The Marrow-thon is on. Better Days Ahead for Ethan
Donation protected
The Marrow-thon Begins! Better Days Ahead for Ethan!
Wow! What an ironic and terrible time to put out an ask for help from you—with all of us in the same scary boat surrounded by the same shark-infested waters, washing our hands like mad, watching fortunes slide into the sea, fearful for ourselves and for our loved ones on too many fronts to name...
And yet, here we are asking for help nonetheless.
Ethan and I are in an awkward spot. We never want to put anyone out. But to hell with dignity! SOS!
We’re in a bind like no other time in our lives. As most of you know, my/our beloved Ethan was diagnosed with high risk Myelodysplastic syndrome mid-October 2019. By November 1st he was feeling so fatigued that he was forced to close his psychotherapy practice. Since then we’ve been doing our best to manage on one income, but our boat is filling with water faster than we can bail.
We are supremely fortunate to live in Massachusetts where we have excellent health insurance which covers the lion’s share of Ethan’s bills, but still there are gaps and mounting bills for treatments not covered by insurance, not to mention expenses associated with prolonged medical stays, including missed work days and travel to and from Boston, as well as accumulating household and living expenses.
And this very difficult and expensive year has only just begun. This Wednesday, March 11th after going through three ten day cycles of chemotherapy over the past three months, Ethan will finally check into Mass General Hospital to begin a “conditioning” chemo in advance of the actual bone marrow transplant which will happen on Wednesday, March 18th. Please light your candles!
Ethan will be in the hospital for about one month and then move into “Hope Lodge” in Boston for up to three more months as his baby immune system slowly “grows up.” His doctors tell us that he will not be able to work for about a year. We are filled with fear, but also hold huge hope that this process will allow us to return to some new sense of normal and re-join our incredible community of friends and family with renewed strength and joy!!!
It is strange, this sense that the world is in synchrony, keeping us company in our stressful time, adorning masks and retreating behind closed doors. We understand that many of you are likely experiencing some distress at this time. Just know that there is no expectation. Everyone gives in their own way in whatever ways they can. Thoughts and prayers are excellent, too! But if you are in a position to help in anyway as we go through this crazy long ordeal, we invite you to contribute.
With love and gratitude, Ellen & Ethan
Please visit CaringBridge for updates and to stay in touch:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ethandufault/support
With love and hope for better days ahead,
Ethan and Ellen
Wow! What an ironic and terrible time to put out an ask for help from you—with all of us in the same scary boat surrounded by the same shark-infested waters, washing our hands like mad, watching fortunes slide into the sea, fearful for ourselves and for our loved ones on too many fronts to name...
And yet, here we are asking for help nonetheless.
Ethan and I are in an awkward spot. We never want to put anyone out. But to hell with dignity! SOS!
We’re in a bind like no other time in our lives. As most of you know, my/our beloved Ethan was diagnosed with high risk Myelodysplastic syndrome mid-October 2019. By November 1st he was feeling so fatigued that he was forced to close his psychotherapy practice. Since then we’ve been doing our best to manage on one income, but our boat is filling with water faster than we can bail.
We are supremely fortunate to live in Massachusetts where we have excellent health insurance which covers the lion’s share of Ethan’s bills, but still there are gaps and mounting bills for treatments not covered by insurance, not to mention expenses associated with prolonged medical stays, including missed work days and travel to and from Boston, as well as accumulating household and living expenses.
And this very difficult and expensive year has only just begun. This Wednesday, March 11th after going through three ten day cycles of chemotherapy over the past three months, Ethan will finally check into Mass General Hospital to begin a “conditioning” chemo in advance of the actual bone marrow transplant which will happen on Wednesday, March 18th. Please light your candles!
Ethan will be in the hospital for about one month and then move into “Hope Lodge” in Boston for up to three more months as his baby immune system slowly “grows up.” His doctors tell us that he will not be able to work for about a year. We are filled with fear, but also hold huge hope that this process will allow us to return to some new sense of normal and re-join our incredible community of friends and family with renewed strength and joy!!!
It is strange, this sense that the world is in synchrony, keeping us company in our stressful time, adorning masks and retreating behind closed doors. We understand that many of you are likely experiencing some distress at this time. Just know that there is no expectation. Everyone gives in their own way in whatever ways they can. Thoughts and prayers are excellent, too! But if you are in a position to help in anyway as we go through this crazy long ordeal, we invite you to contribute.
With love and gratitude, Ellen & Ethan
Please visit CaringBridge for updates and to stay in touch:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ethandufault/support
With love and hope for better days ahead,
Ethan and Ellen
Co-organizers (2)
Ethan Dufault
Organizer
Shelburne, MA
Ellen Saxe
Co-organizer