Help Joe cut out the cancer
Donation protected
Joe Lopez has overcome countless setbacks in life and has always come back stronger. First, a struggle with diabetes for most of his adult life, then quadruple bypass surgery at age 40, followed by multiple amputations as a result of health complications. Through it all Joe has remained strong, upbeat, and loving. He has never allowed himself a moment of self-pity.
And now, at age 55, he's been diagnosed with colon cancer. As always Joe and his family will rise to this challenge. At the moment, the news is good: the cancer doesn't seem to have spread to any other organs. We are hopeful that chemotherapy won't be necessary and that surgically removing the tumor will be the main course of treatment. But all the doctors thus far have explained that surgery is just the beginning. This tumor has most likely been growing silently for years, and lifelong follow up after surgery will be a must.
Although this is considered a non-emergency surgery, time is definitely not on our side. As of now the surgery is scheduled for July 28th at Seton Medical Center, Austin. This is less than 3 weeks away and we are in a state of emergency about the medical expenses required at the time of surgery.
Joe has been a small business owner in Austin for over 30 years. He prides himself on making an honest living, ensuring that his family is taken care of and genuinely only asks for help when he desperately needs it. His family has limited financial resources and can only do so much. One would think that under his circumstances, state or federal resources would be easily accessible, but that is far from the case. Unfortunately, assistance like this is not available in the timeframe he needs. Hopefully some of the upcoming expenses can be reduced or waived, but we know this will not be the case for all of the medical providers involved. The weeks ahead are going to quickly add up to an enormous amount of medical debt that will present another burden Joe cannot handle.
Joe and his family have gone through their emergency savings in order to partially pay for office visits, colonoscopy, CT scan, chest X-rays, etc. The show must go on so Joe is still going to work every day like normal and is already asking how soon after surgery he can return to work...this is exactly the kind of stress the doctor does not want Joe to be under: rushed and concerned about paying the bills vs. taking care of himself. Standard procedure is a 2 -3 night hospital admittance. Although approximate totals for the operating room, anesthesia, and surgeon have been given, there is no telling how much the 2-3 day hospital stay is going to build up to.
Life may have thrown Joe another curveball, but he's not about to let this beat him. Please consider making a donation to help Joe with his medical bills. We've seen what can happen when friends, family, and even strangers come together to help someone in need. We hope this plea for help will reach anyone and everyone. Thank you for taking the time to read this. His family appreciates any positive thoughts and prayers you could send their way. One day at a time...as one family.
And now, at age 55, he's been diagnosed with colon cancer. As always Joe and his family will rise to this challenge. At the moment, the news is good: the cancer doesn't seem to have spread to any other organs. We are hopeful that chemotherapy won't be necessary and that surgically removing the tumor will be the main course of treatment. But all the doctors thus far have explained that surgery is just the beginning. This tumor has most likely been growing silently for years, and lifelong follow up after surgery will be a must.
Although this is considered a non-emergency surgery, time is definitely not on our side. As of now the surgery is scheduled for July 28th at Seton Medical Center, Austin. This is less than 3 weeks away and we are in a state of emergency about the medical expenses required at the time of surgery.
Joe has been a small business owner in Austin for over 30 years. He prides himself on making an honest living, ensuring that his family is taken care of and genuinely only asks for help when he desperately needs it. His family has limited financial resources and can only do so much. One would think that under his circumstances, state or federal resources would be easily accessible, but that is far from the case. Unfortunately, assistance like this is not available in the timeframe he needs. Hopefully some of the upcoming expenses can be reduced or waived, but we know this will not be the case for all of the medical providers involved. The weeks ahead are going to quickly add up to an enormous amount of medical debt that will present another burden Joe cannot handle.
Joe and his family have gone through their emergency savings in order to partially pay for office visits, colonoscopy, CT scan, chest X-rays, etc. The show must go on so Joe is still going to work every day like normal and is already asking how soon after surgery he can return to work...this is exactly the kind of stress the doctor does not want Joe to be under: rushed and concerned about paying the bills vs. taking care of himself. Standard procedure is a 2 -3 night hospital admittance. Although approximate totals for the operating room, anesthesia, and surgeon have been given, there is no telling how much the 2-3 day hospital stay is going to build up to.
Life may have thrown Joe another curveball, but he's not about to let this beat him. Please consider making a donation to help Joe with his medical bills. We've seen what can happen when friends, family, and even strangers come together to help someone in need. We hope this plea for help will reach anyone and everyone. Thank you for taking the time to read this. His family appreciates any positive thoughts and prayers you could send their way. One day at a time...as one family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jill Tripoli
Organizer
Austin, TX
Jose (Joe) Lopez
Beneficiary
