Ken's Chemo Crisis
Donation protected
My brother in-law, Ken, was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia November 22, 2008 just eighteen days before he and my sister, Autum, were to be married. The day they said "I do" was also the day Ken started chemotherapy. The start of their marriage was nothing like they had pictured it to be but one thing Cancer or Chemo couldn't change was their love for each other and their determination to overcome.
Through the ups and downs of treatment this stubborn lunkhead (I can say that because he's my family) refused to accept disability or that he was unable to take care of his family as well as anyone else. Through two different types of oral chemo he worked what jobs he was able before finally becoming a truck driver. Driving was less physically demanding than many other jobs and allowed him the income to provide for his family. Seeing how they have no children and knowing time was not on their side, my little sister left her job at Erlanger Medical Center to pursue a truck driving career with her husband allowing them to spend virtually all their time together. They were supposed to be saving money for the time when they would no longer be able to drive but anytime they knew of someone in need, well, they took care of that need.
Soon, with the outrageously increasing insurance prices and medical costs, they found themselves spending approximately $20K a year in medical expenses, which left them with very little to save. And now with only two months left before they are able to pay off their truck disaster has struck. The Chemotherapy that Ken was taking is now no longer effective for his Leukemia. Apparently, the genetics of his cancer have mutated. Without warning, this has placed him in a hospital in an unfamiliar area, that is out of network for his insurance with absolutely no idea what the medical cost are actually going to be. With a total, so far, of 11 days inpatient treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, almost 2,000 miles away from home. As of now, it has been three weeks since they were able to drive their truck during which they continue to get charged $1,244 a week for the truck financing-as well as approximately $1200 a month for their health insurance.
Our family has helped where we could. Friends and neighbors are also helping where they can, but for the cost of the care necessary, its going to be well outside the means of our family. The ultimate goal, through the last chemotherapy available, is to push back the cancer to a point where a bone marrow transplant would be possible. This will take time. Time in which he will not be able to drive his truck. Time where he will require close care which will prevent Autum from driving as well. Time which finance companies and insurance companies have no desire to give.
These two people who have taken such good care of our family and anyone they could, are going to lose everything that they have worked to achieve in these last nine years. I'm not asking you to give my little sister and her husband a large sum of money but I am asking for you to help in any way you can and especially to register at www.bethematch.com to be a potential bone marrow transplant donor not just for him, but for anyone fighting this disease.
Please remember there is no amount to small...every penny counts.
Through the ups and downs of treatment this stubborn lunkhead (I can say that because he's my family) refused to accept disability or that he was unable to take care of his family as well as anyone else. Through two different types of oral chemo he worked what jobs he was able before finally becoming a truck driver. Driving was less physically demanding than many other jobs and allowed him the income to provide for his family. Seeing how they have no children and knowing time was not on their side, my little sister left her job at Erlanger Medical Center to pursue a truck driving career with her husband allowing them to spend virtually all their time together. They were supposed to be saving money for the time when they would no longer be able to drive but anytime they knew of someone in need, well, they took care of that need.
Soon, with the outrageously increasing insurance prices and medical costs, they found themselves spending approximately $20K a year in medical expenses, which left them with very little to save. And now with only two months left before they are able to pay off their truck disaster has struck. The Chemotherapy that Ken was taking is now no longer effective for his Leukemia. Apparently, the genetics of his cancer have mutated. Without warning, this has placed him in a hospital in an unfamiliar area, that is out of network for his insurance with absolutely no idea what the medical cost are actually going to be. With a total, so far, of 11 days inpatient treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, almost 2,000 miles away from home. As of now, it has been three weeks since they were able to drive their truck during which they continue to get charged $1,244 a week for the truck financing-as well as approximately $1200 a month for their health insurance.
Our family has helped where we could. Friends and neighbors are also helping where they can, but for the cost of the care necessary, its going to be well outside the means of our family. The ultimate goal, through the last chemotherapy available, is to push back the cancer to a point where a bone marrow transplant would be possible. This will take time. Time in which he will not be able to drive his truck. Time where he will require close care which will prevent Autum from driving as well. Time which finance companies and insurance companies have no desire to give.
These two people who have taken such good care of our family and anyone they could, are going to lose everything that they have worked to achieve in these last nine years. I'm not asking you to give my little sister and her husband a large sum of money but I am asking for you to help in any way you can and especially to register at www.bethematch.com to be a potential bone marrow transplant donor not just for him, but for anyone fighting this disease.
Please remember there is no amount to small...every penny counts.
Organizer and beneficiary
Dawn Millican
Organizer
Shiloh, AL
Autum Kirkland
Beneficiary