Fuller Family needs your help

Dear family and friends,

This is one of the hardest things I've had to do, but in light of recent devastating news for our family, we are in need of help. As many of you know, my dad has been quite sick for the last two years. Throughout this time and some bounce backs, he ultimately has only gotten worse, requiring more care and hospital admissions which in turn led to my mother needing to leave her job. We have managed quietly in the background, but the bills have continued to grow and now we are being told that my dad's time left is extremely limited, which not only leaves our hearts shattered but also concerned about future inevitable expenses.

When my father was a healthy 30-year-old man with a new family and great career ahead of him, his medical journey gave his, and our, lives a drastic change that began with shortness of breath and a visit to the doctor. After that visit, the rollercoaster we've been on since started with a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Dad was lucky to receive a heart transplant in July of 1993, just two short months after I was added to the family. He was able to live with this new heart well and enjoy his life, until 2016 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer after an elevated PSA was investigated. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of his cancer came too late and we then found out that the cancer spread to the lymph nodes in his groin. He then needed a radical prostatectomy along with immunotherapy and radiation. Another obstacle faced by my fearless father! These now obstacle-free times continued on to 2020, when he again felt short of breath and "off". Our family returned to Boston for cardiac specialists, to return home with a diagnosis of microvascular disease in his transplanted heart, and his body was now beginning to reject that heart. Microvascular disease has no cure, but treatments/procedures were started to slow the progression. Since this diagnosis, his other medically complex issues have gotten worse: his prostate cancer has spread to his spine and he now has stage 4/5 kidney disease complicated by pitting edema, multiple inoperable blood clots in his legs.

The rest of my family's medical journey has not been without complications: my mother was diagnosed with MS in 2010 and my brother with both epilepsy and dilated cardiomyopathy in 2003. My mom and brother have worked all hours of the day/night at home with him keeping up with his medications, helping him with his walker to the bathroom, with showers, bloodwork, and so forth. We have tried multiple visiting nurses, PT/OT at the house but there has been no consistency. Unfortunately, it has become too much for them to safely take care of him and themselves.

My dad is currently admitted to Salem Hospital, where we had taken him to be evaluated for what we thought were leg cramps, only to be faced with the actual graveness of his situation. We are praying for a miracle that doctors say is unlikely due to his many complications that are now too unstable to treat. They have encouraged us to consider hospice care for the time my dad has left.

We want to be able to spend as much time with him as possible without worrying about bills that are increasing daily, and the future debts to come. We know time is tight for so many others, so if you are able to help, we are immensely grateful for any contributions. If you are unable to help, we understand and will be equally as grateful for any and all prayers for my family as we try to navigate this rollercoaster ride we are on.

We love you, Daddy.

Thank you,

The Fuller Family