My name is Brian Sebesta and I have lived with my best friend and companion Ernest Sewell,(he's the tall one), in the capitol region of New York State for the past 28 years. In 2024 Ernest was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which was a shock and everything changed.

Ernest is a Navy veteran and was enrolled for treatment at the Albany-Stratton Veterans Administration Medical Center here in Albany NY.

At first we were encouraged and told there was a curable approach with around 85-90% success rate with chemo treatments. After about a year of chemo in March of 2025 the cancer was still winning and in addition to that we lost our apartment building to a fire that month, (thankfully we were all safe and we recovered our belongings).

His oncology doctor then decided he would have a stem cell transplant in Seattle. Four months later we were back, and the cancer was still winning and spreading. He had a series of radiation treatments and still it resisted.

Now it is deemed uncurable and he has been so weak he and may not be able to withstand any more chemo treatments. We are now working with Hospice and he is confined to his bed and needs me to help him with everything.

Although I work from home it is becoming increasingly difficult to work and be his caregiver and is already putting a strain on us financially. Currently I have exhausted Paid Family Leave and my personal time and I know we need to think about what is coming and just trying to plan for what happens next including any uncovered final expanses we may incur.

I don't like asking for help but at this point I am at a loss and would appreciate and assistance to help spend as much time to take care of his needs and have quality time together that we has left.