Justin's Cancer Treatment Fund
Donation protected
Hi Friends and Family,
As much as we would like to say "We have everything under control!", unfortunately we do not. After speaking with my doctor, it looks like I will be out of work anywhere from 12-15 weeks (except a few short hours here and there when I am feeling good). Though my employer is being incredibly supportive, I do not have a short/long term disability plan so when my vacation time runs out, we will be completely without my paycheck. As you can image, x-rays, CT scans, blood tests, chemotherapy, plus a new baby and our normal everyday expenses, our bills are adding up fast.
We appreciate every single one of you for taking the time to read this and to consider making a donation to my family. The next few months are going to be very tough, so please continue to pray for not only my total healing, but also strength to keep fighting, wisdom to my doctor, and for NO side-effects from the chemotherapy.
If you would like to follow my journey to being a cancer-survivor, please visit my caring bring page: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/justinmills
Love,
Justin, Danielle & Charlotte Mills
Here is another summary of how we found out I was sick:
Felt sick all summer everybody who looked at me said I'm fine or making progress even as i deteriorated. Brilliant persistent Dr Nick LaFond helped me save my own life when we identified 2 tumors last Thursday. That new will shake you to your core. Friday morning feeling great, I had a CT scan and i got a call from the Hospital an hour later saying "GET BACK HERE NOW." I ran to the hospital to get a biopsy and give a lot of blood and then spent the weekend waiting. Turns out the tumors were really interesting ;) I am not sure exactly how or why but i started to believe this was going to be easy, painless even. Well today i had a sobering discussion with my Oncologist.
Dr Bloomenreich is a European man who could be plugged into any science comedy as a doctor or scientist, and audiences would be in stitches, German accent, sarcastic and cocky...he and i get along Great! It was his news that Bothered me.
The Diagnosis: Stage 3 Germ Cell Cancer...
Doesn't phase me one bit.
The treatment he described however is going to be awfully difficult. It is simple and straight forward. He said he is going to treat me with 3 main types of Chemo therapy, every drug he described had harsher side effects than the last. I will spend 3-5 hours a day 5 days a week being treated intravenously. There are a number of potential complications that we are to be ever watchful for including hearing damage, kidney damage, and infections from my own body. He promised not to give up or cease treatment before i am cured lest the treatment itself were going to kill me
I admire his passion for killing cancer, and he is exactly the man i need directing my treatment. The time for warm fuzzies is over. This is going to be the hardest thing i have ever done and frankly it's pretty easy to get scared where i am sitting.
I don't see an alternative,
I WILL be healed,
I WILL, survive. what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and this WILL NOT KILL ME.
Moving Forward: Tomorrow at 10am Danielle and i will be going to my first appointment scheduled to sit with me for the full 5 hours and give me a ride to and from. I also have rides covered for thursday and will be reaching out for transport in the future.
For those that want to do some thing the day is near when i will reach out for help but today, please lift up myself and my family. We have had a rough few days and still trying to be smiling and optimistic. I am confident that this is something i have trained for my whole life, and i am so glad this is me and not anyone else i know. I can never here enough "you can do it" i will do my best to earn every ounce of support i get.
Thank You all,
Especially Danielle, from the Bottom of my heart,
Justin Mills
Cancer Survivor.
As much as we would like to say "We have everything under control!", unfortunately we do not. After speaking with my doctor, it looks like I will be out of work anywhere from 12-15 weeks (except a few short hours here and there when I am feeling good). Though my employer is being incredibly supportive, I do not have a short/long term disability plan so when my vacation time runs out, we will be completely without my paycheck. As you can image, x-rays, CT scans, blood tests, chemotherapy, plus a new baby and our normal everyday expenses, our bills are adding up fast.
We appreciate every single one of you for taking the time to read this and to consider making a donation to my family. The next few months are going to be very tough, so please continue to pray for not only my total healing, but also strength to keep fighting, wisdom to my doctor, and for NO side-effects from the chemotherapy.
If you would like to follow my journey to being a cancer-survivor, please visit my caring bring page: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/justinmills
Love,
Justin, Danielle & Charlotte Mills
Here is another summary of how we found out I was sick:
Felt sick all summer everybody who looked at me said I'm fine or making progress even as i deteriorated. Brilliant persistent Dr Nick LaFond helped me save my own life when we identified 2 tumors last Thursday. That new will shake you to your core. Friday morning feeling great, I had a CT scan and i got a call from the Hospital an hour later saying "GET BACK HERE NOW." I ran to the hospital to get a biopsy and give a lot of blood and then spent the weekend waiting. Turns out the tumors were really interesting ;) I am not sure exactly how or why but i started to believe this was going to be easy, painless even. Well today i had a sobering discussion with my Oncologist.
Dr Bloomenreich is a European man who could be plugged into any science comedy as a doctor or scientist, and audiences would be in stitches, German accent, sarcastic and cocky...he and i get along Great! It was his news that Bothered me.
The Diagnosis: Stage 3 Germ Cell Cancer...
Doesn't phase me one bit.
The treatment he described however is going to be awfully difficult. It is simple and straight forward. He said he is going to treat me with 3 main types of Chemo therapy, every drug he described had harsher side effects than the last. I will spend 3-5 hours a day 5 days a week being treated intravenously. There are a number of potential complications that we are to be ever watchful for including hearing damage, kidney damage, and infections from my own body. He promised not to give up or cease treatment before i am cured lest the treatment itself were going to kill me
I admire his passion for killing cancer, and he is exactly the man i need directing my treatment. The time for warm fuzzies is over. This is going to be the hardest thing i have ever done and frankly it's pretty easy to get scared where i am sitting.
I don't see an alternative,
I WILL be healed,
I WILL, survive. what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and this WILL NOT KILL ME.
Moving Forward: Tomorrow at 10am Danielle and i will be going to my first appointment scheduled to sit with me for the full 5 hours and give me a ride to and from. I also have rides covered for thursday and will be reaching out for transport in the future.
For those that want to do some thing the day is near when i will reach out for help but today, please lift up myself and my family. We have had a rough few days and still trying to be smiling and optimistic. I am confident that this is something i have trained for my whole life, and i am so glad this is me and not anyone else i know. I can never here enough "you can do it" i will do my best to earn every ounce of support i get.
Thank You all,
Especially Danielle, from the Bottom of my heart,
Justin Mills
Cancer Survivor.
Organizer
Justin Mills
Organizer
Independence, MN