Donation protected
Dear friends and family of Bill & Terry,
It's never an easy task to reach out and ask for financial support. Our Bill is currently in a fight for his life, blindsided by a stage 4 cancer diagnosis back in April. After talking with Terry about the increasing medical costs, I told him to please let me start this campaign to reach out to our HUGE circle of family and friends to help ease the burden. Their initial reaction was no, in fact twice they refused help. But with medical bills outside of Terry's insurance nearing $20,000, they gave me the green light. I asked Terry to put their journey into his own words which will follow. If "it takes a village", we need to group together and lend a hand. If a financial donation is not possible, a card of support is just as appreciated:
Bill Surprenant
1716 Sylvan Drive
Arlington, TX 76012
With appreciation & love,
Dana
"In April of this year, the love of my life and center of my universe for 29 years, started his cancer fight.
Bill developed pain in his lower back and hip. At the time he thought it was age creeping up on him as it does to us all and scheduled a couple chiropractor visits. The pain didn’t get better in fact it worsened with severe sciatica to the point of using a walker.
The chiropractor suggested an MRI which came back showing anomalies. He sent the results to his general practitioner who ordered additional tests one being a CT scan. The results showed a mass between his lungs which is where the cancer originated. A biopsy on his hip confirmed that the metastatic lung cancer was stage four and had spread to that region.
The journey since then has been a difficult one for Bill.
At his first visit with his oncologist the doctor admitted him to the hospital for pain control which ended up being a 12 day stay. Bill had extremely high blood calcium from the tumors effect on the bone. This caused near kidney failure. Bill received heavy fluids via IV and drugs to try to lower the calcium which was successful after nearly a week.
During this time we were fortunate enough for his sister Debbie to come from New Hampshire and help with Bill’s care. She left her family, friends, and a job being a caregiver part time herself. I don’t know what we would do without her. She moved right in and hit the ground running. Love her so much. I would also mention that Rose, a lifelong friend of Debbie’s, lives in the area and has been a lot of help for not only Bill and I but to Debbie as someone to make her feel a little at home so far away from her own. In addition, our friends and neighbors have been extremely supportive.
The doctors felt at this point Bill was healthy enough to start treatment. The first step would be radiation to help with pain. Although he was in a state of the art oncology ward (two miles from our house BTW) it did not have the radiation equipment to treat Bill. He needed to be transported via ambulance there and back to the hospital. He received the radiation equivalent to 10 visits. Within 24 hours there was an immediate benefit to his pain level. He was back to using a walker after a couple days and had his first chemo before he was released.
He improved over the next three weeks and had another chemo treatment out patient.
However, toward the end of June, Bill’s legs weakened again. He was admitted again. Another MRI and CT scan showed a tumor had developed on his vertebrae just below his shoulder blades causing spinal cord compression. The surgeon needed to operate immediately to avoid permanent damage.
On July 1st, Bill was operated on. The surgeon removed the vertebrae and tumor and put in rods and pins to shore up his spine. He was released after five days with the plan of getting physical therapy to regain some leg strength and hopefully get to walking again and out of the wheelchair.
Shortly after getting home he developed severe swelling in his feet and lower legs initially diagnosed as lymphedema. As if Bill needed another thing to infringe on his mobility.
A nurse came to the house and did pressure wraps to his legs. They were uncomfortable but after a couple weeks of treatment they were very much improved. Thank you Marilyn! Best home nurse in the world! She knows her stuff.
Last Saturday, July 27th, Debbie and I (and of course Bill) noticed his heart rate was very high and his oxygen was low. This resulted in another ambulance ride and Bill’s third hospital stay.
Bill had developed a lung infection. He was treated with antibiotics and put on oxygen. After a three day stay he was released. He is continuing the oxygen at home and an adjustment in his medication will hopefully help with the heart rate over the next couple weeks. This is where we are today in the journey.
Through all of this Bill has impressed me with his positive “just the next thing to get through” attitude. He has the courage I lack. He has and continues to help me through this all. He’s my rock.
It is no secret a cancer diagnosis quickly becomes a financial burden even with insurance provided through me by my employee plan. In Bill’s case, this is especially the case because his mobility was affected even before his diagnosis and has declined to where he is now. The deductibles, max out of pocket, and things that insurance flat out wouldn’t cover alone have been in excess of $18,000 which is probably a conservative estimate and undoubtedly go up.
Bill’s needs do not allow him to be unattended and of course, what is most important, is that he be safe, comfortable and get the care he needs at home. We’ve been relying heavily on Debbie and paying a caregiver to sit with him when necessary. It’s become increasingly difficult for Deb to transfer Bill from the wheelchair to where he needs to be. In and out of bed for instance.
I have been on intermittent FMLA. Although you’re entitled to 12 weeks total, it’s only paid for what vacation time you have.
Bill has always been a private person and to be honest, he was reluctant to this GoFundMe. I reminded him that he has always been generous and done for others. There are times when it’s okay to accept help when it’s required. This is one of those times.
The funds collected will go to caring for Bill and fighting the battle. The donations will be accepted with heartfelt appreciation and love because we know they are given out of love.
With deep gratitude,
Terry and Bill
It's never an easy task to reach out and ask for financial support. Our Bill is currently in a fight for his life, blindsided by a stage 4 cancer diagnosis back in April. After talking with Terry about the increasing medical costs, I told him to please let me start this campaign to reach out to our HUGE circle of family and friends to help ease the burden. Their initial reaction was no, in fact twice they refused help. But with medical bills outside of Terry's insurance nearing $20,000, they gave me the green light. I asked Terry to put their journey into his own words which will follow. If "it takes a village", we need to group together and lend a hand. If a financial donation is not possible, a card of support is just as appreciated:
Bill Surprenant
1716 Sylvan Drive
Arlington, TX 76012
With appreciation & love,
Dana
"In April of this year, the love of my life and center of my universe for 29 years, started his cancer fight.
Bill developed pain in his lower back and hip. At the time he thought it was age creeping up on him as it does to us all and scheduled a couple chiropractor visits. The pain didn’t get better in fact it worsened with severe sciatica to the point of using a walker.
The chiropractor suggested an MRI which came back showing anomalies. He sent the results to his general practitioner who ordered additional tests one being a CT scan. The results showed a mass between his lungs which is where the cancer originated. A biopsy on his hip confirmed that the metastatic lung cancer was stage four and had spread to that region.
The journey since then has been a difficult one for Bill.
At his first visit with his oncologist the doctor admitted him to the hospital for pain control which ended up being a 12 day stay. Bill had extremely high blood calcium from the tumors effect on the bone. This caused near kidney failure. Bill received heavy fluids via IV and drugs to try to lower the calcium which was successful after nearly a week.
During this time we were fortunate enough for his sister Debbie to come from New Hampshire and help with Bill’s care. She left her family, friends, and a job being a caregiver part time herself. I don’t know what we would do without her. She moved right in and hit the ground running. Love her so much. I would also mention that Rose, a lifelong friend of Debbie’s, lives in the area and has been a lot of help for not only Bill and I but to Debbie as someone to make her feel a little at home so far away from her own. In addition, our friends and neighbors have been extremely supportive.
The doctors felt at this point Bill was healthy enough to start treatment. The first step would be radiation to help with pain. Although he was in a state of the art oncology ward (two miles from our house BTW) it did not have the radiation equipment to treat Bill. He needed to be transported via ambulance there and back to the hospital. He received the radiation equivalent to 10 visits. Within 24 hours there was an immediate benefit to his pain level. He was back to using a walker after a couple days and had his first chemo before he was released.
He improved over the next three weeks and had another chemo treatment out patient.
However, toward the end of June, Bill’s legs weakened again. He was admitted again. Another MRI and CT scan showed a tumor had developed on his vertebrae just below his shoulder blades causing spinal cord compression. The surgeon needed to operate immediately to avoid permanent damage.
On July 1st, Bill was operated on. The surgeon removed the vertebrae and tumor and put in rods and pins to shore up his spine. He was released after five days with the plan of getting physical therapy to regain some leg strength and hopefully get to walking again and out of the wheelchair.
Shortly after getting home he developed severe swelling in his feet and lower legs initially diagnosed as lymphedema. As if Bill needed another thing to infringe on his mobility.
A nurse came to the house and did pressure wraps to his legs. They were uncomfortable but after a couple weeks of treatment they were very much improved. Thank you Marilyn! Best home nurse in the world! She knows her stuff.
Last Saturday, July 27th, Debbie and I (and of course Bill) noticed his heart rate was very high and his oxygen was low. This resulted in another ambulance ride and Bill’s third hospital stay.
Bill had developed a lung infection. He was treated with antibiotics and put on oxygen. After a three day stay he was released. He is continuing the oxygen at home and an adjustment in his medication will hopefully help with the heart rate over the next couple weeks. This is where we are today in the journey.
Through all of this Bill has impressed me with his positive “just the next thing to get through” attitude. He has the courage I lack. He has and continues to help me through this all. He’s my rock.
It is no secret a cancer diagnosis quickly becomes a financial burden even with insurance provided through me by my employee plan. In Bill’s case, this is especially the case because his mobility was affected even before his diagnosis and has declined to where he is now. The deductibles, max out of pocket, and things that insurance flat out wouldn’t cover alone have been in excess of $18,000 which is probably a conservative estimate and undoubtedly go up.
Bill’s needs do not allow him to be unattended and of course, what is most important, is that he be safe, comfortable and get the care he needs at home. We’ve been relying heavily on Debbie and paying a caregiver to sit with him when necessary. It’s become increasingly difficult for Deb to transfer Bill from the wheelchair to where he needs to be. In and out of bed for instance.
I have been on intermittent FMLA. Although you’re entitled to 12 weeks total, it’s only paid for what vacation time you have.
Bill has always been a private person and to be honest, he was reluctant to this GoFundMe. I reminded him that he has always been generous and done for others. There are times when it’s okay to accept help when it’s required. This is one of those times.
The funds collected will go to caring for Bill and fighting the battle. The donations will be accepted with heartfelt appreciation and love because we know they are given out of love.
With deep gratitude,
Terry and Bill
Organizer and beneficiary
Dana Kerr Albert
Organizer
Standish, ME
Terrance Lovley
Beneficiary