Chrissy's Treatment Fund

I am sorry that this page even exists. One of the sweetest young ladies with one of the biggest hearts in existence and who has an immeasurable amount of potential and goodness to give to the world, at 20 years old has become very sick. A week and a half ago, Chrissy (my step daughter), went to the doctor to get an MRI on her knee which has been causing her increasing pain over the past three months. The results were not at all what were expected, and she was immediately referred to a cancer specialist for further evaluation. It was confirmed via additional scans and a biopsy a few days later that Chrissy has Osteosarcoma, or bone cancer, currently in stage 2b. It is in her lower thigh bone, and is currently a mass that is eight centimeters in width. Though she has many factors in her favor, and though the prognosis is good, the fact remains that Chrissy will need extensive and expensive treatment if we are going to overcome this giant obstacle in her life. After carefully weighing out her options, she has decided to pursue treatment at the Burzynski clinic in Houston, Texas. The Burzyinski clinic is renowned for its pioneering successes in using personalized targeted treatments to cure cancer without all the harmful side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, and has been doing so since the late 70s. In a nutshell, they identify the specific genes in a cancer patient that caused the cancer, and they develop a regimen of antineoplastons that specifically target those rogue genes and switch them off. The result is that the tumor literally shrinks away into nothingness over time, and the patient suffers none of the side effects associated with the traditional approach of poisoning the cancer (and the patient) with chemotherapy.


Our initial consultation with the Burzyinski clinic will cost us $1,200, after which a deposit of $13,500 will be required to begin development of Chrissy's treatment. Monthly installments of a currently unknown amount will then be required until the insurance begins paying the clinic's claims on a regular basis. Though the Burzyinski clinic's approach is not nearly as expensive as traditional, more radical treatments, the costs are still far above anything we could ever hope to cover by ourselves. I am a very self-sufficient man, and find myself more often than not in a position to give than to have to ask. But the simple fact is, we just don't have near the funds we need in such short notice to get Chrissy's treatment started. It pains me as a father and provider to have to ask for help in this matter. But the pain of my pride is nothing compared to the pain I feel when I see Chrissy being so young, so beautiful, and so sick. Believe me when I say, I can and am giving up whatever I must, selling whatever I must, and sacrificing whatever is required of me to provide for her proper care. But even giving my absolute all, the burden is still too great for my wife and I to overcome alone. For her sake I humble myself and reach out to you and ask that, if you are able, and if you are moved to do so, you would help us in whatever way you can to bear this burden and get Chrissy the help that she absolutely must have.


I am utterly confident that you, my people, are good people at heart. I also know that we all have our own burdens to bear financially and otherwise, and not everyone is in a position to give. If you are unable, it is enough for me just to know that you care, and that your well-wishes and prayers are present before our Creator on Chrissy's behalf. Thank you so very, very much for taking the time to consider our situation, and know this: when, God forbid, the tables may ever be turned, you can count on me and mine to be there for you as well.


Sincerely,


Doug Boude (rhymes with 'loud')