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My name is Joe Bradley and I am raising money to help offset expenses while seeking treatment for oral cancer.
The last year has been a whirlwind... The short of it is that I've been unemployed since December, unable to rejoin the workforce for various reasons, and now I am dealing with Medical issues before I can even think of working again.
During the aftermath of Helene my stepfather, Gary, was admitted to the hospital for a laundry list of things, the most prevalent being multiple strokes.
Do to a plant closure I was laid off in December 2024.
I had to pull my son from school at the end of the first semester and began homeschooling him in January.
At the same time I began helping Mama at her house, as she was spending most of her time in the hospital with Gary.
I moved in full time in April, leaving a bad situation.
In May I began experiencing extreme leg pain, which turned out to be DVT, with multiple blood clots in my legs. Genetic testing determined I have what's called a Factor V mutation. That means I must be on blood thinners the rest of my life and must continue to watch for signs of more blood clots.
In July I was finally able to see a dentist for a loose tooth I had noticed in January. After getting shuffled around between different doctors I was able to get a biopsy confirming "Invasive Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma". Mouth cancer.
I had a surgeon who was willing to do surgery as early as the first week of September, but I have been told that insurance will deny the claim because they are out of state.
The truth is I can't afford the expenses even if insurance was willing to pay. Right now I have an advocate working to get me into either of the two places here in SC that might be able to do the surgery. Until then, I am making it by the best I can.
My spouse emptied our shared account before the end of May, Leaving me with only a small portion of an inheritance. That portion was not enough to close out probate, but Thankfully my lawyer is compassionate about the situation.
What I'm doing:
- Uber Eats - If you're in the Upstate and you've seen a guy with an Orange car and a cane, That's me! I bring a cooler with Ice packs and a thermal bag with a USB hand warmer to keep the cold stuff cold and the hot stuff hot. (Please tip! Getting a dollar for a one hour trip to bring someone a few push-pops and then having to find my way back to the hot spots is frustrating.) Ultimately, this ends up covering my car expenses and gas to get where I need to go, with a little bit extra if I get some good trips.
- Side Jobs - I've been able to take on a few jobs, but nothing major.
- VA - I've started the process to receive benefits, but it could be a long time coming. Disability, Temporary 100% disability, Pension... I'm working every angle I can apply for.
- Liquidating Assets - My former house is going up for sale as soon as I can get it ready... but that's hard to do between doctor visits. I haven't been able to fully move my belongings out, and many of them may be up for sale soon.
What I need donations for:
- Basic Necessities - Mama isn't going to let me starve, y'all, but that doesn't mean that burden should be solely on her. I'm doing what I can to contribute.
- Travel - Wherever I go I'm going to have to drive a bit, and Mama is going to need a place to stay if she comes. One of the reasons we were looking at out of state treatment was because of nearby relatives willing to help, but that's no longer an option. We also have to have someone stay with Gary as he never fully recovered from his strokes.
- The Children - Yeah, I'm not ashamed to pull that card. Just because their parents couldn't work things out doesn't mean they should suffer. I had planned to be back at work after homeschooling so I could give support, but... that just didn't work out. 50/50 custody changed to every other weekend in August 2025 because that will keep them in their school and provide stability. My STBX has agreed to $650 a month in support, and When I have the income it will to go them.
- Mortgage - Until I can sell the house I have to pay half the mortgage
- Medical - As of right now I owe $1467.52. That number is going to grow a good bit very soon. More than that is the small expenses that most people don't consider.
My plan for donations:
- First and foremost - what I need to keep going. Food, gas, living expenses, minimum payments on medical bills, expenses related to medical treatment.
- Second, child support - In accordance with SC State law, any income I receive over $1050 during a calendar month will go to monthly child support. Yes, this total includes money I make from any job I do.
- 3rd - Extra payments on medical expenses. I will wait until everything is completed before doing this to insure I have the daily expenses covered. But as soon as I ring that bell it's getting dumped into the medical debt.
My hope is that when my treatment is complete I will be able to resume a normal life without having to rely upon the generosity of others. I've always been able to make a way... but my body is currently fighting itself. I appreciate anything that anyone can do to help me get through this and find a new equilibrium.