Help For My Brother Roland Bechtel III
Donation protected
You know how sometimes life can throw you a big fat curve ball right out of left field, catching you completely off guard and bopping you right in the head?! That's what has happened in our family. One of those things that you thought could never happen to you, or your family, and it has! Proof that no one is immune to illness, sadness and disease, no matter how good your life is.
Some of you know me personally, some of you only know me through social media, and some of you are complete strangers. I just want to start off saying that we are a family that believes in a "hand up" and not a "hand out". I heard about this site through a friend and I initially felt very odd about carrying through with this at first. I'm not accustomed to or comfortable at all with asking for help or money! But I will also do anything and everything to help my brother. I am of the mindset right now that I want to exhaust every outlet, every opportunity, every possibility that is available to my brother.!
Roland Bechtel, III, is my brother. He's 53 years old, the father of 5 and grandfather of 7 (shown above with his grandson, Roland V). He is a loving husband, brother and son. His wife was diagnosed a few years ago with MS and Roland has been her primary caretaker. He worked and his insurance covered her expenses. Several months ago, due to the increased expense of health care, Roland's company went out of business. He was left unemployed, through no fault of his own. This left him with no insurance and a small monthly unemployment check. They were able to get some state (Indiana) assistance for his wife that is now helping with some of her costly medical needs. Roland makes sure that she gets the meds and the shots on schedule and cares for her daily needs.
New employment was not coming quickly, but Roland is very resourceful, intelligent and motivated and so was just starting up a new self employed business venture and clients were coming to him. He was excited and happy that things would work out for the best as they always seemed to do. That is until he got a very bad pain in his leg! Still with no insurance, but without being able to take the pain any longer, he went into the ER. It was discovered that he had a blot clot in his leg. It was caught just in time before any major damage, he was put on blood thinning medication, told to keep his leg elevated, and we all thought that scary little incident was over.
After about two weeks of the pain not going away, and an overall feeling of exhaustion, Roland went back to the doctor and scans were done. The thought at first was that there could be some heart issues. The good news came back that his heart was fine. The very bad news was that there looked to be some sort of mass on his pancreas! A few days, and many more scans later, it was discovered that he has pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver and part of his lungs.
No one saw this coming! He's 53, never in the hospital a day in his life before this, and no symptoms before this! Are they sure? Yes, they're sure! He's now sent home with strong pain medication and more medical appointments scheduled.
Now here he is with no insurance, unable to think clear and concentrate on his work, a small income that is shortly going to end, an ill wife that he was the primary caretaker of, and medical bills that are already piling high after only a few weeks! As a family, we are helping out in every way we can, including monetarily, but the cost of medical bills is and will go way beyond what anyone can pay out of pocket.
I would like to think of this web site as an opportunity for me to help and give to my brother. In my own mind I am considering this a chance to pay it forward to any of you that reach out to me someday and need a little something when that curve ball hits you. I, my brother, and my family will keep track of the names of everyone that feels they are in a position to lend this helping hand. We will not forget!
If you are not able to help monetarily at this time, we just ask that you keep Roland and his family in your prayers. That means just as much! Thank you. And thanks so much for taking the time to read our story!
Some of you know me personally, some of you only know me through social media, and some of you are complete strangers. I just want to start off saying that we are a family that believes in a "hand up" and not a "hand out". I heard about this site through a friend and I initially felt very odd about carrying through with this at first. I'm not accustomed to or comfortable at all with asking for help or money! But I will also do anything and everything to help my brother. I am of the mindset right now that I want to exhaust every outlet, every opportunity, every possibility that is available to my brother.!
Roland Bechtel, III, is my brother. He's 53 years old, the father of 5 and grandfather of 7 (shown above with his grandson, Roland V). He is a loving husband, brother and son. His wife was diagnosed a few years ago with MS and Roland has been her primary caretaker. He worked and his insurance covered her expenses. Several months ago, due to the increased expense of health care, Roland's company went out of business. He was left unemployed, through no fault of his own. This left him with no insurance and a small monthly unemployment check. They were able to get some state (Indiana) assistance for his wife that is now helping with some of her costly medical needs. Roland makes sure that she gets the meds and the shots on schedule and cares for her daily needs.
New employment was not coming quickly, but Roland is very resourceful, intelligent and motivated and so was just starting up a new self employed business venture and clients were coming to him. He was excited and happy that things would work out for the best as they always seemed to do. That is until he got a very bad pain in his leg! Still with no insurance, but without being able to take the pain any longer, he went into the ER. It was discovered that he had a blot clot in his leg. It was caught just in time before any major damage, he was put on blood thinning medication, told to keep his leg elevated, and we all thought that scary little incident was over.
After about two weeks of the pain not going away, and an overall feeling of exhaustion, Roland went back to the doctor and scans were done. The thought at first was that there could be some heart issues. The good news came back that his heart was fine. The very bad news was that there looked to be some sort of mass on his pancreas! A few days, and many more scans later, it was discovered that he has pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver and part of his lungs.
No one saw this coming! He's 53, never in the hospital a day in his life before this, and no symptoms before this! Are they sure? Yes, they're sure! He's now sent home with strong pain medication and more medical appointments scheduled.
Now here he is with no insurance, unable to think clear and concentrate on his work, a small income that is shortly going to end, an ill wife that he was the primary caretaker of, and medical bills that are already piling high after only a few weeks! As a family, we are helping out in every way we can, including monetarily, but the cost of medical bills is and will go way beyond what anyone can pay out of pocket.
I would like to think of this web site as an opportunity for me to help and give to my brother. In my own mind I am considering this a chance to pay it forward to any of you that reach out to me someday and need a little something when that curve ball hits you. I, my brother, and my family will keep track of the names of everyone that feels they are in a position to lend this helping hand. We will not forget!
If you are not able to help monetarily at this time, we just ask that you keep Roland and his family in your prayers. That means just as much! Thank you. And thanks so much for taking the time to read our story!
Organizer
Nina Knox
Organizer
