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Gary Maddox's battle with MDS

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I have set up this Gofundme page to help pay for my dad’s (Gary Maddox) life-saving MDS medication. He has been battling MDS for over seven years. He has been on different medications, chemo, and on the bone marrow transplant list during this time. We just found out the doctors took him off the list without our knowledge two years ago.

Anyone who has met my father knows that he is a loving, caring person who has a big heart to serve others. Gary Maddox is a 72-year old father, grandfather, husband, uncle, and brother who always puts others first. He is an active churchgoer who has faith that God is with him during this challenging journey.

(The myelodysplastic syndrome may progress to leukemia. Transfusions and medications help manage symptoms. Medications or bone marrow transplants may lessen transfusion needs and slow or prevent progression to leukemia.)

Currently, his bone marrow biopsies have shown an increase in cancer cells. The team at Moffitt has recommended the new medication INQOVI, which he would take for at least a year.

(INQOVI is the first and only once‑daily oral hypomethylating agent (HMA) treatment for adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).) 

However, this medication will cost up to US$2,500 a month. We are currently looking for assistance from the manufacturer and available grants from Moffitt. However, as of right now, he does not qualify for any help from the manufacturer.

This medication will deplete his white blood cell count each time, leaving him susceptible to infections while increasing his red blood cell production. He will need to take significant time off work to stay healthy and heal. We are hopeful that this treatment will increase his red blood cells and give him more energy.

My dad is 72 years old, so he might not be the best candidate for a bone marrow transplant. (Currently, we have not found a donor) My parents have adopted all of us kids, so sadly, none of us are candidates to donate bone marrow. My dad is amazing, and we need all the help and prayers to keep him healthy. INQOVI is our best chance to bring his red blood cell levels up to a healthier level (they will never be the same as a healthy person without a transplant) and stop the cancer cells from progressing.

We hope to raise money for the medication's final cost, lost wages, and pay for additional medical expenses. We hope my dad can start INQOVI asap so that the cancer cells do not have time to increase. He was supposed to start this medication weeks ago; however, it has been held up with insurance and red tape.

Because of COVID, we want to give my dad time off-work to heal, so he does not have to be in contact with the general public while his white blood cell count is low. Since my mother suffers from chronic migraines, she cannot work, so his wages are essential.

Thank you in advance for reading our post and, if possible, donating to help my parents and help my dad have the best life.

If you would like more information on how to become a bone marrow donor, please visit https://bethematch.org.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about Gary's condition or how you can help outside of this campaign.


- The Maddox Family
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Donations 

  • Patricia Halling
    • $50 
    • 7 mos
  • Mary Rodriguez
    • $50 
    • 7 mos
  • amie cornish
    • $50 
    • 8 mos
  • Sharon Cooper
    • $50 
    • 8 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $300 
    • 2 yrs
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Fundraising team (3)

Sarah Maddox
Organizer
Raised $1,850 from 15 donations
Oldsmar, FL
Theresa Maddox
Beneficiary
Raised $1,245 from 11 donations
Gary Maddox
Team member
Raised $1,835 from 13 donations
This team raised $12,360 from 106 other donations.

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