Dear Friends and Family,
Many of you know Doug Davisson was diagnosed with cancer in early 2020 and has been battling it since. We don't know what the future holds, but are hoping to ease the stress and emotional strain of this incredibly difficult time by raising some funds for Doug and Mary to help offset the mounting medical and travel expenses quickly accruing. Doug will not be allowed to return to work for at least one year following the bone marrow transplant and every little bit makes a difference! There is no contribution too big or too small. We appreciate any support you feel led to give. Below is a brief overview of Doug's story and ways to help.
BACKGROUND
Doug was diagnosed with a blood cancer called Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in January, 2020. Short term treatment included chemo, but this only works to keep the cancer at bay on average for six to twelve months. In order to survive and hopefully go into remission, Doug underwent a bone marrow transplant in October 2020, which was (and is) a costly undertaking.
(For reference: An allogeneic bone marrow transplant typically costs $800,000-1 million total*, with the insured patient paying a percentage of this. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for a bone marrow transplant typically consist of doctor visits, lab and prescription drug copays as well as coinsurance of 10%-50% for the transplant and other procedures, which can easily reach the yearly out-of-pocket maximum. *Since Doug was in the hospital around three months with multiple complications and tests, the total cost may be closer to three times this.)
Doug and Mary have been married for 44 years and have five children and ten grandchildren. Doug turned 69 in Oct, 2020 and is praying for many more years to be with his family and friends.
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TIMELINE
-Jan, 2020 // MDS diagnosis
-Feb, 2020 // Completed first round of chemo treatment
-Sept, 2020 // Finished last round of chemo treatment
-Oct 1, 2020 // Admission to University of Michigan
-Oct 7 and 8, 2020 // Received Bone Marrow Transplant
-Oct 1- Nov 6, 2020 // First hospital stay (37 days)
-Nov 6-Nov 15, 2020 // At home (9 days)
-Nov 15, 2020 // Readmitted to hospital due to complications
-Nov 16-17, 2020 // Spent two nights in the ICU
-Nov 25, 2020 // Visitors were no longer allowed due to COVID. Previously, Mary traveled daily (round trip over two hours) to see Doug at The University of Michigan.
-Dec 2, 2020 // Mary started staying with Doug 24/7 at the hospital, with a brief five day reprieve in December when their daughter Kim took her place.
-Nov 18, 2020 to Jan 7, 2021 // Second hospital stay (52 days, including the ICU)
-Jan 7, 2021 // Discharged from hospital (Doug was in the hospital for a total of 89 days up to this point)
-Jan 8-24, 2021 // At my sister's home (16 days)
-Jan 25, 2021 // Readmitted to hospital due to poor kidney function and other complications-Jan 25-Feb 18, 2021 // Third hospital stay without any visitors due to COVID (23 days)
-Feb 9, 2021 // Doctors declared there are NO signs of cancer found in Doug's bone marrow at this point
-Feb 18, 2021 // Discharged from hospital (Doug was in the hospital for a total of 112 days up to this point)
-Feb 18-Present // Doug is at home trying to regain his strength and heal
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WAYS TO HELP
Financially
We don't know the out-of-pocket costs for the transplant and hospital stays yet (hospital bills will be coming), but we do know the following expenses at this time:
--Prescriptions - Mary and Doug's out-of-pocket expenses are approximately $7,100 for January, 2021 and potentially a similar amount for February, 2021, but hopefully less in the following months
--Physical Therapy - Doug needs multiple PT sessions each week. The cost of one physical therapy session is roughly $150 per session. Due to the intensity of physical therapy required, some of these sessions need to be paid for out-of-pocket.
--Hospital Meals for Mary - Mary and their daughter Kim stayed at the hospital with Doug from December 2, 2020 to January 7, 2021, and the guest tray meals were an added expense to Doug's hospital bill. ($5 breakfast, $8 lunch, $8 dinner)
Food & Gas / Gift Cards to Meijer or Costco are best - Because Doug's immune system will be extremely compromised, there are strict guidelines on how food must be prepared and what Doug is allowed to eat to minimize the possibility of infection. This makes taking meals to them difficult. However, gift cards to grocery stores are welcome (Mary usually shops at Meijer). They have been using Costco Gas cards for travel to and from The University of Michigan.
Prayers/Well Wishes
We also appreciate all of your prayers and well wishes via cards, texts, CaringBridge messages and phone calls. No live flowers or plants please; as these can also carry bacteria causing infection.
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THANK YOU
Thank you so much for considering helping our family and feel free to share this with anyone you think might be willing to help or pray for Doug and Mary during this time.
Love, his kids (Andrew Davisson, Kim (Davisson) Bruhl, Annette (Davisson) Schwerkoske, Jen (Davisson) Hendren, and Michael Davisson)
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If you would rather donate to Doug and Mary directly, you can also write a check to them personally.