<div><strong>** UPDATE ** Thank you so much for all the support and message, we never expected this level of response so soon. Due to the heartwarming support, we decided to up the target which gives us more security for financing the treatment for the upcoming months!</strong>
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<div>In July 2022, at the age of 42, my brother Ronny was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia which is an agressive type of bone marrow cancer. Ronny had additional complications which negatively impacted his prognosis. He was immediately admitted into the Leukemia ward at the Vancouver General Hospital where they immediately began aggressive chemotherapy involving a month long stay in an isolated ward.
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<div>Unfortunately, this first round of intensive treatment was unsuccsessful and he was readmitted for another month-long round of chemotherapy, a situation which unfortunately, further negatively impacted his prognosis.
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<div>Ronny stayed in remission long enough to be matched with a stem-cell donor and he underwent a third month-long treatment involving intesive chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant.
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<div>At his 100 day follow-up his bone marrow biopsy showed no sign of irregular cell growth and he and his family and friends were hopeful that the treatment was a success.
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<div>Sadly, days later his oncologist informed him that more sensitive tests had picked up the presence of Leukemia cells whose growth was already progressing. Relapsing this soon after treatment was a worrying outcome, and his doctors told us that at this stage we were no longer looking at a cure.
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<div>His doctors informed us that without an intervention that was successful at surpressing growth, someone in Ronny's position had merely weeks to months to live.
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<div>We were grateful to learn that a drug newly developed for older patients that are unable to undergo mainstream chemotherapy could possibly be helpful in surpressing the growth of his Leukemia and potentially extend his life. This drug, Venetoclax, is approved by Health Canada for use by the population it was designed for, but is unfortunately not covered by the Medical Service Plan and neither he nor his partner have extended medical plans. However, the oncologist team at the BC Cancer Agency is hopeful this palliative intervention will prolong his life by several months.
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<div>Accessing Venetoclax will cost $8,000 (after subsidies) a month for as long as it's effective.
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<div>As many of you know Ronny has been off work since his diagnosis in July 2022, and although his partner has continued to work to cover their expenses, they have limited savings to cover this treatment or any unexpected life events.
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<div>$48.000 will cover the first 6 months of treatment. Any funds received beyond our initial goal will be put towards continued treatment and unexpected health or life expenses.
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<div>As many of you who know my brother understand, he is in love with being alive and remains hopeful and optimistic.
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<div>We are grateful to any of you who are able to financially contribute or share this fundraiser so we can buy Ronny more time to spend in his beloved mountains hiking with his dog Walter.
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<div>Me, his family, his partner Adrienne, her family and his many friends are not ready to say goodbye.
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<div>For those of you who aren't able to make financial contributions, please consider donating blood products. The twice weekly infusions he receives are part of what is keeping him with us.
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<div>With gratitude,
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<div>Philipp Borkowski
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