Clement Guyette's Battle Against Leukemia

My name is Aaron Guyette, and I am organizing this GoFundMe campaign for my uncle, Clement Guyette.

A Maine veteran, and for many years a volunteer firefighter, supported by family, a life of hard work in automotive, welding, and recycling, and some additional assistance from the VA. Clement was recently diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. A disease that has shown its ugly face and horrid effects swiftly, siphoning Clement's energy, health, wallet, and ability to make a living.

Clement joined the army in May of 1972, following in the footsteps of many of his past family members. His maternal grandfather and namesake, Walter Clement, served in the army during World War I, where he contracted the Spanish Flu and barely survived. His saving grace turned out to be one of those concoctions that sounded like a legend, made by an older member of the family who swore it could cure anything. Clement’s father, Walter, and his uncles: George, Roger, and Herbert Guyette, served in World War II. George was captured during The Battle of the Bulge and held in a German prisoner-of-war camp. Extremely sick, doctors told George his life expectancy would be very short. He would live to his 90s. Resilience runs in the family.

In 1972, Clement joined the army. He attended automotive school at EMVTI, and the Vietnam War was ongoing. War stories floated around the school, and Clement nearly graduated, but his draft number came up: 4. The options were slim, enter the fate of many young American soldiers or do something. By the end of May, Clement enlisted in the United States Army, and he would be going to welding school. Basic training is physical and surprising. A few hits to the jaw leave him with TMJ, a life of eating and talking problems. A broken right foot would follow. The strain means a left knee that currently has difficulty moving. But grin and continue.

While on leave from basic, he would marry the love of his life. Sometimes cliches are true, which is why they withstand the test of time—a single moment turned into an entire life, which got him through the rest of his army career and life. And on to welding school in Aberdeen, MD.

The TMJ kept bothering him; wisdom teeth would be blamed and removed only to make things worse, but through the difficulty, he would advance, and a promotion to E-3 later, Clement was California bound for welding and maintenance and in new laser weapons development, testing, and research. Then it was on to Germany.

Susan and Clement got married before leaving for Germany. A moment cemented, and she could join him; even if not right there with him, the couple that plays together stays together. Germany exacerbates the TMJ problems, a few hard scraps with a private and a few hits in the jaw; Clement's jaw still bothers him to this day.

In June of 1974. Susan stayed with Clement’s section sergeant’s wife and daughter for two months. Clement’s Co. was in Grafenwoehr for training. Tensions were high; it’s East Germany and West Germany, and high levels of global panic when Susan had her first scare of cancer in February of 1975. A tumor on her leg sends her to Nuremberg Hospital to remove the cancer while Clement is in the field—two weeks of hell. Luckily, the tumor was benign, but at a time when phone calls are limited, hell is a delicate word: another trial and another tribulation.

In Germany, Clement’s Co. was to build cages for their welding bottles. The only materials available were old galvanized water pipes with no respirators and a poorly ventilated shop. Galvanize poisoning set on quickly, sick all night, medical in the morning, work. Continuation for three days, getting worse each day: another aspect that would lead to problems in the future. It was protocol, and the awareness just wasn’t there.

At the end of May 1975, Clement and Susan are home. 1976, and their son Alan is born. Susan takes an active role in her child's life, joining the school board and serving well after Alan left high school, chairing several committees. Good deeds are the most glorious task.

The next several years provide much hindrance and elation. Susan tore her left knee ACL and required arthroscopic and ACL surgery. A blood clot traveled from Clement’s right leg to his left lung in 2009; scans, tests, and a diagnosis of phospholipid antibody syndrome, mean Clement will stay on warfarin long-term. A loss of smell and taste can be attributed to galvanize poisoning, and working over the next several years will prove difficult due to blood thinners. A few more years and claims with the V.A. add up to a few benefits. Susan falls in their basement and tears muscles and ligaments in her right knee. Surgery and months of recovery follow. 2018, and Susan needs back surgery, a drive in the proverbial dark to a decent hospital with a blinding snowstorm on the way down, and return a day late in the same type of blind lousy weather. Testing for Clement’s continued health problems goes on; the doctors tell Clement that his platelets are high, but they are unsure why. In April 2019, on a trip for Clement and Susan’s 45th wedding anniversary, Susan’s left foot and ankle swell, pain, and an inability to walk, coupled with a trip to the doctor, led to a prolonged jumbled mess of a ruptured appendix that needs surgery, and screenings showed a return of cancer. Surgery, blood tests, and scars at least means that she is okay.

Trials and tribulations are a term often used for good reason. The story leads us to when Clement is diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It is a type of cancer that causes an excess of immature white blood cells in the bloodstream and bone marrow. It is rare and critical. Despite all the problems, Clement and Susan carry on with strength. They’ve seen misadventures before, so Clement cannot and will not allow this disease to best or beat him down. The affliction is new, but even the oldest stories are recycled from older ones. He intends to beat the notorious “it,” that is cancer, and continue. To just continue.

While optimistic, positivity itself won't pay the bills. Clement's ongoing treatment, as well as Susan's current cancer scare, leaves little physical opportunity or physical energy for work. We need help to make up the difference in living expenses and basic needs, such as making his house more handicap accessible and simple expenses, such as gas money for constant hospital visits. And for just surviving. With luck, Clement may return to the recycling of automotive parts, as well as restoring and repairing old and newer automobiles.

All of the above quality-of-life objects have a set price, but potential future treatment (which could include a bone marrow transplant), supplements to enable a more fruitful life, and hospital bills do not have a set price. An unwavering attitude has taken Clement far and will continue to take him further. Still, any additional help would be greatly appreciated in this long process of returning to good and capable health.

Thank you for anything you can do,

Sincerely, Clement's entire extended family.