Ken and Lisa Ruhr Medical fund
Donation protected
My name is Shelley and I have been close with Lisa and her family for almost 30 years. I am starting this campaign for Ken and Lisa Ruhr. So many friends and family want to reach out and help this amazing couple but dont know what to do. They are the most genuine, giving, loving and thoughful people you will ever meet. Here is a short version of their life story in Lisa's words:
Its been 6 years since Kenny was diagnosed with lymphoma (CLL). 5 years ago he had chemo to put the lymphoma in remission. Lymphoma is treatable, not curable. After 6 months of treatment the lymphona was in remission. It took about a year after that for Kenny to get back to his "normal" self. Monthly then yearly check ups were great. In December 2016 Kenny started to feel exceptionally tired. As months went on he was more and more tired and developed a horrible cough. In April 2017 he decided he'd best go to the Dr for a checkup. The following day blood work came back showing low platelets and hemoglobin. A bone marrow biopsy was done, results came back MDS, terminal 3 months - 1.5 years if untreated. May 30th 2017 Kenny was told he could no longer work because he had no immune system. Another bone marrow biopsy was done. Results came back AML (acute myeloid leukemia). The disease was progressing quite fast. Chemo treatment with a trial drug (immune booster) started June 20th 2017. July 3rd Kenny was brought to HSC by ambulance. Side effects from the trial drug had him in hospital for 12 days. He was home for 2 days and then back to HSC with more side effects. He has been in the hospital ever since. Yesterday (August 1st) Kenny started a different in hospital chemo (7 + 3) 24 hours a day for 7 days. Four weeks from day 1 of the chemo another bone marrow biopsy will be done to see if the chemo treatment will put the leukemia in remission. If in remission discussions will take place to see if stem cell transplant is an option. This process if successful will take about a year before he is able to return to work. If the chemo does not put him in remission he will go into palliative care to live out his remaining time. May and June I worked much less then normal taking Kenny to almost daily appts to CancerCare for blood and platelet transfusions, chemo and follow ups. July I have spent my time at the hospital, only going home to sleep at night. I have decided to take the whole month of August off to be with Kenny while he goes through this intense round of chemo. My return date to work is undetermined at this time.
Any donation amount would be welcome in covering the amount of time lost from work so Ken and Lisa are able to spend this time together. Thank you so much for any donations, considerations and help so kindly given. Keeping Kenny and Lisa in your hearts and thoughts means more than anyone will ever know.
Its been 6 years since Kenny was diagnosed with lymphoma (CLL). 5 years ago he had chemo to put the lymphoma in remission. Lymphoma is treatable, not curable. After 6 months of treatment the lymphona was in remission. It took about a year after that for Kenny to get back to his "normal" self. Monthly then yearly check ups were great. In December 2016 Kenny started to feel exceptionally tired. As months went on he was more and more tired and developed a horrible cough. In April 2017 he decided he'd best go to the Dr for a checkup. The following day blood work came back showing low platelets and hemoglobin. A bone marrow biopsy was done, results came back MDS, terminal 3 months - 1.5 years if untreated. May 30th 2017 Kenny was told he could no longer work because he had no immune system. Another bone marrow biopsy was done. Results came back AML (acute myeloid leukemia). The disease was progressing quite fast. Chemo treatment with a trial drug (immune booster) started June 20th 2017. July 3rd Kenny was brought to HSC by ambulance. Side effects from the trial drug had him in hospital for 12 days. He was home for 2 days and then back to HSC with more side effects. He has been in the hospital ever since. Yesterday (August 1st) Kenny started a different in hospital chemo (7 + 3) 24 hours a day for 7 days. Four weeks from day 1 of the chemo another bone marrow biopsy will be done to see if the chemo treatment will put the leukemia in remission. If in remission discussions will take place to see if stem cell transplant is an option. This process if successful will take about a year before he is able to return to work. If the chemo does not put him in remission he will go into palliative care to live out his remaining time. May and June I worked much less then normal taking Kenny to almost daily appts to CancerCare for blood and platelet transfusions, chemo and follow ups. July I have spent my time at the hospital, only going home to sleep at night. I have decided to take the whole month of August off to be with Kenny while he goes through this intense round of chemo. My return date to work is undetermined at this time.
Any donation amount would be welcome in covering the amount of time lost from work so Ken and Lisa are able to spend this time together. Thank you so much for any donations, considerations and help so kindly given. Keeping Kenny and Lisa in your hearts and thoughts means more than anyone will ever know.
Organizer and beneficiary
Shelley Bencharski
Organizer
Winnipeg, MB
Lisa Ruhr
Beneficiary
