Rogelio's Cancer Medical Fund
Donation protected
With a hopeful heart we are asking for the support of our dad, Rogelio, and our family to help off-set some of the medical costs that he has accumulated and will continue to accumulate in the next several months.
Last fall, on October 28, 2015, our dad was diagnosed with stage four triple-hit lymphoma, a rare but serious form of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Immediately after his diagnosis he began an intensive chemotherapy regime, requiring him to be hospitalized for a week at a time every two weeks. Although we spent Thanksgiving in the hospital, we were fortunate to have dad home for Christmas. Dad underwent these intensive rounds of chemotherapy through the end of February 2016. February 21, 2016 was slated to be his last day of chemotherapy, his “graduation.”
We were optimistic that after the intensive rounds of chemotherapy, dad’s March 13th PET Scan would reveal that he was in remission. Almost immediately after his PET Scan, dad’s doctor called asking to move up his appointment. The doctor told us that dad was not in remission. Our hearts weighed heavily with the news, and shattered into a million little pieces. After a few minutes of silence, dad’s doctor informed us that we were going to face a difficult uphill battle due to the rare genetic mutation of the cancer cells. This rare genetic mutation inhibited the cancer cells from responding to the intensive chemotherapy regime, and instead enabled them to continue growing and spreading.
Dad was scheduled for a set of more intensive chemotherapy rounds; more intensive than those he had previously received. He was hospitalized for a week at a time, every three weeks. The chemotherapy rounds were emotionally and mentally taxing, yet despite it all dad has maintained a positive, triumphant attitude. Dad received his last chemotherapy session on May 12, 2016, just two days before my sister’s, Stephanie, graduation and two weeks before my graduation.
A few weeks after his last chemotherapy session, dad was scheduled for another PET scan. Dreading the hospital pushing up his appointment, because this typically was synonymous with bad news, they did just that. The doctor noted a small mass near dad’s clavicle, which was not present before. Believing it to be a blood clot, caused by dad’s PICC line, the doctor scheduled dad for an ultrasound. The ultrasound revealed our worst fear, the mass was cancer. Meaning that the cancer continued to spread despite his chemotherapy sessions. Dad was then scheduled for radiation, in hopes of eliminating the mass. Fortunately, the radiation worked; eliminating the mass near dad’s clavicle. Unfortunately, a new mass began to appear in his abdomen.
The doctor informed us that dad’s last resort would be to undergo a bone-marrow transplant, upon the board’s approval. A few days’ later, dad’s doctor called to give us great news: the board accepted dad’s case (accepting him to partake in a program at Stanford Medical), which would enable him to proceed with obtaining a bone marrow transplant!! In the meantime, dad underwent another round of chemotherapy and radiation, in June 2016, in an effort to “buy time,” and in hopes that it would help to eliminate the cancer and/or avoid the cancer from spreading.
On June 26th dad was admitted to Stanford Medical. As part of the bone marrow transplant process, the medical staff preps the patient with another intensive round of chemotherapy, which breaks down and strips a patients’ immune system completely leaving them neutropenic. Dad finally received his bone marrow transplant on July 1st; referred to by the medical staff as his “new birthday.” To celebrate, they brought him a birthday cake and sang “happy birthday!” We were extremely fortunate that his youngest brother, our uncle, was a match & donated his stem cells.
Dad was hospitalized for the entire month of July at Stanford Medical, and was discharged in early August. As a safety precaution he is to remain in close proximity to Stanford Medical in case of an emergency, for three months. About one-week and a half after being discharged, dad was hospitalized due to what appears to be a moderate case of graft v. host disease. Dad is, fortunately, back home and placing all of his efforts on recovering.
Dad has, with his superpowers, managed to take a horrible situation and turned it into an unexpected positive. Although his hair has fallen out, his mustache is gone, he is unable to work, etc. his strength, characterized by his lively, fighting spirit remains and it is stronger than ever.
We kindly ask for your support through this difficult time, and to help alleviate his worries from this financial strain and concentrate solely on getting better. Any amount will go a long way in helping off-set the medical expenses. If you can’t donate, we ask you to keep our family in your thoughts and prayers, and/or send positive thoughts!
With lots of love,
Steph, Angie & Lili
Last fall, on October 28, 2015, our dad was diagnosed with stage four triple-hit lymphoma, a rare but serious form of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Immediately after his diagnosis he began an intensive chemotherapy regime, requiring him to be hospitalized for a week at a time every two weeks. Although we spent Thanksgiving in the hospital, we were fortunate to have dad home for Christmas. Dad underwent these intensive rounds of chemotherapy through the end of February 2016. February 21, 2016 was slated to be his last day of chemotherapy, his “graduation.”
We were optimistic that after the intensive rounds of chemotherapy, dad’s March 13th PET Scan would reveal that he was in remission. Almost immediately after his PET Scan, dad’s doctor called asking to move up his appointment. The doctor told us that dad was not in remission. Our hearts weighed heavily with the news, and shattered into a million little pieces. After a few minutes of silence, dad’s doctor informed us that we were going to face a difficult uphill battle due to the rare genetic mutation of the cancer cells. This rare genetic mutation inhibited the cancer cells from responding to the intensive chemotherapy regime, and instead enabled them to continue growing and spreading.
Dad was scheduled for a set of more intensive chemotherapy rounds; more intensive than those he had previously received. He was hospitalized for a week at a time, every three weeks. The chemotherapy rounds were emotionally and mentally taxing, yet despite it all dad has maintained a positive, triumphant attitude. Dad received his last chemotherapy session on May 12, 2016, just two days before my sister’s, Stephanie, graduation and two weeks before my graduation.
A few weeks after his last chemotherapy session, dad was scheduled for another PET scan. Dreading the hospital pushing up his appointment, because this typically was synonymous with bad news, they did just that. The doctor noted a small mass near dad’s clavicle, which was not present before. Believing it to be a blood clot, caused by dad’s PICC line, the doctor scheduled dad for an ultrasound. The ultrasound revealed our worst fear, the mass was cancer. Meaning that the cancer continued to spread despite his chemotherapy sessions. Dad was then scheduled for radiation, in hopes of eliminating the mass. Fortunately, the radiation worked; eliminating the mass near dad’s clavicle. Unfortunately, a new mass began to appear in his abdomen.
The doctor informed us that dad’s last resort would be to undergo a bone-marrow transplant, upon the board’s approval. A few days’ later, dad’s doctor called to give us great news: the board accepted dad’s case (accepting him to partake in a program at Stanford Medical), which would enable him to proceed with obtaining a bone marrow transplant!! In the meantime, dad underwent another round of chemotherapy and radiation, in June 2016, in an effort to “buy time,” and in hopes that it would help to eliminate the cancer and/or avoid the cancer from spreading.
On June 26th dad was admitted to Stanford Medical. As part of the bone marrow transplant process, the medical staff preps the patient with another intensive round of chemotherapy, which breaks down and strips a patients’ immune system completely leaving them neutropenic. Dad finally received his bone marrow transplant on July 1st; referred to by the medical staff as his “new birthday.” To celebrate, they brought him a birthday cake and sang “happy birthday!” We were extremely fortunate that his youngest brother, our uncle, was a match & donated his stem cells.
Dad was hospitalized for the entire month of July at Stanford Medical, and was discharged in early August. As a safety precaution he is to remain in close proximity to Stanford Medical in case of an emergency, for three months. About one-week and a half after being discharged, dad was hospitalized due to what appears to be a moderate case of graft v. host disease. Dad is, fortunately, back home and placing all of his efforts on recovering.
Dad has, with his superpowers, managed to take a horrible situation and turned it into an unexpected positive. Although his hair has fallen out, his mustache is gone, he is unable to work, etc. his strength, characterized by his lively, fighting spirit remains and it is stronger than ever.
We kindly ask for your support through this difficult time, and to help alleviate his worries from this financial strain and concentrate solely on getting better. Any amount will go a long way in helping off-set the medical expenses. If you can’t donate, we ask you to keep our family in your thoughts and prayers, and/or send positive thoughts!
With lots of love,
Steph, Angie & Lili
Organizer and beneficiary
Stephanie Padilla
Organizer
Ceres, CA
Rogelio Padilla
Beneficiary