Help Del Luipold Beat Cancer

I’m writing to ask you to support my dear friends, Del and Lorie Luipold, through Del’s cancer battle. My name is Diane Holder and I am a proud part of the Globe-Miami community, where the Luipolds reside. I felt inclined to do something positive for my dear friends during this unbelievably difficult time. Lorie is a small business owner in Historic Downtown Globe, and I know the Globe-Miami community will rally together to show their support, too! Living in a small town means that medical specialists and necessary care are located in Phoenix, equating to more time and money needed to cover travel, lodging and meal expenses. These added fees combined with medical bills and loss of income has become an overwhelming source of hardship. With Del and Lori's permission, I've created this fundraiser in hopes of relieving some of the stress of how they’re going to keep up with the medical bills, cost of travel for treatments and living expenses without Del’s income at this time. All donation will go directly to the couple, as this fundraiser is linked to the Luipod's bank account. There is no donation that’s too small; Every little bit helps. Please share this all over your socials, with friends and family near and far. Prayers are also welcome and appreciated.

I want you to hear Del and Lori's story directly from them - so in his wife's words, here's Del's story:

In 2016, Del went to the doctor for his routine annual physical for his commercial driver’s license, but it was anything but routine. His urinalysis showed blood in the urine and after multiple tests it was determined that he had bladder cancer. That was a devastating diagnosis considering his father had been diagnosed with Stage IV bladder cancer and a few months later he passed. Del was referred to one of the leading oncologists in the Phoenix area and began receiving isolated chemotherapy treatments with a pretty good outcome keeping the cancer at bay. The chemotherapy treatments continued with his oncologist through June 2022 when his oncologist retired. During the course of treatment, he was able to beat the cancer three different times for several months at time until it would again resurface. He was referred to a new hematologist/oncologist in Phoenix who took a deeper look into his white blood count, which for some unknown cause continues to be extremely lower than normal. With bone marrow biopsies, blood tests, MRIs, and a variety of other tests, the specialists have yet to figure out why his white blood count is so low. A new course of treatment began in 2022 with him receiving localized chemo in his bladder and rounds of Keytruda every three weeks in Phoenix. During this time, he was also referred to a urologist/oncologist for additional treatment. The two physicians have been collaborating in his care for the past 12 months and had finally determined that Del’s treatment just wasn’t effective anymore and that the next step to prevent any additional growth or spread of the bladder cancer would be to remove the bladder and, if possible, create a neo-bladder to replace his damaged bladder. If the surgeon felt that a neo-bladder was not a safe option when he was in the midst of removal, then Del would be need to have a urostomy pouch. The surgery was scheduled at Banner Gateway Hospital in Gilbert for May 26, 2023.

The week before surgery, Del underwent several pre-op tests including a biopsy on a lymph gland in his lower abdomen which lit up like a Christmas tree during an MRI. Although two recent previous biopsies had been negative for cancer or other malignancies, the results of this biopsy, unfortunately, came back positive for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. This definitely is not what anyone wants to hear! What’s even more terrifying, was that when the physician called to deliver the news, he explained that this is a fast-growing, extremely aggressive type of cancer and left untreated, it can often be fatal is less than 60 days!

Needless to say, everything else has been put on hold as we now face this second medical hurdle. The bladder cancer surgery had to be put on hold in order to aggressively treat this new type of cancer. Del began chemotherapy treatments June 1st and will continue every three weeks in Phoenix over the next eight months. He underwent additional testing this past week to determine the stage of the cancer as well as give the doctors a baseline. The treatments and tests often require an overnight stay in Phoenix, travel expenses and food while Del receives chemotherapy.

Although we met in 2019 and have been married for just three years, we are a team battling Del’s cancer. With this new chapter in his life, Del’s ability to continue truck driving, or working for that matter, is uncertain, which brings about much stress for us. When Del doesn’t work, he doesn’t get paid, and his company offers no short- or long-term disability benefits. Without his insurance, the cost of medical treatments would be out of reach for us. The deductibles have already exceeded $10,000 and premiums must still be paid in order to keep the insurance whether he is able to work or not. When Del’s Lymphoma is in remission, God willing, the surgeon will once again need to address the bladder cancer. With surgery, Del could again be out of work for three to six months and will need to continue additional treatments and testing to ensure that the cancer doesn’t reoccur.

Much of our financial responsibilities fall back on my copper art business in downtown Globe, Splash of Copper Art Gallery & Gifts. Unfortunately, as with many small businesses in Arizona, the summer months are not the busiest or most profitable. Finances are tighter, and overhead is more expensive with the crazy cooling bills and the need for help while I serve as my husband’s caregiver. As a small business owner, there is enough to keep the business open for now, but never enough to pay the owner a salary. Therefore, we rely on Del’s job to cover our personal expenses.

With the rising medical bills, extra travel expenses, loss of wages and decreased sales at the business, we have reached out to social workers and medical professionals for resources that we may qualify for to help with these escalating bills and personal expenses during these difficult months ahead. As of now, we haven’t received any assistance, but continue to pray for God’s provision during this time.