Jeff & The Whipple
Donation protected
PANCREATITIS
That's it. This is why we're here. Who knew your pancreas was such an important little devil. So important that when your pancreas is angry, it can cause A LOT of issues. Like, a lot. For those of you who aren't sure what your pancreas is or what it does I will provide a little crash course. Your pancreas is a super important organ that does a number of things, one being the creation of things like insulin and lipase. Lipase is an enzyme that assists in the breakdown of food. When your pancreas gets pissed off , lipase inflames and damages the surrounding areas and organs. For more information, Google it.
For those of you who are close to the Coniglio Clan, you know some of our recent struggles as a family. My dad (Jeff Coniglio), the MVP, the homie, and the rock of mine and my brother's life, has been battling one of the most tenacious bouts of pancreatitis ever to exist- at least that is how we feel. Dad has been off work since October and has spent more nights in the ThreeRivers and Borgess hospitals than I care to think about. It has been an exhausting endeavor and unfortunately, it is not close to being over. However, we finally have a plan of action. After five months of ups and downs with no real answers or plans, we know what our next step is.
THE WHIPPLE
That's it. That's our next step. A Whipple Procedure is the removal of the pancreatic head and reconstruction of the organ ducts that are attached. It sounds WAY more fun than what it actually is. It is intensive. It is dangerous. It is going to have a long recovery time. We are in the process of scheduling this procedure.
MONEY HONEY
For those of you who know Dad well, you know that he is not one to lead on that he needs help, let alone ask for help. We have found ourselves in an interesting time and there are not many other options at this point. Unfortunately, Dad's FMLA and short-term disability have run their course and we fear that his current employer will let him go and he will loose his insurance. It disgusts me that we live in a society where we sometimes have to ask others to help with medical bills, but here we are. The money raised through this campaign will go towards medical bills, surgery costs, recovery costs, and the payment of other bills like electric, mortgage, and so on. Dad has been out of work since October and it is not looking like he will be able to return to work anytime soon. Anything given is appreciated more than you know.
GOOD NEWS
Dad has been alcohol free since September and cigarette free for FIVE WEEKS. We knew that the Whipple was a possibility, so he made the commitment to quit smoking for his health. He is making the decisions and taking the actions necessary to prepare his body the best he can for the fastest recovery and best possible outcome. The expectation is that after the Whipple he will be able to eat and function at a normal and healthy capacity. We just have to get him there.
That's it. This is why we're here. Who knew your pancreas was such an important little devil. So important that when your pancreas is angry, it can cause A LOT of issues. Like, a lot. For those of you who aren't sure what your pancreas is or what it does I will provide a little crash course. Your pancreas is a super important organ that does a number of things, one being the creation of things like insulin and lipase. Lipase is an enzyme that assists in the breakdown of food. When your pancreas gets pissed off , lipase inflames and damages the surrounding areas and organs. For more information, Google it.
For those of you who are close to the Coniglio Clan, you know some of our recent struggles as a family. My dad (Jeff Coniglio), the MVP, the homie, and the rock of mine and my brother's life, has been battling one of the most tenacious bouts of pancreatitis ever to exist- at least that is how we feel. Dad has been off work since October and has spent more nights in the ThreeRivers and Borgess hospitals than I care to think about. It has been an exhausting endeavor and unfortunately, it is not close to being over. However, we finally have a plan of action. After five months of ups and downs with no real answers or plans, we know what our next step is.
THE WHIPPLE
That's it. That's our next step. A Whipple Procedure is the removal of the pancreatic head and reconstruction of the organ ducts that are attached. It sounds WAY more fun than what it actually is. It is intensive. It is dangerous. It is going to have a long recovery time. We are in the process of scheduling this procedure.
MONEY HONEY
For those of you who know Dad well, you know that he is not one to lead on that he needs help, let alone ask for help. We have found ourselves in an interesting time and there are not many other options at this point. Unfortunately, Dad's FMLA and short-term disability have run their course and we fear that his current employer will let him go and he will loose his insurance. It disgusts me that we live in a society where we sometimes have to ask others to help with medical bills, but here we are. The money raised through this campaign will go towards medical bills, surgery costs, recovery costs, and the payment of other bills like electric, mortgage, and so on. Dad has been out of work since October and it is not looking like he will be able to return to work anytime soon. Anything given is appreciated more than you know.
GOOD NEWS
Dad has been alcohol free since September and cigarette free for FIVE WEEKS. We knew that the Whipple was a possibility, so he made the commitment to quit smoking for his health. He is making the decisions and taking the actions necessary to prepare his body the best he can for the fastest recovery and best possible outcome. The expectation is that after the Whipple he will be able to eat and function at a normal and healthy capacity. We just have to get him there.
Organizer
Amber Coniglio
Organizer
Kalamazoo, MI