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In Aug. 2019, Joseph Malabed started having low back aches which he attributed to a recurrence of his back pain stemming from an injury in 2010. He did a session of physical therapy that helped. However, a few weeks later he tripped but managed to catch himself and not fall. This triggered severe pain from his lower back radiating up to his upper spine. He sought to do more physical therapy w/ no real relief. His symptoms progressively got severe with now episodes of muscle spasms that paralyzes him. He finally consulted his doctor who ordered an MRI of his spine.
By this time Joseph could not walk w/o the aid of a cane. He could not get up from his bed w/o assistance from his son. He had to be manually pulled up and he had to sit at the side of the bed first before attempting to get up and walk. Despite this, he persisted in going to work, taking the public transportation for 4 hours one way. He had to sit with his hands supporting his body as every bump in the road caused him severe pain in his back and pelvis. He had to keep on working to provide for his family – his wife and 2 underage teenagers.
On 11/27/2019, the day before thanksgiving, he could not move his lower body to even attempt to sit up. He had excruciating pain. The paramedics were called and he was finally admitted to the hospital. This is were they finally discovered he had stage 4 adenocarcinoma of the lung (lung cancer) with spread to his bones – spine, pelvis, ribs and sternum. Cancer cells were also found in fluid in his right lung and in the sac surrounding his heart. Joseph was started on immunotherapy that targets the cancer cells. However, the medicine for his cancer alone, called Gefitinib, costs P4,447.20 ($89.00) a day. His oncologist managed to get him a 50% discount. All in all he needs as his maintenance medications for each month P99,858 ($1,997.16). This includes a blood thinner, pregabalin, and pain medications. Aside from this he needs to buy intravenous medicine every 2 weeks for now to build up his bones. This costs P4,500 ($90.00) each vial.
We, his family, have tried to cover all his medical bills as well as sustain his family in their daily living, including trying to keep his children in school. We have tapped all the available resources from government programs as well as from the Social Security Systems (the equivalent of the Medicare system).
Joseph has a chance to stop the progression and possibly have a remission of his advanced lung cancer. Already he has been able to eat better and to sit in a wheelchair one time to eat a meal. All because of his medications, especially the one for his cancer. Please help Joseph defeat this disease. He prays to be able in the future to do gainful work despite his disease to provide for his family.
Please help Joseph stay alive . Help him recover enough to be able to do gainful work to provide for his family. Please help me share his story by posting this on your facebook page.
Thank you.
By this time Joseph could not walk w/o the aid of a cane. He could not get up from his bed w/o assistance from his son. He had to be manually pulled up and he had to sit at the side of the bed first before attempting to get up and walk. Despite this, he persisted in going to work, taking the public transportation for 4 hours one way. He had to sit with his hands supporting his body as every bump in the road caused him severe pain in his back and pelvis. He had to keep on working to provide for his family – his wife and 2 underage teenagers.
On 11/27/2019, the day before thanksgiving, he could not move his lower body to even attempt to sit up. He had excruciating pain. The paramedics were called and he was finally admitted to the hospital. This is were they finally discovered he had stage 4 adenocarcinoma of the lung (lung cancer) with spread to his bones – spine, pelvis, ribs and sternum. Cancer cells were also found in fluid in his right lung and in the sac surrounding his heart. Joseph was started on immunotherapy that targets the cancer cells. However, the medicine for his cancer alone, called Gefitinib, costs P4,447.20 ($89.00) a day. His oncologist managed to get him a 50% discount. All in all he needs as his maintenance medications for each month P99,858 ($1,997.16). This includes a blood thinner, pregabalin, and pain medications. Aside from this he needs to buy intravenous medicine every 2 weeks for now to build up his bones. This costs P4,500 ($90.00) each vial.
We, his family, have tried to cover all his medical bills as well as sustain his family in their daily living, including trying to keep his children in school. We have tapped all the available resources from government programs as well as from the Social Security Systems (the equivalent of the Medicare system).
Joseph has a chance to stop the progression and possibly have a remission of his advanced lung cancer. Already he has been able to eat better and to sit in a wheelchair one time to eat a meal. All because of his medications, especially the one for his cancer. Please help Joseph defeat this disease. He prays to be able in the future to do gainful work despite his disease to provide for his family.
Please help Joseph stay alive . Help him recover enough to be able to do gainful work to provide for his family. Please help me share his story by posting this on your facebook page.
Thank you.