Help Joel Black beat cancer!

A message from Dani:

The beginning of May, we found out Joel’s cells still had the leukemia mutation. Instead of being able to go back to work, going on vacation, and trying to have a baby, Joel will now need a bone marrow transplant. This was not the news we had expected to hear. On June 7th, during an appointment for a bone marrow biopsy to see what was going on in his bone marrow. The blood work done before the biopsy showed a significant level of disease in Joel’s blood. The doctors immediately made the decision to admit him for intense chemo and get the leukemia back in remission. He had also been experiencing increasing back pain in the prior few weeks but had attributed it to becoming more active as the weather got nicer. The MRI showed a sarcoma on his spine, pressing against his spinal cord and leukemia cells built up in his vertebrate in the lower back. We are back in the hospital for at least the month of June. The tentative plan will be to discharge at the beginning of July and be back for a bone marrow transplant within a month or two; currently the doctor’s estimates are middle to end of August to begin that process.

Bone marrow transplants have about a 50/50 chance of complete cure. We obviously are praying with full expectation that the transplant will fix his bone marrow. He will have another month in the hospital and then two to two and a half months after where we must be within 45 minutes of UPMC Shadyside to receive additional treatments two to three days per week and with a full time caregiver. Danielle is able to take time off school through saved sick days to act as that caregiver. Joel will not be allowed to return to work for another year because his immune system will be very compromised and it will take that long for the new bone marrow to fully graft.

We need your help, last year Joel was able to work part of the year and then in March some disability started along with generous gifts of family and friends got us through financially. As we look over the road before us, our need will be greater. Joel has estimated around 40,000 dollars can get us through his loss of income and the expenses of travel and lodging. There will be many trips to Pittsburgh (we have been told a minimum of two trips per month for the year after the transplant), gas, tolls, and parking. Lodging in the city so we can be close to the hospital for three months, and then covering our normal expenses at home in Chambersburg. The estimated cost of living alone in Pittsburgh will be close to 10,000 dollars for the two month to two and a half month stay. If you are willing or able please consider donating to help Joel keep fighting! If you would like to give directly, GoFundMe does take a small percentage, you can send mail to Joel Black ℅ Rebecca Troutman 2690 White Church Rd, Chambersburg, PA 17202 or Joel Black ℅ Jim and Judy Black 110 Candy Lane, Bedford, PA 15522. They also have a Venmo account @Joeljames91. Sheetz gas cards are appreciated. There is a Starbucks and Panera Bread nearby and Grubhub delivers to the hospital. If you are someone who pressure cans, meals in a jar would be great too! They are avoiding sugar (sugar feeds cancer cells,) so please limit sugar used or add a natural ingredient instead, (e.g. maple syrup, honey, or monk fruit). This would help with food cost after the hospital and can then be used anytime. If you want to reach out specifically you can contact Rebecca Troutman at [phone redacted] or Grace Gillman at [phone redacted].