Help Our Sister's Husband, Scott, Fight Melanoma

Scott Stoeckel, our brother in law, was diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma, a very aggressive form of skin cancer in January 2020.  While less common than basal or squamous cell carcinoma, it is far more dangerous because of its ability to spread rapidly to other organs.  Scott had his first surgery to remove a mass on his left knee as well as two lymph nodes in his groin and a large amount of surrounding tissue.  He began Keytruda infusions shortly after the first surgery and in April of 2020 Scott and Donna were informed the Keytruda was not working and the cancer had spread to more lymph nodes, necessitating stronger drugs with more side effects as well as daily steroids to help keep Scott's tendency for high fevers down, a common consequent of these medications Mekinist and Tafinlar.  His second surgery November of 2020, a pelvic lymphadenectomy, in which numerous lymph nodes were dissected from the left groin and pelvis which approximately 14 of those lymph nodes were positive for the cancer.    Scott has recently went through a CT Retroperitoneum Biopsy and the melanoma has spread to the retroperitoneum.  They state that this will be a very extensive/risky surgery if they decide they can do surgery, for now they have started Scott on new infusion drugs Yervoy and Obdivo.  YERVOY is a kind of metastatic melanoma treatment known as immunotherapy, which generally works by stimulating people's own immune systems, the body's natural defense.  OPDIVO is an immunotherapy treatment that works with the T cells of your immune system.  Since the other treatment that Scott was taking is no longer working they he will respond better to these.  Scott continues to work his job.  Scott and Donna juggle the many doctors appointments and still continue to work to keep the bills paid.  Scott continuing to work is very important in order to keep his insurance coverage. 


My sister, Kathy, and I are hoping you will help us raise money to allay Scott's increasing medical costs.  Although he has insurance, Scott and our sister have to cover many out-of-pocket expenses, such as co-pays, deductibles and other surgical related costs that are excluded from insurance coverage.  He must continue lymphedema therapy, wear compression hoses and use a pump for the lymphedema in his leg, which he will have to deal with the rest of his life due to the removal of the lymph nodes in his pelvis.  Our sister, Donna works several jobs to keep up with all of the costs associated with his medical care including medical mileage to travel to numerous doctors appointments.  Our goal is to raise $10,000 as Scott and Donna have had to pay out of pocket expenses, deductibles, copays and supplies within the last year and continues this year as well.  


Our sister and her husband count their blessings every day and pray that Scott.  We thank you for all your prayers and for anything you might be kind enough to give to Scott in his fight for life.