Helping the Helpers: Diamond Joe Edition

My name is Lucci and my friend Joey Scott is one of the best guys I know. He’s one of those people who is always going to show up when there is a need and save the day. He’s done a lot of favors for a lot of people and now he needs some favors returned. I’ll let him tell the story in his own words, because he truly has the *best* words:

Hey how ya doin? My name is Joey known to the mob as Joey Seven Tumors because the universe decided I needed a string of seven Ependymomas in the middle of my spinal canal.

Nice introduction, right?

a little bit about me:

I’m 33 and live in Memphis, TN. I served in the Army for seven years as a proud Redleg artilleryman and deployed to Iraq in 2010. Though never a blue chip physical specimen, I hustled and gave it my all until I decided it was time to come back home. Many of my fellow vets are experiencing similar issues as me.

Before my diagnosis I had a pretty active life. I hooped, slang darts, hit the rivers with my buds, enjoyed concerts, and tried to be a happy warrior for my community. It was a simple life blessed with amazing friends and family.

While on the campaign trail in Wichita in 2022 I started to feel pain in my torso that spread down to my left leg, eventually numbing it to the point of a permanent limp. At first I attributed it to an over ambitious lift because this is America and we rationalize our ailments to avoid a doctor bill. Thinking it was sciatica, I went to chiropractors and tried home remedies. Being uninsured limited my options. By my return home in November I could not handle it and had to go to the emergency room for a futile visit that yielded no answers. That bill alone was over $5,000.

I was fortunate to land with a stellar employer that has great benefits. I remember my interview being a feat of courage as I was in pain the whole time. Think Dwight Schrute pushing through appendicitis. As soon as I could I began the process of figuring out what tortured me every day.

The first tests hinted at Transverse Myelitis, aka spinal inflammation, which would have been a relatively easy fix. Upon a contrasted MRI (after wasting money on three normal ones) they noticed the seven tumors in the T6 region of my torso. I was shattered and terrified.

My care since then has been mixed and expensive. I’ve exhausted my PTO for the appointments alone so every appointment is now unpaid time. My managers are amazing and work with me but FMLA is unpaid time. I’ve undergone a spinal tap and spinal biopsy with either

I don’t deserve to go into medical bankruptcy. I served my country; give back to the community in any way I can; and have a rare disease that only affects 14,000 other people. I live within my means but this unexpected albatross is drowning me.

I’m asking for assistance to cover my past due medical bills and ideally funds to cover my time off work in the coming months.