I Won’t Give Up, but I Need Your Help

Those who have gotten to know me over the years know that asking for help is extremely difficult for me to do. Just under a year ago, I asked for your help and you all delivered. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, this battle against cancer is not yet over, and I’m forced in to a position where I have to ask for your help again.

The primary issue is that the chemotherapy didn’t work. It actually almost killed me this time by way of neurotoxicity (brain poisoning). This fight should’ve ended in September, yet I am back to square one and losing my job in December certainly didn’t help. Physically I am slightly better- I am down 90 pounds and the third treatment option is working, but it is not meant to be curative- it is keeping me alive until the next step, which will either be major surgery or a stem cell transplant. I can do neither option without your help. With your help over the last year, we achieved:

- 12 hospital admissions

- 6 surgeries,

- Gallbladder removal

- Stomach stent installed and twice replaced

- Kidney stent installed and once replaced

- 22 sessions of intensive chemotherapy

- 47 appointments and follow ups with 4 different disciplines of medicine including oncology, gastroenterology, urology, and nephrology

- Countless prescription medications

- 1 cross-country trip to meet with a specialist

I’ve been meaning to do this sooner, but I haven’t out of fear of looking selfish. However, I realized during one of my daily vomiting sessions that the only thing that would be more selfish is leaving the battlefield before the war is over. It’s feels like a ten month losing streak, but I’m alive with a chance thanks to you all. Hopefully the latter can continue until I am pronounced cured. Thank you all.