Help Todd beat Leukemia
Donation protected
Hi my name is Todd Spencer. I was just a regular guy going through life working every day and enjoying my two married daughters and my 4 young grandchildren. Then suddenly my life was forever changed. I had not been feeling well for about two months and on February 4, 2017 I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The ER doctor explained that AML is a very aggressive cancer of the bone marrow and that treatment will be excruciatingly hard.
Within 24 hours of my diagnosis I was transferred by ambulance to a major hospital 100 miles from my home and my family. As the vehicle sped off to Detroit I'm thinking what does all this mean? I'm only 49 years old...I want to enjoy my daughters and see my grandchildren grow into adult hood! I want to live. I was devastated!!
I spent nearly six months in the hospital continually receiving IV chemo, blood, and platelets which overloaded my system. I dealt with major complications that led to surgery to relieve the fluid around my lungs and then more chemo and more complications...I nearly died three different times. By the grace of God & support of my family somehow I survived. The only cure for AML is a successful stem cell transplant. I was excited to learn I met the requirements for this. I had a lot to go through to prepare for the transplant but I was willing and ready to do whatever it took.
After the transplant I returned home. It was great to feel like a human being again! I walked outdoors and enjoyed seeing my family. I had to return to Detroit 2-3 times a week to check on my condition, get blood counts etc. After several months this got expensive...a good majority of my money was going towards gas as well as copays towards all of the new medication I was now required to take.
All of the sudden I started not feeling well again. I was experience pain, feeling weak and extremely scared. I soon found out the transplant had failed and again I was devastated.
The doctor told me that without any treatment I would only live 4-6 weeks. This news meant that I needed to go back on chemo. Fortunately, I was able to have my care coordinated through my local hospital. For months now I have been getting outpatient IV chemo every four weeks. Additionally, I'm receiving oral chemo every other week. It's hard to survive this disease both physically and financially. There isn't enough money at the end of the month to meet my bills and my savings account is almost entirely depleted. I am faced with numerous medical expenses including doctor appointments and many expensive medications which I need to take on a daily basis.
As one can imagine, this is very overwhelming. I haven’t been able to work for almost 2 years!! I’ve always worked hard and never had to worry about how to pay my bills. This has been a very humbling experience having to ask for financial help. My family and friends have helped me out but this is more than a few people can handle. I'm asking for your help and I would forever be grateful to you.
The fight isn’t over yet, I’m a fighter and not ready to give up so easily. I am asking for your help in any way you are able. Please support the “Help Todd beat Leukemia” Go Fund Me page, also share the link on your social media outlets and lastly continue to pray for me and my family.
I'm a person of faith so I would repay you by praying for you. Any amount would be appreciated. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
May God bless you & keep you healthy.
Within 24 hours of my diagnosis I was transferred by ambulance to a major hospital 100 miles from my home and my family. As the vehicle sped off to Detroit I'm thinking what does all this mean? I'm only 49 years old...I want to enjoy my daughters and see my grandchildren grow into adult hood! I want to live. I was devastated!!
I spent nearly six months in the hospital continually receiving IV chemo, blood, and platelets which overloaded my system. I dealt with major complications that led to surgery to relieve the fluid around my lungs and then more chemo and more complications...I nearly died three different times. By the grace of God & support of my family somehow I survived. The only cure for AML is a successful stem cell transplant. I was excited to learn I met the requirements for this. I had a lot to go through to prepare for the transplant but I was willing and ready to do whatever it took.
After the transplant I returned home. It was great to feel like a human being again! I walked outdoors and enjoyed seeing my family. I had to return to Detroit 2-3 times a week to check on my condition, get blood counts etc. After several months this got expensive...a good majority of my money was going towards gas as well as copays towards all of the new medication I was now required to take.
All of the sudden I started not feeling well again. I was experience pain, feeling weak and extremely scared. I soon found out the transplant had failed and again I was devastated.
The doctor told me that without any treatment I would only live 4-6 weeks. This news meant that I needed to go back on chemo. Fortunately, I was able to have my care coordinated through my local hospital. For months now I have been getting outpatient IV chemo every four weeks. Additionally, I'm receiving oral chemo every other week. It's hard to survive this disease both physically and financially. There isn't enough money at the end of the month to meet my bills and my savings account is almost entirely depleted. I am faced with numerous medical expenses including doctor appointments and many expensive medications which I need to take on a daily basis.
As one can imagine, this is very overwhelming. I haven’t been able to work for almost 2 years!! I’ve always worked hard and never had to worry about how to pay my bills. This has been a very humbling experience having to ask for financial help. My family and friends have helped me out but this is more than a few people can handle. I'm asking for your help and I would forever be grateful to you.
The fight isn’t over yet, I’m a fighter and not ready to give up so easily. I am asking for your help in any way you are able. Please support the “Help Todd beat Leukemia” Go Fund Me page, also share the link on your social media outlets and lastly continue to pray for me and my family.
I'm a person of faith so I would repay you by praying for you. Any amount would be appreciated. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
May God bless you & keep you healthy.
Organizer and beneficiary
Nicholas Spencer
Organizer
Jackson, MI
Todd Spencer
Beneficiary
