Help Don triumph over Covidicus, the brain tumor!

As many of you know, Deb's husband, Don, was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade IV, a very aggressive brain cancer; which they have named "Covidicus", in recognition of how difficult this year has been for many of us, and they are no exception.  This form of brain cancer is not operable, so in order to increase Don's quality of life and give him his best chance, he needs to undergo immediate and aggressive radiation and chemo treatments.

Both Don and Deb have been living in separate states for several years, as Deb cares for her aging mother.  In particular, Deb has given almost 25 years of service to the Katahdin Higher Education Center, where she has helped thousands of individuals to improve their lives by providing cost-effective workforce training, certifications, and degree programs from each of her affiliated schools.  She has also been deeply involved with the community and economic revitalization efforts in the Katahdin Region since the economy collapsed after the mills closed, giving countless hours of her time to the community she loves so dearly, while Don worked in Kentucky. 

Don, who has three grown children and several grandchildren in Kentucky, will need to undergo aggressive treatment, including radiation and chemo.  He will also need to wear a portable medical device on his head called "Optune", which could cost Deb and Don up to $21,000 per month.  Meanwhile, Deb has to travel frequently to Kentucky to help Don get to his treatments and to navigate all of the challenges associated with Covid-19.  The frequent last-minute travel is truly expensive, especially as Don was unable to continue the day he was hospitalized with his diagnosis - this has put extra pressure on Deb to coordinate her husband's treatment while also continuing her great work in the Katahdin Region. 

Here is Deb in her own words:

"I’ve always shared our life and travels with so many folks, so I’m inclined to share the bad news as well. We had planned to travel to Italy on our vacation in June and would have been there on June 8th, celebrating my birthday and a dear friend’s wedding, however, COVID-19 stood in our way. I spoke to Don that morning at 8:00 am on his way to work and he was fine, at 11:30am I received a call from my husband’s coworker, telling me that they were taking Don to the ER, because he was having difficulty speaking and thought he was having a stroke.

That’s when our nightmare began. After many days of CTs and MRI scans and being evaluated by several neurologists and a neurosurgeon, he was found to have a large brain mass and several lesions on the frontal part of his brain. A spinal tap and open brain biopsy followed and soon, brought us the worst of news. Don, my husband of 23 years, was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade IV, a very aggressive brain cancer. 

We have no words, only tears, to describe the pain we are feeling. This is too much for us to bear alone. I’ve cried so many tears during this nightmare, as this goofball, confidant, travel, and life partner is my life. This will be THE most difficult journey we have ever traveled before. And yes we aptly named this brain cancer monster, Covidicus, because why not? 

The treatment plan we were given is a course of 25-30 days of full brain radiation and chemo, followed by 5/23 cycles of higher dosing of chemo and Optune, a medical device that utilizes Tumor Treating Therapy. TTF uses an electrical field to disrupt the tumor cells' ability to multiply. TTF involves applying adhesive pads to your scalp. The pads are connected to a portable device that generates the electrical field.

Don has been unable to work since June 8th and will never be able to return to work, given his horrible diagnosis. The prognosis is not good and the median survival time for glioblastoma multiforme is 6-18 months. We tried to get him to Maine to have his treatment here, but with Covid-19 and the quarantine, he would have been denied his treatments by several weeks, and we could not delay his treatments. 

So it was decided for him to stay in Kentucky near his home to get him to daily treatment which is over 1.5 hours away."

These are gentle, compassionate people who really need some financial assistance and support to help them meet their treatment goals, to see each other as much as possible during this time, and to hopefully have some of this burden offloaded so they can focus on each other, and on Don's health and quality of life. 

Thank you for your support today.  Don and Deb need our support ASAP, so please, give what you can, and reach out to comfort them - so they know they aren't alone on this journey.  Thank you.