Help Jeff Howard, Father and Veteran, Fight Cancer
Donation protected
On June 28, 2018, Jeffrey Howard - a veteran, devoted father, and loving husband - was diagnosed with Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma (the final stage), a cancer which affects plasma cells. These cancerous cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out red blood cells. Over a short time this severely damages bones, the immune system, kidneys, and red blood cell count.
Doctors knew they had to act quickly. Treatment was possible but Multiple Myeloma is not considered to be “curable.” On the day of his diagnosis, doctors discovered he had multiple broken ribs that were directly caused by the Multiple Myeloma. He was in severe pain and a shocking 70% of his plasma cells were shown to be cancerous.
Jeff immediately underwent three rounds of chemotherapy. Then, on the week of Thanksgiving in 2018, he endured an autologous stem cell transplant - this was meant to buy him years and quality of life. In early Spring of 2019, Jeff was considered to be in remission.
Unfortunately, after only 8 months, the Myeloma was back and aggressively proliferating. Such a relapse has a grim prognosis and doctors admitted he would not have as much time as previously thought. Nevertheless, we opted to move on to the next possible treatment.
In October of 2019, Jeff received radiation treatments in his right lower jaw, right rib cage, left hip, and left femur in order to stop the Myeloma cell progression. Jeff was then put on a chemotherapy and steroid plan for the next 6 months in the hopes that this could slow the aggressive growth.
We all hear stories of medical expenses overwhelming and devastating families. Even with good health insurance, catastrophic illness comes with a price. In our family’s case, it has been financially debilitating.
Jeff has come to the point in his treatment where the limits of modern medicine have been reached and he can do no more than accept the few remaining chemotherapy options and divine timing.
We, his family and friends, are endeavoring to help reduce the stress and anxiety of rapidly accruing medical expenses and prevent these expenses from deeply financially damaging his wife and children, especially upon his inevitable absence.
Please consider donating to help relieve the financial burden and improve the quality of Jeff's time he has left with his family.
Doctors knew they had to act quickly. Treatment was possible but Multiple Myeloma is not considered to be “curable.” On the day of his diagnosis, doctors discovered he had multiple broken ribs that were directly caused by the Multiple Myeloma. He was in severe pain and a shocking 70% of his plasma cells were shown to be cancerous.
Jeff immediately underwent three rounds of chemotherapy. Then, on the week of Thanksgiving in 2018, he endured an autologous stem cell transplant - this was meant to buy him years and quality of life. In early Spring of 2019, Jeff was considered to be in remission.
Unfortunately, after only 8 months, the Myeloma was back and aggressively proliferating. Such a relapse has a grim prognosis and doctors admitted he would not have as much time as previously thought. Nevertheless, we opted to move on to the next possible treatment.
In October of 2019, Jeff received radiation treatments in his right lower jaw, right rib cage, left hip, and left femur in order to stop the Myeloma cell progression. Jeff was then put on a chemotherapy and steroid plan for the next 6 months in the hopes that this could slow the aggressive growth.
We all hear stories of medical expenses overwhelming and devastating families. Even with good health insurance, catastrophic illness comes with a price. In our family’s case, it has been financially debilitating.
Jeff has come to the point in his treatment where the limits of modern medicine have been reached and he can do no more than accept the few remaining chemotherapy options and divine timing.
We, his family and friends, are endeavoring to help reduce the stress and anxiety of rapidly accruing medical expenses and prevent these expenses from deeply financially damaging his wife and children, especially upon his inevitable absence.
Please consider donating to help relieve the financial burden and improve the quality of Jeff's time he has left with his family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Mike Howard
Organizer
Morrow, OH
Jeffrey Howard
Beneficiary