My name is Dora, in November 2017 my partner Jose Luis was diagnosed with testicular cancer, he had surgery at that time to remove the tumor, and the surgery was considered to be successful. Two years later the cancer returned and Jose Luis completed Chemotherapy to treat it. All labs and follow up care indicated that the cancer had been eradicated. 

In early May, Luis began to experience back pain once again. During this time COVID 19 was causing drastic measures to be taken at the clinic and I wasn't able to get him an appointment to be seen in office. After pleading with a nurse and them agreeing to make an "exception", the doctor examined him. A week later he was scheduled for a PET scan. Until then, he was prescribed Oxycodone and Oxycodine. At first the meds helped with the pain, but as the week progressed, so did his pain. It became unbearable.

The day he was scheduled for the PET scan, I drove him to the hospital and while he was checking in, he collapsed. He was taken to the ER and since they couldn't ease the pain, he was admitted. I was not allowed to visit and didn't talk to him for 2 days. He was heavily medicated and was having trouble breathing. He was put on a ventilator. They found that his platelet and red blood cell counts were significantly low. He received multiple transfusions. Soon they found fluid around his heart and was transported to St. Joseph's hospital. There, he was fully sedated and I was only able to speak with him briefly. He said "They are going to take care of me". I told him I loved him and that Dmitry did too. I was at work, so he didn't get to speak with our son.

Luis remained in the ICU for another week without improvement. A biopsy was done from his hip bone marrow and the preliminary results indicated that the cancer had metastasized to his bones. HLH with no hope for survival. His sister and I made the most heartbreaking decision. On Friday, he was taken off the ventilator and for the first time in two long lonely weeks I was finally "allowed" to see my love. To hold his hand and let him go. He was surrounded by people who loved and cared for him. It was peaceful and so hard. Unreal. Too soon.

I returned home and for the first time since Thursday, I checked the mail. Medical bills are already piling up and I'm still grieving, processing, and attempting to plan services. Please consider donating to us. Anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated. 

In Gratitude,
Dora and Dmitry