Crusade for Max

One of the nicest people I know got cancer. His name is John Maxner, but everyone calls him Max. His cancer has a name too. It’s called Multiple Myeloma. It’s a cancer that affects bone regeneration. Slowly, this cancer was making Max’s bones become brittle and disintegrate, and causing excruciating pain and disability while they were disintegrating. This horrible cancer, while trying to kill Max, was also preventing him from doing many of the activities that Max loved, like walking and sleeping. He told me that the worst pain he ever felt was just trying to get into and out of bed. Sleeping only came when he could remain perfectly still. Any move caused the pain to return. Another activity he couldn’t do was marching and playing in the Crusaders Senior Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as his band One Moe Time. Playing and performing was something he’s done and loved his whole life, and this cancer was preventing him from even picking up his mellophone or trumpet, never mind playing it, which requires bone and muscle strength to do. If unchecked, this cancer would have slowly tortured Max with unimaginable pain, disability, and finally, death.



However, Max wasn’t ready to die just yet. His cancer, while horrible, was also treatable, and possibly curable. Max entered a chemotherapy program, as well as a series of bone regeneration treatments that will last years, but have the opportunity to stop the cancer and try to re-grow his bones. The very best news we could have received was that as of January, 2016, Max’s cancer was in remission, and he’s starting the long road to getting his health and strength back. He doesn’t have to receive chemotherapy any more, but is still receiving the years-long bone reconditioning injections, and is looking forward to physical therapy to strengthen his body when his bones are recovered enough to allow physical activity.

This cancer, on top of robbing you of your health and well being, also robs your bank account. Not all of the medications and treatments are covered by health insurance, and they are very expensive. That’s why his friends in Drum Corps and music are starting this GoFundMe campaign called “CRUSADE FOR MAX”. All we want to do is help Max and his wife Dianne cover the costs of the medication and treatments. For that we ask anyone who knows and loves Max and Dianne the way we do, or just hates cancer and doesn’t want to see it rob the world of another good person to donate anything you can to help. We’re not asking any minimum donation. Even a dollar will help.

I could go into a long, flowery speech about what a fantastic, loving, caring couple the Maxner’s are, but anyone who knows them doesn’t need me to tell them what kind of people they are. All I can say is, if you haven’t made friends with them yet, you need to. You won’t find better ones. These are people worth helping. Please help them. Thanks.