that it's hard to find extra to help others. We have recently had to quit our own volunteer work with church and Girl Scouts; because sometimes there is nothing left to give. But any thing you can give or any prayers you can send up or shares would be very appreciated. Truly thank you.