Dean's Battle Of His Lifetime
Donation protected
Hello dear family and friends-
In the wake of our latest update, I have been asked how people can help. It is truly astounding to see what an impact my husband has had on so many from so many walks of life, and it is with a heavy heart that I share this news. For a bit of background, Dean is almost 50 years old and was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer since October of 2017. After many months of chemotherapy, radiation, and what seems like countless surgeries, we have been given the news that no one wants to hear. Dean’s prognosis is now terminal.
On Monday, July 20, we met with Dean’s oncologist, who has been absolutely amazing throughout all of this. He showed us the images from Dean’s latest set of CT scans, which showed an increase in both the number of cancerous lesions and the size of the existing lesions. This indicated that the new chemotherapy regimen Dean started in November 2019 was no longer effective. In addition, Dean’s liver has become so enlarged that it is “squishing” the rest of his abdominal organs, causing a loss of appetite, which in turn has caused him to lose weight rapidly. If you know Dean, you know how devastating this is for him. Dean has also been battling jaundice and elevated bilirubin levels due to a rather stubborn blockage of his common (main) bile duct. He has been hospitalized for this twice in the past six weeks, with a surgery required to place a stent in the bile duct in order to keep it open. The first stent became blocked with gallstones, which necessitated another surgery to clean out the stent. Because of these issues, he will need a third surgery to place a more permanent stent in the next month or so.
Dean is now on a “last-ditch” course of chemotherapy that his oncologist warned only has an active phase (the period where a medication shows the greatest effectiveness) of six months at best. After this, the only option we have is clinical trials through the University of Chicago, but Dean would need to gain weight before he would qualify for any trial. Dean is also living with type 1 diabetes, which throws a massive monkey wrench into any treatment plan. Because of this, Dean’s clinical team has initiated palliative care based on Dean’s wishes to not be in pain as the end nears, so that when the time comes, we will not have to worry about setting this care up ourselves.
Dean has taken this news in stride, as he has always done, and is determined to make every moment count. However, it is apparent that the cancer is really starting to affect him. In addition to the loss of appetite, nausea has increased, and there is an almost constant pain/tightness in his abdomen due to his enlarged liver. He’s battled every single thing his body has thrown at him with the grace and humor that he is known for, but despite his spirit’s willingness to continue the fight for as long as possible, his body is becoming weary.
Dean is a loving husband and father, a great friend to so many, and a wonderful man in general. He has made an impact in so many lives, whether he knows it or not. You would never know that Dean is fighting for his life to talk with him. He gives of his time and of himself with no regard for his own well-being. And it is in this spirit that we are requesting assistance.
Cancer is not only physically and emotionally exhausting, it is also financially devastating. Dean’s most recent hospitalization was billed at approximately $75,000, and we know he will have at least one more surgery in the next month or so. Insurance has covered the majority of the charges, but because Dean’s insurance runs on a school year and not a calendar year, we are about to be hit with a new deductible, coinsurance, and out of pocket with the start of the new school year. In addition, between chemotherapy, radiation, and hospitalizations, both Dean and I have had to take numerous unpaid days off of work. Any funds received will be used to cover Dean's medical costs that insurance won't cover, including insurance costs (deductibles, coinsurances, copayments, out of pocket maximums), in addition to helping supplement lost income from days off without pay, and saving as much as possible to cover end of life costs that will not be covered by insurance and that social security death benefits won't cover. We want to focus our time and energy on making every moment count, not making every dollar stretch.
We are so, so appreciative of all of the love and support we have received during these past three years, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support. Whether it is lifting us up in thoughts and prayers, donating any amount, or sharing the heck out of this campaign, we are truly humbled and honored that Dean has made an impact on so many lives.
#cancersucks #fuckcancer
In the wake of our latest update, I have been asked how people can help. It is truly astounding to see what an impact my husband has had on so many from so many walks of life, and it is with a heavy heart that I share this news. For a bit of background, Dean is almost 50 years old and was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer since October of 2017. After many months of chemotherapy, radiation, and what seems like countless surgeries, we have been given the news that no one wants to hear. Dean’s prognosis is now terminal.
On Monday, July 20, we met with Dean’s oncologist, who has been absolutely amazing throughout all of this. He showed us the images from Dean’s latest set of CT scans, which showed an increase in both the number of cancerous lesions and the size of the existing lesions. This indicated that the new chemotherapy regimen Dean started in November 2019 was no longer effective. In addition, Dean’s liver has become so enlarged that it is “squishing” the rest of his abdominal organs, causing a loss of appetite, which in turn has caused him to lose weight rapidly. If you know Dean, you know how devastating this is for him. Dean has also been battling jaundice and elevated bilirubin levels due to a rather stubborn blockage of his common (main) bile duct. He has been hospitalized for this twice in the past six weeks, with a surgery required to place a stent in the bile duct in order to keep it open. The first stent became blocked with gallstones, which necessitated another surgery to clean out the stent. Because of these issues, he will need a third surgery to place a more permanent stent in the next month or so.
Dean is now on a “last-ditch” course of chemotherapy that his oncologist warned only has an active phase (the period where a medication shows the greatest effectiveness) of six months at best. After this, the only option we have is clinical trials through the University of Chicago, but Dean would need to gain weight before he would qualify for any trial. Dean is also living with type 1 diabetes, which throws a massive monkey wrench into any treatment plan. Because of this, Dean’s clinical team has initiated palliative care based on Dean’s wishes to not be in pain as the end nears, so that when the time comes, we will not have to worry about setting this care up ourselves.
Dean has taken this news in stride, as he has always done, and is determined to make every moment count. However, it is apparent that the cancer is really starting to affect him. In addition to the loss of appetite, nausea has increased, and there is an almost constant pain/tightness in his abdomen due to his enlarged liver. He’s battled every single thing his body has thrown at him with the grace and humor that he is known for, but despite his spirit’s willingness to continue the fight for as long as possible, his body is becoming weary.
Dean is a loving husband and father, a great friend to so many, and a wonderful man in general. He has made an impact in so many lives, whether he knows it or not. You would never know that Dean is fighting for his life to talk with him. He gives of his time and of himself with no regard for his own well-being. And it is in this spirit that we are requesting assistance.
Cancer is not only physically and emotionally exhausting, it is also financially devastating. Dean’s most recent hospitalization was billed at approximately $75,000, and we know he will have at least one more surgery in the next month or so. Insurance has covered the majority of the charges, but because Dean’s insurance runs on a school year and not a calendar year, we are about to be hit with a new deductible, coinsurance, and out of pocket with the start of the new school year. In addition, between chemotherapy, radiation, and hospitalizations, both Dean and I have had to take numerous unpaid days off of work. Any funds received will be used to cover Dean's medical costs that insurance won't cover, including insurance costs (deductibles, coinsurances, copayments, out of pocket maximums), in addition to helping supplement lost income from days off without pay, and saving as much as possible to cover end of life costs that will not be covered by insurance and that social security death benefits won't cover. We want to focus our time and energy on making every moment count, not making every dollar stretch.
We are so, so appreciative of all of the love and support we have received during these past three years, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support. Whether it is lifting us up in thoughts and prayers, donating any amount, or sharing the heck out of this campaign, we are truly humbled and honored that Dean has made an impact on so many lives.
#cancersucks #fuckcancer
Organizer
Stacy Griffiths
Organizer
Lake Villa, IL
