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In short: my Dad has cancer that has been attacking his entire body but recently it’s been focusing on destroying his lungs. Only 80% of his left lung is functional, while his right lung has collapsed and has been completely destroyed by the amyloids in his body (in other words, only a portion of 1 out of his 2 lungs is actually functional). He now fully relies on life-sustaining equipment (specifically an oxygen concentrator) to help him breathe daily.
The damage that has been done is irreversible- we can only work to slow down the rate that it will affect other major organs in his body.
His short term disability ended in May 2021, medical insurance coverage ended in August 2021, and MetLife Critical Illness Insurance has denied his appeal over and over again, even though he's eligible and my parents provided them with all the required paperwork/documents, along with official letters from his doctors…
We’re writing this GoFundMe to raise money to assist my parents in these expensive medical bills to be able to continue his treatments, specialist appointments, help with rental payments for his life-sustaining equipment (oxygen concentrator), a possible Stem Cell Transplant and Lung Transplant, and planned immunotherapy.
----- DETAILED EXPLANATION + PHOTOS BELOW -----
In 2013, my father was diagnosed with a rare incurable disease called AL Amyloidosis, associated with a type of cancer known as Multiple Myeloma. His bone marrow produced abnormal and rare protein cells (called amyloids) that gradually attacked his major organs. The amyloids overpowered his existing healthy blood cells throughout the years until he became symptomatic.
After a series of extensive bone marrow aspiration tests, CT scans, and blood work throughout 2020, he was diagnosed with Systemic Amyloidosis due to damage noted in his kidneys, traces in his heart, and extensive damage in his lungs. In February 2021 his right lung completely collapsed, and in August 2021 a portion of his left lung collapsed.
Emergency VATS and Pleurodesis lung surgery were done after the initial collapse of his right lung in February. Following his partial left lung collapse in August, he went through the same procedures once again. With his right lung collapsed and about only 80% of his left lung functional now, he is at lifelong risk of infection and respiratory distress. With a highly compromised immune system, he is more susceptible to viruses and diseases like COVID-19.
Unfortunately, the damage that has been done is irreversible. In an effort to prevent damage to other major organs caused by these rare plasma cells, he underwent Chemotherapy from February 2021 to August 2021 just in the nick of time, according to his Oncologist, who considers him a special case.
Our family watched my father suffer agonizing adverse reactions while undergoing Chemotherapy. The extent of his lung damage caused him a persistent horrible cough, relying on using supplemental oxygen 24/7. Now because of these health issues and the fact that he essentially has 1 (partially) functional lung, he struggles to do daily physical things that we normally take for granted, like walking up the stairs, or even walking a few feet will have him gasping for breath. Despite all of this, his spirits are high with a positive outlook, along with a drive to be there to watch his two new grandchildren grow up, and faith in God.
To make matters worse, my father’s short-term disability from his job ended in May 2021 and his medical insurance coverage ended recently in August 2021. On top of that, MetLife Critical Illness Insurance has repeatedly denied his appeal, despite my parents providing them with supporting documentation of his critical illness and incurable rare disease, along with official documents and letters from his Oncologist and Pulmonologist.
We are writing this GoFundMe to raise money to assist my parents in these expensive medical bills to be able to continue his medical treatments, Mount Sinai specialists appointments, help with rental payments for his life-sustaining equipment (oxygen concentrator), a possible Stem Cell Transplant and Lung Transplant, and planned immunotherapy.
My family would greatly appreciate any amount of donation to help support my father in this very difficult and challenging time. If you can't give, even sharing this post with friends and family would be very helpful. Thank you in advance.
The damage that has been done is irreversible- we can only work to slow down the rate that it will affect other major organs in his body.
His short term disability ended in May 2021, medical insurance coverage ended in August 2021, and MetLife Critical Illness Insurance has denied his appeal over and over again, even though he's eligible and my parents provided them with all the required paperwork/documents, along with official letters from his doctors…
We’re writing this GoFundMe to raise money to assist my parents in these expensive medical bills to be able to continue his treatments, specialist appointments, help with rental payments for his life-sustaining equipment (oxygen concentrator), a possible Stem Cell Transplant and Lung Transplant, and planned immunotherapy.
----- DETAILED EXPLANATION + PHOTOS BELOW -----
In 2013, my father was diagnosed with a rare incurable disease called AL Amyloidosis, associated with a type of cancer known as Multiple Myeloma. His bone marrow produced abnormal and rare protein cells (called amyloids) that gradually attacked his major organs. The amyloids overpowered his existing healthy blood cells throughout the years until he became symptomatic.
After a series of extensive bone marrow aspiration tests, CT scans, and blood work throughout 2020, he was diagnosed with Systemic Amyloidosis due to damage noted in his kidneys, traces in his heart, and extensive damage in his lungs. In February 2021 his right lung completely collapsed, and in August 2021 a portion of his left lung collapsed.
Emergency VATS and Pleurodesis lung surgery were done after the initial collapse of his right lung in February. Following his partial left lung collapse in August, he went through the same procedures once again. With his right lung collapsed and about only 80% of his left lung functional now, he is at lifelong risk of infection and respiratory distress. With a highly compromised immune system, he is more susceptible to viruses and diseases like COVID-19.
Unfortunately, the damage that has been done is irreversible. In an effort to prevent damage to other major organs caused by these rare plasma cells, he underwent Chemotherapy from February 2021 to August 2021 just in the nick of time, according to his Oncologist, who considers him a special case.
Our family watched my father suffer agonizing adverse reactions while undergoing Chemotherapy. The extent of his lung damage caused him a persistent horrible cough, relying on using supplemental oxygen 24/7. Now because of these health issues and the fact that he essentially has 1 (partially) functional lung, he struggles to do daily physical things that we normally take for granted, like walking up the stairs, or even walking a few feet will have him gasping for breath. Despite all of this, his spirits are high with a positive outlook, along with a drive to be there to watch his two new grandchildren grow up, and faith in God.
To make matters worse, my father’s short-term disability from his job ended in May 2021 and his medical insurance coverage ended recently in August 2021. On top of that, MetLife Critical Illness Insurance has repeatedly denied his appeal, despite my parents providing them with supporting documentation of his critical illness and incurable rare disease, along with official documents and letters from his Oncologist and Pulmonologist.
We are writing this GoFundMe to raise money to assist my parents in these expensive medical bills to be able to continue his medical treatments, Mount Sinai specialists appointments, help with rental payments for his life-sustaining equipment (oxygen concentrator), a possible Stem Cell Transplant and Lung Transplant, and planned immunotherapy.
My family would greatly appreciate any amount of donation to help support my father in this very difficult and challenging time. If you can't give, even sharing this post with friends and family would be very helpful. Thank you in advance.
