Dan Dupre--Hyperparathyroidism

After pushing him for weeks, my brother Dan finally allowed me to start a GoFundMe page to help him pay off a potentially life-saving surgery to correct primary hyperparathyoridsm (PHP) that was diagnosed last fall.

Dan and his wife, Linda, live in one of the highest cost-of-living areas in the country, in a modest home.  To avoid undue financial hardship, I am asking friends and family to help cover the cost of his surgery.  A normal sized-parathyroid gland is about one centimeter in length.  Three out of four of Dan's were over three centimeters, indicating that he had been dealing with this disease for close to 20 years--the time it takes for the disease to become life-threatening.  Symptoms of PHP include chronic fatigue, osteoperosis, increased chance of cancer, heart attack, and other ailments.  
 
Here's an overview:

PHP is a disease in which one or more hyperactive parathyroid glands constantly make too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). In primary hyperparathyroidism, the "thermostat" controlling the calcium is always on high. This leads to calcium being taken out of the bones (leading to weakening of the bones or osteoporosis) and gastrointestinal tract and put into the blood stream. This increases the blood levels of calcium. Since the blood is cleaned (filtered) by the kidneys, this leads to the kidneys being exposed to high levels of calcium, which can lead to kidney stones, kidney damage, and other problems. In most patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (80%), only one of the four parathyroid glands is diseased - these people have what is called a "single adenoma." In about 10% of affected people, two or three glands are hyperactive- called "double or triple adenoma." Finally, in 10% of patients, all four glands are hyperacitve- called "four gland hyperplasia."
--From the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons

Dan had four gland hyperplasia.  It was critical that he find an experienced surgeon since his was a worst-case scenario, and time was running out for him.  He had been subscribed to Medishare, which would not cover the surgery.  This forced him to buy insurance through California's exchange program under the ACA.  At $925 a month, he still was unable to find, under his new plan, an experienced endocrinologist who could perform a minimally invasive surgery that would give him the best chance of recovery.  

Dan had to go it alone.  He would offer cash (financed it, really) to a top surgeon in this field that he found at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles.  This was a smart move on a number of fronts.  The minimally invasive surgery this Doctor performs is much less expensive than standard procedures, and it has a much higher success rate.  It typically involves less complications, and patients enjoy a much shorter recovery time.  Paying cash also dropped the overall price of the procedure dramatically.  His Doctor successfully removed three, and 20% of the fourth parathyroid glands.  Confident that Dan will eventually bounce back to near normal, he could not, of course, help pay the cost of the surgery, which was $7,000.

Now, there is a chance that Dan's condition could permanently turn to HYPOparathyroidism, which is the opposite of what he had been dealing with.  Unfortunately, the procedure is not as exact a science as we would hope.  This is why Dan believes that your PRAYERS are more important than giving, so if you are not in a position to contribute, please remember him and Linda in your prayers.  

That said, your financial help will increase Dan's chances of getting on with his life without the burden of crushing debt.