Help John Hinkle fight against multiple myeloma

Update October 2024: John enjoyed a brief period of remission, but as of October 2024, John's cancer has returned and spread to his brain. He is currently undergoing a T-cell transplant as part of a clinical trial and is literally fighting for his life. And because life can just be cruel sometimes, his family's home was also recently damaged by a storm and now has a gaping hole in the roof. If you know John you know he is the last one to ask for help. But he needs your help now. Please help if you can, no amount is too small.

My incredible cousin John Hinkle was recently diagnosed with Plasma Cell Leukemia Multiple Myeloma, a rare blood cancer that, among other things, destroys bones throughout the entire body. By the time the doctors discovered it in May, John’s disease had already progressed far enough to have damaged bones in at least 8 places.

On June 5, John started chemotherapy. He will undergo an intense regimen of chemotherapy over 16 weeks. After that, he will receive a bone marrow transplant. He may also receive additional stem cell treatments. And after all that, there may be even more chemotherapy required. If you know John, you know that he never gives up. Despite the constant physical pain that comes with this disease, he is prepared to fight the good fight – not only for himself, but for his wife and children too.

As you can imagine, this process brings with it a heavy financial burden. There will be out-of-pocket medical costs, and John will not be able to work for at least 6-8 months as he receives treatment and recovers.

When we see a beloved friend or family suffering, our first instinct is to wonder “How can I even help?” The good news is that you can help and we’ve made it really easy for you to do it! We’ve done the math and have set the goal for this fundraiser at $35,000, which reflects the minimum amount needed to help keep John’s family afloat during this difficult time. Any contribution is appreciated, and no amount is too small!

Thank you for taking the time to read this and to contribute to this fundraiser. Please see below to learn more about John’s family and multiple myeloma.

Who You’re Helping:

John, his wife Lisa, and their two sons, Trin (15) and Ryan (10), live in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The four of them share a special and close bond. They are lovers of Cedar Point and Disney, and enjoy road trips, pro auto races, and hiking.

John is one of the truck-driving heroes that has helped keep our shelves stocked during the supply chain challenges over the last few years. He has had a lifelong passion for race cars and spending time with his family.

Lisa is a devoted wife and mother. She is currently working two jobs she enjoys. Her main job is as a Paraprofessional for her local school district and she also teaches driver's education courses. Trin is a wildly talented musician, playing tuba in both his high school marching band and symphonic band, and baritone sax for the GoldTones jazz orchestra. Ryan is the sweetest 10-year-old you’ll ever meet and is looking forward to starting football this summer.

About Plasma Cell Leukemia Multiple Myeloma:

PCL is a rare, but aggressive form of multiple myeloma (blood cancer). It may begin as the progression of myeloma or occur in patients with no previous history of myeloma.

In myeloma, abnormal plasma cells form and collect in the bone marrow. In PCL, these abnormal plasma cells are not only in the bone marrow, but also circulating the body in the blood.

As an advanced form of myeloma, the treatment options for PCL are similar to multiple myeloma but may be more intensive. These treatments may include chemotherapy, steroids, stem cell transplantation, and their combined use with other agents.

Research is currently being conducted to improve the therapy options available to patients with PCL, particularly in cases where the condition has progressed from multiple myeloma.