Donation protected
Hello, my name is Kevin and I am writing this story and raising money on behalf of my friend, and colleague, Bill Vorpahl who is a son, a friend, a husband, and a father of two. Bill is not only battling Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma B cell cancer, but also trying to figure out how to pay for the more than $100,000 in medical bills.
So, I do not know how to really do this other than to have Bill tell his story of his cancer journey…
"It all started the beginning of 2020 with a skin rash that would not go away. I go to the dermatologist and get some medicine to clear it up then it comes back. Go back for another, goes away then comes back again. After the 3rd time of it coming back, I also developed a swelling over my right eye, so I was onto my 3rd dermatologist, who said it was time for a biopsy. No big deal, I was blessed with good health my whole life, some kind of skin infection, how bad could it be right? When the doctor called me personally, instead of the nurse, I knew something was wrong but had no idea my whole world was going to turn upside down, inside out and round and round because of a cancer diagnosis. I’m sorry he said, it’s Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma B cell cancer. Boom, there it is the C word but this time it’s me. It’s manifesting in your skin but it’s a blood cancer so you need immediate tests & treatment to be sure it’s not spread to your internal organs or anywhere else and so my cancer journey began. The CT scans showed the cancer is in my lymph nodes and saliva glands and as they filled up the tumors began forming. When they were completely plugged up, the tumors then with nowhere else to go really exploded. The PET scan, which shows everywhere the cancer is in your body, revealed a shocking amount of cancerous tumors, 22 total and counting as I was still weeks away from starting chemo. I also have them in my armpit, abdomen, back and arm which were mostly internal and not visible, which is a good thing as my face already looked like Frankenstein. My new doctor agreed as rapidly as the tumors were progressing and multiplying, I needed treatment ASAP and chemo was unfortunately the best and only option but a different one, a specialized kind targeted for my specific abnormal cancer type with a six month treatment plan scheduled. Then they dropped another bomb on me, “sorry there is no cure for this, just remission”. That one took an awful lot for me to process.
As they say this was totally out of the blue, completely unexpected and needless to say quite shocking. Just plain crazy as my sister is going through her own melanoma cancer battle which started shortly before mine.
So, I can tell you firsthand cancer does in fact suck. The physical toll on you, all the side effects from the chemo and medications as well as the mental stress on you and your entire family. Then after riding the emotional and physical roller coasters you get hit with the financials. I had no idea how truly crushing it is even after insurance and discounts the bills are just staggering, tens of thousands of dollars before I even start chemo. Then I found out how much chemo costs and I really went into shock as mine was $96,000. This one is less than the RCHOP but if it doesn’t work then I need to get both. That is on top of the costs for all the tests, pharmaceuticals, nursing costs, CT scans and surgery to install the chemo dosing port in my chest. Then all the follow up tests and scans I’ll need during and after chemo.
I worked hard my whole life to carve out a meager piece of the dream to put a roof over our heads, raise a family, send my kids to school and try to have enough to retire on. You know just the important things in life, only to have to turn around and spend it all on medical bills for me is just flat out depressing and wrong.
Thank you for all the positive thoughts, love and prayers so far, they are working! I am determined to beat this as there is no second place in all of it. I refuse to let it define me for who I am as a person, a father, a husband, a brother, a son, and a friend. I am still Bill and even though I have this cross to bear for now I am still going to be Bill when I’m done and hopefully it’s sooner than later."
After hearing all this from Bill himself, I could not fathom what he and his family are going through. I am asking at this tough time in his life that we rally behind Bill as he takes on the fight of his life. From the bottom of my heart, I humbly ask that you share this link with friends, family, and colleagues and if possible, donate (any amount will help). A little goes a long way and can help alleviate the stress of his monetary issues.
We thank you for your support and may God bless each and every one of you!!
Kevin Reidenbach
#BillVStrong
So, I do not know how to really do this other than to have Bill tell his story of his cancer journey…
"It all started the beginning of 2020 with a skin rash that would not go away. I go to the dermatologist and get some medicine to clear it up then it comes back. Go back for another, goes away then comes back again. After the 3rd time of it coming back, I also developed a swelling over my right eye, so I was onto my 3rd dermatologist, who said it was time for a biopsy. No big deal, I was blessed with good health my whole life, some kind of skin infection, how bad could it be right? When the doctor called me personally, instead of the nurse, I knew something was wrong but had no idea my whole world was going to turn upside down, inside out and round and round because of a cancer diagnosis. I’m sorry he said, it’s Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma B cell cancer. Boom, there it is the C word but this time it’s me. It’s manifesting in your skin but it’s a blood cancer so you need immediate tests & treatment to be sure it’s not spread to your internal organs or anywhere else and so my cancer journey began. The CT scans showed the cancer is in my lymph nodes and saliva glands and as they filled up the tumors began forming. When they were completely plugged up, the tumors then with nowhere else to go really exploded. The PET scan, which shows everywhere the cancer is in your body, revealed a shocking amount of cancerous tumors, 22 total and counting as I was still weeks away from starting chemo. I also have them in my armpit, abdomen, back and arm which were mostly internal and not visible, which is a good thing as my face already looked like Frankenstein. My new doctor agreed as rapidly as the tumors were progressing and multiplying, I needed treatment ASAP and chemo was unfortunately the best and only option but a different one, a specialized kind targeted for my specific abnormal cancer type with a six month treatment plan scheduled. Then they dropped another bomb on me, “sorry there is no cure for this, just remission”. That one took an awful lot for me to process.
As they say this was totally out of the blue, completely unexpected and needless to say quite shocking. Just plain crazy as my sister is going through her own melanoma cancer battle which started shortly before mine.
So, I can tell you firsthand cancer does in fact suck. The physical toll on you, all the side effects from the chemo and medications as well as the mental stress on you and your entire family. Then after riding the emotional and physical roller coasters you get hit with the financials. I had no idea how truly crushing it is even after insurance and discounts the bills are just staggering, tens of thousands of dollars before I even start chemo. Then I found out how much chemo costs and I really went into shock as mine was $96,000. This one is less than the RCHOP but if it doesn’t work then I need to get both. That is on top of the costs for all the tests, pharmaceuticals, nursing costs, CT scans and surgery to install the chemo dosing port in my chest. Then all the follow up tests and scans I’ll need during and after chemo.
I worked hard my whole life to carve out a meager piece of the dream to put a roof over our heads, raise a family, send my kids to school and try to have enough to retire on. You know just the important things in life, only to have to turn around and spend it all on medical bills for me is just flat out depressing and wrong.
Thank you for all the positive thoughts, love and prayers so far, they are working! I am determined to beat this as there is no second place in all of it. I refuse to let it define me for who I am as a person, a father, a husband, a brother, a son, and a friend. I am still Bill and even though I have this cross to bear for now I am still going to be Bill when I’m done and hopefully it’s sooner than later."
After hearing all this from Bill himself, I could not fathom what he and his family are going through. I am asking at this tough time in his life that we rally behind Bill as he takes on the fight of his life. From the bottom of my heart, I humbly ask that you share this link with friends, family, and colleagues and if possible, donate (any amount will help). A little goes a long way and can help alleviate the stress of his monetary issues.
We thank you for your support and may God bless each and every one of you!!
Kevin Reidenbach
#BillVStrong
Co-organizers (3)
Kevin Reidenbach
Organizer
Walerga, CA
Bill Vorpahl
Beneficiary
Jennifer Border
Co-organizer