Darren Shope Cancer Fund

I am trying to raise money for my husband's cancer treatment.  He has melanoma cancer, stage 3C.  Basically, this is the highest stage before the cancer invades your organs or the highest treatable stage.  The great news is that there is a new treatment that works with your immune system.   He will be in treatments for a full year......we are very hopeful that we will spend many more years together. 

  When we figured out he had a problem, he had to have surgery immediately.   The removal of  the melanoma on his back was a deep cut requiring reconstruction surgery, along with the removal of two infected lymphoid glands.   Fortunately, he has recovered well from those surgeries. We paid out of pocket for the surgery as he was not insured.  It was very expensive for us and we will be paying on that for a long time.

We are seeking insurance but the treatment is very expensive  even with insurance. After meeting with the benefits adviser, it is our understanding that we will have to come up with the entire deductible up front, before they will start the treatments.  Most of the assistant programs that would help are for low income and we are just above that level.   At this time, we do not have room on our credit cards to start the treatment.

We are simple people; I am a teacher and we own a small business.  Our business is a landscaping business that was built during the recession.   My husband is a hard worker  who has been exceptionally giving of his time, money and service to others. For example, there are many times he has done yards for free for people such as single mothers, a young couple who just had a baby, or a family who had a hardship.   If you know him personally, you would know he loves the people around him and he does not ignore the needs of others.  

This is my 20th year teaching and I have given my students my heart and soul...I have tutored many, many students on my own time so they could be successful.  This being said, it is very important to us that we give and serve so this request for help is extremely humbling for me. I am asking because my husband's life is in the balance.   We are very private people but with this we are in over our heads.     If you help us, you will be paying it forward as we will give it back to someone else in need when we can.  

We love our family and friends who have already given so much especially with love, concern and prayers.