Cancer Recovery Fund

Four years ago, this month, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma in my right tonsil area. With an aggressive treatment program of daily radiation and once  a week chemotherapy, we were able to push the cancer out, and I have shown No Evidence of Disease (NED) since then.

However, the treatment has taken a toll on me.

The radiation has caused  Osteoradionecrosis , a restriction/reduction in the blood flow in my jaw.

This has led to a constant and continuing level of pain as the jaw bone dies off and takes my teeth with it. 

Time after time, the simple act of eating has broken and shattered teeth, I went through 30 days of Hyperbaric O2 treatment last fall prior to having 3 teeth surgically removed, and it left my jaw bone exposed as my gums tried to heal.

Of course with the reduced blood flow, the healing was adversely impacted and I have suffered through several infections in my jaw.

Now, the jaw bone is so deteriorated, it has basically spontaneously fractured and I am unable to eat properly - I cannot open my mouth wide enough to put most foods in, and I cannot chew anything without extreme pain.

I have been on basically a liquids diet for 3 weeks, eating mostly soup and fixing protein shakes. I have lost 10 pounds from my already low weight of 140 lbs, and relief is a month or more away.

My medical Team at EVMS is planning surgery where they will take bone from my leg and rebuild the jaw in hopes that the new bone will have better blood flow and stop the decay of my jaw.

I will probably lose whatever teeth I have left, at least on the lower right side of my mouth.

Now, physically and spiritually, I believe I am strong enough to make it through this challenge,  however, at 62 years young and self employed, I find myself in a precarious financial situation.

4 years ago, when I was first diagnosed with the cancer, my Home Repair business was well staffed and was able to continue to operate with me in a reduced capacity. 

Now however, with the turnover of personnel, I find that I have been carrying the company by myself for a year and a half, and it has contributed significantly to the health issues I face now -

I have worked through flu that my grandson brought home from pre-school and ended up in Urgent Care , dehydrated and needing IV support. 

I have worked through a fractured ankle caused when a ladder fell on me.

I have worked through the back pain caused when I fell from an attic stairway that collapsed under me.

I have worked through the pinched nerves in my spine - caused by the fall, as well as sciatica.

I am still working through a "winged scapula" where, due to a pinched nerve, the scapula on my right shoulder has moved out of place, causing pain on movement and restricting my range of motion.

I am even still working with a fractured jaw, which causes pain just swallowing water or turning my head a certain way.

I still work, because I have to.

The medical expenses are piling up, the pain and related health issues are keeping me from realizing the full potential of the work that is available to me and I am falling behind with my other expenses, as I struggle to complete the work that I have scheduled.

Now I am looking at a month of recovery after the jaw surgery; I don't know how intense the recovery period will be, but I have several people who are depending on me to keep working and keep the income , well, coming in.

My daughter and 3 (almost 4) year old grandson live with me and depend on me to keep the lights on, the water running and a roof over their heads.

I have an employee who depends on me to continually find new work and schedule jobs in order to fulfill my promise to him that he will have a rewarding position at Bob's Jobs.

Even the company is depending on me to bring in enough revenue to stay in business - it has developed a fixed overhead that I struggle cover working alone, and if it goes under, there are too many people who will be hurt.

So I am here, now, asking for help. 

I need to raise money, not only for this upcoming surgery and recovery period, but to cover the mounting medical bills that are flowing in from the treatment and the treatment of the side effects of the treatment..

I have just started a 2 year plan to rebuild my company and provide employment for a half dozen people, but if I am laid up for a month, I fear those plans will not come to fruition.

If you can help, it would be such a blessing, and I would be forever grateful for your generosity.

I am asking for $50,000 to cover the surgery and recovery time when I will not be able to produce, it will also go a long way towards the mounting bills and expenses arising from the reduced production of the company over the past year as I dealt with the medical issues that affected me all last year as well.

I am a bit proudful, and have always tried to carry my responsibilities on my own shoulders, but now I find I have become the Demographic of a Senior Citizen (!) who has to decide between medical treatment and food; only in this case, if I cannot get the medical treatment, getting food won't matter because I cannot eat it.

Please help, and I thank you so very much for whatever you can contribute.