Help Joe fight MM Cancer

Joe's fight against Multiple Myeloma

God willing, this is how his story will go…

Joe started feeling poorly in Jan of 2013.  He went to the doctor with what he thought was a flu bug that he couldn't get over.  After much testing he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (MM). 

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. Normal plasma cells are found in the bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system. The immune system is made up of several types of cells that work together to fight infections and other diseases. When B cells respond to an infection, they mature and change into plasma cells. In general, when plasma cells become cancerous and grow out of control, this is called multiple myeloma. The disease can damage the bones, immune system, kidneys, and red blood cell count. Treatments include: medications, chemotherapy, corticosteroids, radiation, or a stem-cell transplant.

Joe began chemo in April and after several rounds he had his first stem cell transplant on August 16, 2013.  He was tested every few months and the cancer stayed at bay without any treatment.  On his 6th month check up in the spring of 2015 the myeloma began to surface.  Treatments began again and Joe's numbers again declined meaning the cancer was under control but only for so many months. A new chemo drug, steroids, and more treatments would have to be tried.  As time went on, each new chemo worked for a shorter amount of time and wasn't quite enough to knock the myeloma cells down which meant his bone marrow was becoming largely cancer cells vs healthy cells. In August it was decided that Joe would have a port put in as he would again have to try a new chemo and with having his blood drawn so many times weekly his veins were harder and harder to access.  The port became infected and he was placed on antibiotics.  His blood counts took a huge dive and he ended up in the hospital with kidneys failing and requiring several transfusions of blood, platelets and fluids to help with the kidney issues.  Joe pulled thru and was sent home. 

Within 6 days, Labor Day weekend, Joe again ended up in the Emergency Room with 2 liters of fluid on his lungs, and again low blood counts. It was after his 6th day stay that a test was done to check out the port and it was found that the port in his chest was leaking.  Joe underwent another surgery to have the leaky port replaced with a new port.  Joe has now been on the last of the chemo drugs, Doxil.  The Doxil can only be taken for 6 to 8 rounds as it causes heart damage.  Luckily, the Doxil has done its job well enough that the specialist at Karmanos in Detroit are confident enough to perform his second stem cell transplant in November of this year. They will be using his frozen stem cells preserved from back in Aug of 2013.  They hope to have Joe home soon after the transplant, but he will not be able to return to work for months. He hasn't worked since August, 2018.

Joe hopes he will have a speedy recovery and be back on the road in the spring of 2019! 

God willing, that's the way his story will go!  

The unfortunate reality is that Joe has a long road ahead of him.  He is not one to ask for help - whether physical or financial – but the outpouring of support by their community of family and friends that want to help is amazing.

We're mobilizing to help support this beloved family with their many expenses including: hospital bills, treatments, medications and beyond.

The last thing any of us want is for financial stress to be added to what already is an incredibly challenging time.

No donation is too small.

Prayers and good-positive vibes are much appreciated.

Joe, Lorraine, Anthony, Nicole, Michael and Ryan we are here for you. We will get you through this.

Today and forever.

We love you.