Hello. My name is Kevin and I'm from Milwaukee, WI in the USA. I'm 49 years young and just celebrated my 27th year on my job (yay me!). I also finding myself doing something that as a proud, hard working, self-sufficient person is very hard to do...ask for financial help. I've tried to live my life right, be kind to others, not abuse drugs and alcohol, or be anyones headache or burden but that doesn't always translate to happiness or well-being.

Around June 2020 I wasn't feeling well and decided to go to the doctor for a routine checkup. I had an initial consultation and plans were made to do tests but as we all know, The Pandemic hit and all priorities were shifted to fighing the virus. All my appointments were immediately shelved and being deemed an essential worker, had to soilder on for over a year before I could see a doctor. In October 2021, I finally got another appointment and they suspected asthma but after having a chest x-ray and tests, I instead received an sinister diagnosis of a rare sarcoma cancer called extraskeletal myxoid chrondrosarcoma. Over 21 nodules and four large masses in both lungs. Obviously devastated, I traveled to a regional cancer center (Cleveland Clinic) for a second opinion but was told it was inoperable and sent home without options. Luckily, I'm blessed to have a great cancer center in town (Froedtert Cancer Center) and found an oncologist and team that is giving me great care but at a considerable expense.

Every 3-4 months I have to have scans at nearly $3,000 a pop (my portion after insurance) and have been placed on a targeted therapy called Votrient that helps to prevent the cancer from taking over my body that costs over $15,000 for a 30 day supply (insurance covers most of). After nearly two years fighting by myself, I've racked up a considerable amount of medical debt. Thankfully I'm not in much pain but I am physically declining and struggling to put in a 40 hour work week to keep my insurance. I also had to relinquish my management position due to the amount of overtime required which translated into lost wages and bonuses. And of course comes the everyday things compunding the situation (inflation, mortgage, transportation, food, energy, insurance etc) which are hard to float with less income and maxed out credit. I've made considerable sacrifices to eliminate some of the burden but it's not enough and I'm starting to drown financially while constantly worrying about debt collectors, bills, ongoing care and my future health. I'm mentally and physically exhaused.

So here I am, turning to the kindness of strangers and asking for help. For me, it's embarassing but I've run out of options. We are all born to die but I feel as if I have more life and love to give to the world. I have no children but I do have two neices and a nephew that I call mine and would love to see them graduate from college and flourish (one down, two to go...proud uncle of a UC-Riverside, CA grad 2023!). Your support would help grant that wish and allow me to fight longer and LIVE.

Peace, blessings & love.

Kevin