- M
- G
My Dear Family and Friends,
I am writing this note to you with a heavy and humble heart. None of us ever expect to be in a situation that we can’t handle ourselves. And, if you’re like me, it’s much more likely that we find ourselves in a position to help someone else. Now I more clearly understand both sides of that coin.
On January 8, 2019, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 - Squamous Cell Carcinoma…yeah, cancer. Had it not been for the size of the tumor, it would have been labeled stage 2 because it hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes nor any other distant site. But the tumor was a third larger than a stage 2 tumor and regardless, it had to be surgically removed.
My surgery was on January 31, 2019, and everything went well. I can’t tell you how good it felt knowing that the tumor which had been growing inside my body was gone! For a brief moment, I felt happy.
My happiness started to fade and that scary, urgent feeling came crashing back when I fully understood that the surgery was the easy part. I am now 5 sessions into a 40 session radiation treatment plan and let me tell you, it's not easy planning your day around a dose of radiation!
I go in for radiation five days a week and each session takes about one hour from the time I get there to the time I leave, then it's home to take a nap to overpass the feeling of being sick It’s scary, uncomfortable and depressing. It’s also disappointing to think that my body has turned against me at such a relatively young age. To top it all off, I’m feeling all the human emotions, all at once, all the time…. and it’s a lot of emotion.
Physically, all the typical side effects you’ve heard about with radiation treatments: nausea, migraine headaches, fatigue, pain, and concentration problems. Its most likely a 50/50 thing, radiation 50/emotions 50 but I’ll say the only side effect that one could actually be happy about is the possible hair loss (your only losing hair in the area the radiation is given) in my case no more manscaping, Lol.
Lying in bed last night it became clear that going in every day for RT and then feeling drained after makes for a very short if at all work day.
The small company I work for has been super flexible and supportive, but there is no short-term disability plan and they can’t afford to keep paying me for the three months that this is going to last. And, surprise, I don’t make enough money to save up for things like three months of living expenses.
I know I will make it through this difficult process. I’m optimistic that if I’m able to focus on getting well, eating right and reducing this unending feeling of stress and dread, I will kick this cancer in the butt and be able to move on. However, it saddens me to say, I’m going to need help.
After my surgery my partner left to go back home to be with family (he was dealing with his own stuff, it was a good thing) and that left me having to pack and move, they say moving is one of the most stressful things a person can do, try moving not even a week after surgery and the thought of cancer possibly taking over again… Stressful! Thank you to everyone that helped out with the move. A good friend helped me find the perfect little one bedroom apartment which cut my rent in half. It’s just me and my beloved little Min Pin, Izzy (Isabelle). If I can raise any money with this GoFundMe page it would help so much, I could pay the rent, eat right, dog food, and be able to focus on my health and getting back to work without stressing about how, when, where. I hope to get back to work by mid-June or July 1st at the latest.
As hard as it is to ask, I simply have no choice but to, Any little bit of help would mean a world of difference during this fight.
I’m kind of freaking out as I write this because I’m embarrassed to have to reach out like this, but the fact of the matter is, I don’t have any other choice.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this and I will be so thankful for anything you can spare to help me. It would be nothing short of amazing, and one day I'll be able to pass the generosity on to someone else in need.
Thank you guys, so much, for understanding. I appreciate your love and support through this difficult time.
My very best wishes and love,
Matthew
I am writing this note to you with a heavy and humble heart. None of us ever expect to be in a situation that we can’t handle ourselves. And, if you’re like me, it’s much more likely that we find ourselves in a position to help someone else. Now I more clearly understand both sides of that coin.
On January 8, 2019, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 - Squamous Cell Carcinoma…yeah, cancer. Had it not been for the size of the tumor, it would have been labeled stage 2 because it hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes nor any other distant site. But the tumor was a third larger than a stage 2 tumor and regardless, it had to be surgically removed.
My surgery was on January 31, 2019, and everything went well. I can’t tell you how good it felt knowing that the tumor which had been growing inside my body was gone! For a brief moment, I felt happy.
My happiness started to fade and that scary, urgent feeling came crashing back when I fully understood that the surgery was the easy part. I am now 5 sessions into a 40 session radiation treatment plan and let me tell you, it's not easy planning your day around a dose of radiation!
I go in for radiation five days a week and each session takes about one hour from the time I get there to the time I leave, then it's home to take a nap to overpass the feeling of being sick It’s scary, uncomfortable and depressing. It’s also disappointing to think that my body has turned against me at such a relatively young age. To top it all off, I’m feeling all the human emotions, all at once, all the time…. and it’s a lot of emotion.
Physically, all the typical side effects you’ve heard about with radiation treatments: nausea, migraine headaches, fatigue, pain, and concentration problems. Its most likely a 50/50 thing, radiation 50/emotions 50 but I’ll say the only side effect that one could actually be happy about is the possible hair loss (your only losing hair in the area the radiation is given) in my case no more manscaping, Lol.
Lying in bed last night it became clear that going in every day for RT and then feeling drained after makes for a very short if at all work day.
The small company I work for has been super flexible and supportive, but there is no short-term disability plan and they can’t afford to keep paying me for the three months that this is going to last. And, surprise, I don’t make enough money to save up for things like three months of living expenses.
I know I will make it through this difficult process. I’m optimistic that if I’m able to focus on getting well, eating right and reducing this unending feeling of stress and dread, I will kick this cancer in the butt and be able to move on. However, it saddens me to say, I’m going to need help.
After my surgery my partner left to go back home to be with family (he was dealing with his own stuff, it was a good thing) and that left me having to pack and move, they say moving is one of the most stressful things a person can do, try moving not even a week after surgery and the thought of cancer possibly taking over again… Stressful! Thank you to everyone that helped out with the move. A good friend helped me find the perfect little one bedroom apartment which cut my rent in half. It’s just me and my beloved little Min Pin, Izzy (Isabelle). If I can raise any money with this GoFundMe page it would help so much, I could pay the rent, eat right, dog food, and be able to focus on my health and getting back to work without stressing about how, when, where. I hope to get back to work by mid-June or July 1st at the latest.
As hard as it is to ask, I simply have no choice but to, Any little bit of help would mean a world of difference during this fight.
I’m kind of freaking out as I write this because I’m embarrassed to have to reach out like this, but the fact of the matter is, I don’t have any other choice.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this and I will be so thankful for anything you can spare to help me. It would be nothing short of amazing, and one day I'll be able to pass the generosity on to someone else in need.
Thank you guys, so much, for understanding. I appreciate your love and support through this difficult time.
My very best wishes and love,
Matthew