I want to beat cancer with my family beside me
Donation protected
I was diagnosed on July 11th 2019 with Neuroblastoma - a rare cancer that’s even more rare when found in someone older than 5 - and I’m 21. Because of my age, I am assessed as high-risk, and it is considered difficult to treat. With limited medical literature and studies of Neuroblastoma patients my age, the doctors have to do the best they can to get rid of the cancer, despite having little idea of if the treatment will be effective. High-risk neuroblastoma patients have a lower chance of prognosis, with some studies suggesting a 30-40% chance at most for adults with Neuroblastoma. The doctors are hopeful so far, though. My tumor nearly fills my entire abdomen, being 9 inches wide (front to back) and 7 inches tall (top to bottom). It is not distantly metastatic, but it has spread to lymph nodes nearby. The large tumor will require surgery to try and remove if possible.
My family and I lived together in Alaska, and suddenly I had to move to Seattle for treatment because of the rarity and complexity of my case. I have to go through 15 months (at least) of treatment which includes 5 cycles of chemo, a major surgery, high-dose chemo, radiation therapy, stem-cell transplants, and immunotherapy.
Right now, all I want is my whole family to be together while I go through all this. Although we are fortunate enough to have insurance that covers most of my medical costs, we don’t have savings to cover anything else - travel costs, everyday necessities, and bills that we need to keep (for example phone bills).
My dad, who is chronically ill himself, having not well-managed Crohn’s disease, and is already 62, is torn in two trying to decide if he will just fly back and forth to work in Anchorage (Alaska) and keep the apartment we lived in (a further expense) or try to find a new job on such short notice in Seattle (which may not be possible for quite some time). I just want to help my family feel less stressed about finances because it makes me stressed too.
We’re just afraid that we might not be able to fully cover our expenses, and even just a little would help.
My family and I lived together in Alaska, and suddenly I had to move to Seattle for treatment because of the rarity and complexity of my case. I have to go through 15 months (at least) of treatment which includes 5 cycles of chemo, a major surgery, high-dose chemo, radiation therapy, stem-cell transplants, and immunotherapy.
Right now, all I want is my whole family to be together while I go through all this. Although we are fortunate enough to have insurance that covers most of my medical costs, we don’t have savings to cover anything else - travel costs, everyday necessities, and bills that we need to keep (for example phone bills).
My dad, who is chronically ill himself, having not well-managed Crohn’s disease, and is already 62, is torn in two trying to decide if he will just fly back and forth to work in Anchorage (Alaska) and keep the apartment we lived in (a further expense) or try to find a new job on such short notice in Seattle (which may not be possible for quite some time). I just want to help my family feel less stressed about finances because it makes me stressed too.
We’re just afraid that we might not be able to fully cover our expenses, and even just a little would help.
Organizer
Donalen Bowers
Organizer
Anchorage, AK
