Klockeman Kicking Cancer: Team Michael

My story

I was worried since my mom, Pinky died from what was colon cancer, I was preoccupied with getting an annual colonoscopy every year since I was 49...
This was my 3rd. 

After the last Colonoscopy in late June, I got home and had a sharp and extremely painful cramps in my abdomen  like I've never felt before.
Along side the pain I was extremely gassy. Complete with burps that smelled and tasted like I would assume death would.  

After 3 days in bed and like every guy, I made an appointment with my Primary and played it off, since I'm tough and usually don't want any fuss over me.
Well, the pain and burps would subside but would return every 2-3 weeks, each time getting a bit more painful. 
The silver lining was after the initial stomach attack, the gas and burps I referenced earlier seemed to diminish. 
 
Each time I would start to feel the attack approaching,  I would find OTC remedies to get any relief. 
2-Extra Strength Alka Seltzer Tabs, with 2-Ultra Strength Gasex Tabs and 1-Pepto Bismal Tab 3-times a day usually did the trick. 

On September 7th I received a text from Erin's mother saying...
"I just had a very vivid dream. Pinky came to me and wanted me to tell you to get to a G.I. Specialist right away".
The 7th was a Friday, I made the appointment to see Dr. Babcock that very day. 
I had to wait until Tuesday September 18th to see that specialist.
Why?
Because, you know... Pinky said so, dagnabbit! 

On September 27th, I was informed that I'd been laid off from a newly created 7 month old position with a new Design and Fabrication Firm which I had decided to take a gamble with just to get in on the ground floor of something I felt could be quite big for me.
Leaving behind a longstanding, well compensated position with a Commercial A&D Firm.

Along with an an average compensation salary and commissions,  my Medical Insurance became non-existent after Oct. 31 unless I was able to pay $578/mo for Cobra, over 1/3 of my take home unemployment.

After the initial appointment with the GI Doc, two more antacid/nausea prescriptions, a week's worth of time, and no relief, Dr. Babcock ordered a CT Scan of my Abdomen, which took place on Thursday October 4th.   

On Oct. 4th at 12:30pm I had that ordered CT Scan.
Later that day, about 3:34, while walking into my annual Urology Appointment, my phone rang.  
"Hello Mr. Klockeman... Do you have time to talk"? 
I should've said NO!!! LOL!!!

On June 28th at my Colonoscopy I weighed  211 LBS.
Last week at my Oncologist appointment, I weighed 176.  
First time since 8th grade I’ve worn a 32" waist pant.


The Back Story
This is my second cousin Michael. His story started just a few months prior. On October 4, 2018,  Michael’s doctor found a mass at the head of his Pancreas. “I'll know more when we meet with the Oncologists” he text. I continued to text him daily to check in and to send some sort of inspirational quote.  On October 10, Michael had an appointment for an upper respiratory CT Scan, to confirm nothing had spread to his lungs.

Biopsy surgery was scheduled for Monday, October 15 at 7am. The Biopsy Surgery/ Ultrasound/ Contrast CT Scan procedure went well. I received an update via text from Michael on October 15: “As you can imagine, I'm sore. In fact, it's almost impossible to lay down. The Surgeon was able to get samples from both my Liver and my Pancreas. We don't expect any findings until late this week/early next week. The good news in all of this is they were unable to see any shadowing in or on my lungs. So it's looking like the tumors are narrowed down to my Liver and Pancreas. I will keep all ya'll posted as to what the findings and next steps are”. 

October 17, 2018~ I received this text from Michael: 
“While I still have no conclusion regarding the Pancreas biopsy, the biopsy results for both my Liver and Lungs appear to be Benign. Doc has ordered a MRI guided Biopsy for both areas to confirm the benign result.  What this hopefully means is, since Dr. Schneider is 90% sure that the Pancreas Tumor is malignant, it also means it hasn't spread, and the Pancreas Tumor is operable”.

November 1, 2018~the text no one ever wants to get: “Hi Megs... I wish I had good news. It's confirmed. I have Liver Cancer as well as Pancreatic Cancer...
Chemo will begin on 11/12/2018. Stage 2 for both.
Surgery is not an option”.

November 12, 2018~”Today marks the day of a new challenge for me, one that could possibly save my life.  Folfirinox is a fairly new (to the USA) combination of 4- Chemotherapy medicines wrapped neatly into one.  Every other week for 8-12 rounds, I will be given the chemo cocktail for 2.5 hours and then sent home with a port that will distribute the medicine for an additional 46 hours before removal”. 


November 14, 2018~Day one chemo..
November 16, 2018~Round One complete! Taking off the Nuclear Filled Fanny Pack...Free for two weeks until Round Two begins!

~The Port Placement hasn't taken place. Problems at the hospital the day it was suppose to go in prevented it. The Port is rescheduled for next Tuesday Nov. 27th the day before round 2 begins. So in lieu of a port they did a PICC Placement the day of my 1st chemo round 8am at Regions, 11am at Riverside.
That was a long ass day
 
~Chemo rounds at Riverside are 4.5 -5 hours long not the 2.5 the internet says.

The Costs
As we all know, the costs involved in treatments can be exceedingly high. Time away from work, doctor appointments, chemo treatments, follow up appointments, medicine, etc. Michael was recently laid off from his place of employment, which is difficult enough to manage paying normal household expenses while working , but to throw cancer treatments into the mix without insurance or a steady paycheck is a nightmare..

Collecting unemployment, while going through cancer treatments, no insurance to help pay for these obsurd costs, and still trying to maintain a positive outlook on a shitty diagnoses...but Michael has stayed positive since day 1. And continues to stay focused on kicking cancers ASS! But now we need your help...

How YOU can help 

Since all of this, Michael spends his time focusing on healing. All of his savings is going towards medical treatments and he has no idea what other medical expenses may lie ahead. I am writing this request with the hope of receiving your support. Michael is fighting the toughest battle of his life...pancreatic & liver cancer. He is currently unemployed without Medical Insurance.  

Our Goal with this Go Fund Me campaign is to help pay for current medical debt, upcoming medical bills with the new year and provide financial support for Michael during this difficult time, so he can concentrate on spending as much time as he can together without worrying about medical bills that are piling up.

In addition, we hope each and everyone shares his story to as many people as you can in hopes of a miracle treatment.

To help me get the word out, you can share my link to your Facebook Timeline! 

Consider making a donation to help reduce the financial stress that comes with the diagnoses Michael has received. Your donations will help take some of the burden off of Michael and his family. These funds will help pay medical bills, and the day to day expenses of living. ⁣

Who’s in? Let’s do this for Michael! 
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Thank you for taking the time to read his story & Thank you for your prayers, kind words, love and support. Continue to send Michael messages and keep his positive energy going.