Hello. My name is Raquel, I am organizing a GoFundMe for my brother who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and 4 lumbar fractures last December 2022. Ar Jay is 31 years old and a seafarer. He started his journey as a able-bodied seaman 8 yrs ago, dreaming to give his family a better future. But with this unprecedented situation makes his dreams hard to achieve.

Before he found out about his condition, he slipped in the ship in a split position. We thought it was only bruises or mild fractures. But he was unable to work with the incident so the company decided to bring him to the nearest hospital. The hospital runs several tests including a bone marrow biopsy because they had seen an abnormality in his hemoglobin level. After several tests, the doctor confirmed that it was a multiple myeloma. Rare cancer that affects the blood and bones. Our family felt devastated upon hearing the news. Told my family to get a second opinion first to make sure before doing the ongoing treatment that the doctor is recommending to him.

His company send him back home in the Philippines with the travel nurse because he became wheelchair-bound due to his fractures and weakness in his entire body. We asked for a second opinion from a specialist in the Philippines. But they confirmed the diagnosis of the doctor in Sweden where he was hospitalized for almost 2 weeks. Before they did the chemotherapy, he underwent kyphoplasty to his 4 lumbar fractures, get healed first and regain his strength. He was wheelchair-bound and needed assistance with his ADLs for almost 3 months. Now he is undergoing chemotherapy every week and taking medications to maintain his cancer cells below their level. But his insurance at work, paid for his treatment til the end of April. According to them, they can only cover 120 days of treatment because his illness is non-work related. The doctor advised him to continuously do the chemotherapy at least every other week until he gets the STEM-CELL TRANSPLANT. Now, we are paying for his chemotherapy and medications to continuously kill the cancer cells until we get enough funds to cover the stem-cell transplant.

His unexpected diagnosis of multiple myeloma put his life at a different pace right now. Ar Jay is very loving to his daughter, a good husband, a good brother and a good son. Now he is battling with this rare disease that’s the only treatment that can prolong his life is STEM-CELL TRANSPLANT which costs 2.5 million pesos or 62500 in Canadian dollars alone.

I am reaching out with the hope of getting help, financially and spiritually. Any amount you are cheerfully and willingly able to share would be very much appreciated. Please consider sharing this post to help raise awareness of this rare disease and allow others to support him as well. God bless you all!