Best of Plans Mislaid by Cancer

John is the type of guy who would hate to be described as a Good Samaritan and definitely not a knight in shining armour. Well, tough luck, he can add it to the list of things he didn’t want but ended up with since his cancer diagnosis in February of this year.

John was diagnosed with a type of cancer called Multiple Myeloma. 

Where "Multiple Myeloma" Gets its Name

Unlike most cancers, myeloma does not exist as a lump or a tumour. Instead, myeloma cells multiply in the bone marrow and interferes with the production of good, healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

As a result, myeloma affects several places in the body where bone marrow is normally active in adults (ie, the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, rib cage, long bones in arms and legs and areas around the shoulders and hips) – which is why it's often referred to as multiple myeloma.

Due to the nature of this type of cancer, John has lost 5" in height and a significant amount of bone density dropping his weight to extremely low levels. Ongoing monitoring and a complicated diet plan have helped to keep things in check.

Through the first 5 rounds of chemo, John managed to keep a healthy and humourous outlook towards his treatments and life in general. He managed to keep up with his volunteering in the DTES  until the physical toll became too much and he needed to focus more on his own care and well being. 

I mean what else would you call someone who stays up all night with a friend who is afraid of their own next round of chemo, who breaks up a fight between strangers, and who checks in on the bitter cranky neighbours down the hall every day to say hi and make sure he’s okay because he is all alone.

He’s also the type of guy who plans ahead. Not like on a doomsday prepper kind of level (At least not publicly!)  Self-employed with a somewhat regular income he bought every type of medical insurance you can imagine and still his cancer is kicking his financial butt. The past 7 months have been difficult, but he managed to get by somehow.

Until now.

He was dead set against a Go Fund Me (thats the private , humble side of him) until I made him realize that there are lots of people that would love to pay him back for his generosity to them or just want to help out in general.

Here are just a few things we need to cover besides day to day and surprise expenses (which there are plenty):

Dentures needed to replace all of his teeth that were pulled (Which makes eating Saganaki very difficult!) due to a type of bone strengthening medication he will be on for the next two years.

Accommodations near the hospital just before and after his transplant.(Where is your private jet when you need it?).

The major cancer treatment plan is now winding down, but recovery and associated treatments aren’t over.  And the bills of course....don't stop.

My dear friend needs a minimum of 10K to cover the above mentioned and make it through the next six months of recovery…and I haven’t won the lottery yet so your help would be much appreciated. 

You know it already but I will say it anyway-every bit helps.