Our brother and son, Gary (JG) Ed was leading a blessed and healthy life. On Good Friday this year, everything in his world, and ours, changed. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s B-cell Lymphoma. We had not made this journey public until now.

HISTORY:

To provide just a brief history, he is being treated by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center oncologist and blood cancer doctors, receiving second opinions from the Cleveland Clinic (which specializes in cancer treatment), as well as seeing a functional doctor regularly, who has been assisting with keeping him healthy through this process of killing the cancer.

Since his diagnosis, he has gone through all the prescribed rounds of the highest doses of chemotherapy, had numerous scans, two bone marrow biopsies, and taken handfuls of medications and supplements each day to help his body through this treatment. He has spent nine days in the hospital, treating a low white blood cell count infection brought on by the chemo. The only thing insurance has covered is the UPMC treatments and some medications, after their deductible was paid. We are very thankful that there isn’t any cancer in the bone marrow.

JG and Diana, as well as our family, have a strong faith in God. Through his diagnosis and treatment, we have claimed God’s healing and still believe that has happened, and he is just walking through God’s plan and process to that. We also have leaned on God, our faith, each other, and close friends and family for providing comfort, peace, and financial covering for them.

Within the last few weeks, JG’s latest PET scan showed that the cancer was still present and that the chemo hadn’t killed all of it. Although we were hoping to be able to shout from the mountain tops that this terrible process was now cured, we know this is just another step along this journey and God isn’t done working yet. We have been seeking God and seeing God move every day along this path. We know he is walking this with us. It has been an eye-opening and awesome experience in many ways too. We do find joy and peace along this route, but only through leaning on God. Of course, we have had our “human” moments, but we are appreciative that so many of you have lifted all of us these last months.

TREATMENTS:

There are some crazy treatment options that could have life-long severe effects on his quality of life, and that is if he made it through the procedure. BUT…he has been presented with an opportunity to receive some alternative treatments for cancer patients that have had great success being cured. Unfortunately, insurance will cover a $1 million treatment that could leave him worse off, but not this $50,000+ treatment that has proven successful.

This treatment is not in the United States, although their offices are based in the United States. After much prayer and discussion, JG has peace about pursuing this treatment. And we support his decision.

On the outside, life may look prosperous for them. They know they were blessed to have a beautiful home they worked hard to acquire and build through intelligent financial decisions. But since they moved in, they closed their consignment business, his diagnosis came, and they have taken on serious medical expenses, which are now impacting their finances. JG is not one to ask for hand-outs or help, but our family believes that it was necessary at this time to be fully transparent with his situation. He agrees with us and understands this is just another piece of this journey.

To date, JG and Diana have paid roughly $30,000 out of pocket for the second opinions and functional doctors, as well as medicines and supplements not covered by insurance. They will need to travel out of the United States within the next two weeks for three weeks to receive this treatment, which is at least $50,000. There could be future trips for follow-ups. They both have commission-based jobs that have been good to them over the years, but being away for this time, as well as for other significant times throughout this journey, impacts their earning ability. They have paid all they can with their current funds.

SUPPORT:

They would be the first to give to someone else and have been that to others in their time of need. We want to support them, and we know that many of you have also reached out and offered your support. We can’t begin to thank you for that. It means the world to all of us.

We have created an account to provide additional support to them for these next steps and to help them cover the medical expenses they have taken on this year. This isn’t an easy ask, but one that we know is necessary at this time, which we believe will save his life.

We are only asking that if you feel it in your heart to offer financial support to them, please click on this link and donate to them. If you are not able to offer anything (and nothing is too small for them), please lift JG and Diana in your prayers for healing, peace, comfort, and discernment in making wise decisions.

UPDATE: I received word after I shared this here and to others that an anonymous benefactor is willing to match whatever is raised, up to $25,000! Unbelievable! Prayers are being answered already!

THANK YOU:

We love you and can’t thank you enough! Right now, we are focused on ensuring they get the treatment he needs and staying positive and focused. For that reason, we do ask that for ongoing updates from and about Gary (JG) and Diana, please visit their Caring Bridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/garyed.

Gary Ed and Linda Edinger

Jim and Linda Reynolds

Daniel and Dana Kaminske