Help Blake & Kim with Medical Bills, Ramp, & Handicap Access

My name is Tana and I am Blake’s cousin. As you may or may not have known, Blake was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroendencrine cancer in July 2023. The cancer started in his small intestine and metastasized to his liver, right femur, and two vertebrae in his spine.

Blake did one round of chemo from August 2023 - January 2024. He had to go three days a week every three weeks. The PET scan, after his chemo round ended, showed the cancer had stopped spreading, so treatment was able to be put on hold. During and after treatment, Blake has had to be hospitalized five times for blood transfusions. He was also admitted in July with acute kidney failure caused by a reaction to an antibiotic. On August 19th, Kim and Blake found out the most recent PET scan shows the cancer is being aggressive and Blake will need chemotherapy treatment again.

While walking outside on July 2nd of this year, Blake burned the bottom of his right foot and developed a wound. The wound seemed to be getting better but because of being a diabetic and newly developed blockages in the arteries in his leg, he developed gangrene and his foot was dying. On August 28th, Blake had a mid-calf amputation. He is currently in a rehab facility learning how to navigate living life without his foot. While Blake is healing from his surgery, chemo is on hold and the plan for that is still to be determined.

In order for Blake to be able to come home, Kim and Blake will need to have work done to build a ramp going into the house and retrofit the bathroom to be wheelchair accessible.

To add to the awfulness of this, Blake has been on short term and long term disability since first being diagnosed at a lower percentage of his salary. Also at some point, Kim will have to take a leave of absence to help take care of Blake. As you can imagine, the doctors and hospital bills are also piling up. We want to be able to help them focus on his health and each other and not have to worry as much about the financial pressure this has brought on them.

Of course, all of this has been detrimental for Kim and Blake to face. Blake and Kim had their 34th wedding anniversary this year, have raised their two boys, had their first grand baby, Ben,

in 2022, and should be planning their retirements and growing old together.

I thank you in advance for helping Kim and Blake. Any amount of a donation is much appreciated.