Support for Joe's Treatment
Donation protected
I’d like to introduce my friend, Joe Mariconda. He is an amazingly talented artist who has been successful in the tattoo industry for many years, currently operating a shop in Honolulu, Hawaii. He loves a good friendly prank and making everyone laugh – ask any of his friends, and we all have a story that starts off with a fond, “Remember that time when Joe did ___?” We also all have a story about Joe’s fierce loyalty and extreme generosity; he is one of the few people I know who sincerely gives from his heart to help anyone in need, and truly expects nothing in return. Right now Joe is the one in need of assistance, and I’m hoping that we can provide some support to help him through this challenging time.
Joe and his fiancée, Kau’i, first noticed something was wrong in January of 2014. He had lumps in both sides of his chest that were worrisome, though the surgeon said it was nothing serious. In January of 2015 he had lost a lot of weight; his legs, feet and toes were sometimes numb and tingling, his lymph nodes were swollen, and he was extremely fatigued. His doctors slowly went through a battery of tests – blood tests, cardiology testing, imaging, etc. The procedures showed that something was amiss, but the doctors didn’t think he was facing anything life-threatening, so they delayed aggressive testing despite Kau’i’s insistence that something was very wrong with Joe.
Seven months later, after continuing testing only due to Kau’i’s diligence, the doctors finally diagnosed Joe with POEMS syndrome on July 22, 2015. It is a rare blood disorder that affects the nerves and many other parts of the body. It is often misdiagnosed because its various symptoms mimic those of other disorders, as evidenced by the delay in Joe’s diagnosis.
There are no hospitals in Hawaii that have dealt with the treatment of POEMS syndrome as it is extremely rare and there are only 300 documented cases in the world, so Joe will be receiving a stem cell transplant at the University of California San Francisco. He and Kau’i are unsure of the costs of his treatment, and of the length of stay required. Their finances are further complicated by Joe’s inability to work during treatment, as well as the need to maintain his shop while he’s away. They will never ask for financial aid, but it is apparent that they could use some assistance. Thank you so much for taking the time to read Joe’s story. Any bit of support that you could offer is very truly appreciated.
Joe and his fiancée, Kau’i, first noticed something was wrong in January of 2014. He had lumps in both sides of his chest that were worrisome, though the surgeon said it was nothing serious. In January of 2015 he had lost a lot of weight; his legs, feet and toes were sometimes numb and tingling, his lymph nodes were swollen, and he was extremely fatigued. His doctors slowly went through a battery of tests – blood tests, cardiology testing, imaging, etc. The procedures showed that something was amiss, but the doctors didn’t think he was facing anything life-threatening, so they delayed aggressive testing despite Kau’i’s insistence that something was very wrong with Joe.
Seven months later, after continuing testing only due to Kau’i’s diligence, the doctors finally diagnosed Joe with POEMS syndrome on July 22, 2015. It is a rare blood disorder that affects the nerves and many other parts of the body. It is often misdiagnosed because its various symptoms mimic those of other disorders, as evidenced by the delay in Joe’s diagnosis.
There are no hospitals in Hawaii that have dealt with the treatment of POEMS syndrome as it is extremely rare and there are only 300 documented cases in the world, so Joe will be receiving a stem cell transplant at the University of California San Francisco. He and Kau’i are unsure of the costs of his treatment, and of the length of stay required. Their finances are further complicated by Joe’s inability to work during treatment, as well as the need to maintain his shop while he’s away. They will never ask for financial aid, but it is apparent that they could use some assistance. Thank you so much for taking the time to read Joe’s story. Any bit of support that you could offer is very truly appreciated.
Organizer
Carline Ogasawara
Organizer
Honolulu, HI