Kevin Kilgore’s primary myleofibrosis journey

Hello, my name is Micheal Rose, a close family friend, I met Kevin Kilgore in the late summer of 2015. I had purchased a home in Longview and wanted, and needed, some work done. I interviewed a few contractors and then received a referral from another contractor, the referral was Kevin Kilgore.

He came the next day, and I felt comfortable with him and was ready to hire him on the spot...I was pleased with what I heard from past clients. He was everything folks had said and more. He proved to be an excellent carpenter who demands the best of himself and delivers a job well done to his clients. I was told he was friendly and personable; he was...he is.

During the time he worked on my home, we had many opportunities to talk, and over the months, we became friends. I admired his dedication to his family, and being self-employed, he knew how much they depended on him...and he took that responsibility with pride. He was different from others I had hired in the past...one of those things about another person that you just can't put your finger on, but you know they are truly a good person, a deep-down, rock-solid good person. That's what I saw in Kevin. We became friends, and eventually, I became friends with his family members. His is a friendship I treasure deeply.

So, I hope you can imagine the shock of learning that my friend Kevin is not just sick but ill with some odd-sounding rare blood cancer...primary myelofibrosis. He will need a bone marrow transplant. The local doctors cannot help him, so he must be treated in Seattle, which is over 120 miles and 3 hours away. That means he must relocate to Seattle within 30 minutes of the hospital. There are small studio apartments available to the patients, but they cost $1,700.00+ per month. This relocation will last at least five months...possibly longer. Then there are many of the identical bills everyone pays.

In order for Kevin to receive his life saving transplant, the hospital requires all transplant patients to have a full time caretaker 24/7 to assist with all care needs. His wife Michelle will be taking on that stressful roll which then also takes her out of the home and unavailable to work. Kevin and Michelle still have a school aged child at home, so their adult children will be caring for him while they’re away. Kevin will be unable to work for at least a year or more. The numbers become terrifying with the regular and routine bills he and his family have, and considering he has to move out of town.

This is where I hope Kevin's friends and former clients will come together and put in some money to help Kevin in his time of need. If you know Kevin, you know him to be a wonderful person, a hard-working man, a fellow who willingly and with a smile helps others. Kevin is a dear friend to many; he cannot do this without help.

Any remaining funds after treatment will be donated to the National Organization of Rare Disorders (which does research into this disease)

*Micheal Rose does not benefit from any of the donations*