rick meeks' fight
Donation protected
My dad's story...
Between May and June of 2014 Rick lost a significant amount of weight without any trying at all; he started to have night sweats and just wasn't feeling right. He went to the doctors where he was told that he was going to need some blood tests taken and further testing to see exactly what the problem was. Through the month of June he went through a series of tests and blood work to find out that he had a blood dissorder labeled Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). This is where certain plasma cells within the blood has a mutation and begins to almost kill off other plasma cells. In Rick's case it was his calcium levels that were off the charts. In most cases this dissorder is carried in a benign state and can simply be managed through a series of shots or infusions that keep the plasma levels down so as not to cause any damage or prevent further damage. In Rick's case however, it had become cancerous. In early August, after spending a week in the hospital, Rick was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He was told that the cancer was uncurable, but maintainable. The process was to be this, he would go through a series of chemotherapy for approximately 6 months and then (as long as all went according to plan) he would begin a daily regimen that he would have to continue for the rest of his life in order to keep the cancer in check. The first couple of months went well with him having the least amount of side effects. In fact, his hair was growing in thicker and darker and he hadn't delt with being sick or even nauseous at all. Things were really beginning to look up and everything was going exactly as planned. The doctor was pleased with the numbers that were coming back every week and the progress that Rick was making. Then RIck started to have back problems. They weren't bad at first, but at one point he could barely walk. Rick went in for an MRI only to find out that some of the cancer cells had gotten away and formed a cyst on his spine. He would have to go through radiation. Right around Thanksgiving he ended up in the hospital for almost a week with a bacterial infection and started his 8 days of radiation. He was told it would take 4 to 6 weeks before they would know whether the radiation worked or not. After radiation he began to feel better again, he was able to continue to work and go back to his semi-normal routine that he had created for himself. The doctors decided to start him on a new chemotherapy that ended up putting him in the hospital the week before christmas because it was too much for his body to handle. They stopped the therapy and then decided that he needed to be transferred to Johns Hopkins for a more extensive clinical chemotherapy and also to receive a stem cell transplant. Since finding this out Rick's back pain has returned, worse then before, and he is in the hospital once again. This time because of dillusional behavior and a certain level of confusion from him. When he arrived at the hospital they did a CT scan where they found a minor brain bleed that was believed to be caused by the low level of platlets and his high calcium levels.
Rick has 2 daughters, a wife, and a brand new grandson. He has always lived a very busy, non-stop life and when this all came along it was a huge game changer for everyone. When Rick begins the stem cell transplant process he will be at an in-patient facility. He will be unable to work for an undefined period of time. a lot has happened in the past year and while we all have the faith to get through it any and every bit of extra support is helpful. I have started this fund with the expectation of giving my mom and dad this extra support. With more hospital visits then expected so far and, I'm sure more to come, and the amount of time that my dad will be out of work during the stem cell process, they will need all the help they can get. Every little bit counts at this point and we appreciate your support more than anything in the world and we thank you.
Between May and June of 2014 Rick lost a significant amount of weight without any trying at all; he started to have night sweats and just wasn't feeling right. He went to the doctors where he was told that he was going to need some blood tests taken and further testing to see exactly what the problem was. Through the month of June he went through a series of tests and blood work to find out that he had a blood dissorder labeled Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). This is where certain plasma cells within the blood has a mutation and begins to almost kill off other plasma cells. In Rick's case it was his calcium levels that were off the charts. In most cases this dissorder is carried in a benign state and can simply be managed through a series of shots or infusions that keep the plasma levels down so as not to cause any damage or prevent further damage. In Rick's case however, it had become cancerous. In early August, after spending a week in the hospital, Rick was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He was told that the cancer was uncurable, but maintainable. The process was to be this, he would go through a series of chemotherapy for approximately 6 months and then (as long as all went according to plan) he would begin a daily regimen that he would have to continue for the rest of his life in order to keep the cancer in check. The first couple of months went well with him having the least amount of side effects. In fact, his hair was growing in thicker and darker and he hadn't delt with being sick or even nauseous at all. Things were really beginning to look up and everything was going exactly as planned. The doctor was pleased with the numbers that were coming back every week and the progress that Rick was making. Then RIck started to have back problems. They weren't bad at first, but at one point he could barely walk. Rick went in for an MRI only to find out that some of the cancer cells had gotten away and formed a cyst on his spine. He would have to go through radiation. Right around Thanksgiving he ended up in the hospital for almost a week with a bacterial infection and started his 8 days of radiation. He was told it would take 4 to 6 weeks before they would know whether the radiation worked or not. After radiation he began to feel better again, he was able to continue to work and go back to his semi-normal routine that he had created for himself. The doctors decided to start him on a new chemotherapy that ended up putting him in the hospital the week before christmas because it was too much for his body to handle. They stopped the therapy and then decided that he needed to be transferred to Johns Hopkins for a more extensive clinical chemotherapy and also to receive a stem cell transplant. Since finding this out Rick's back pain has returned, worse then before, and he is in the hospital once again. This time because of dillusional behavior and a certain level of confusion from him. When he arrived at the hospital they did a CT scan where they found a minor brain bleed that was believed to be caused by the low level of platlets and his high calcium levels.
Rick has 2 daughters, a wife, and a brand new grandson. He has always lived a very busy, non-stop life and when this all came along it was a huge game changer for everyone. When Rick begins the stem cell transplant process he will be at an in-patient facility. He will be unable to work for an undefined period of time. a lot has happened in the past year and while we all have the faith to get through it any and every bit of extra support is helpful. I have started this fund with the expectation of giving my mom and dad this extra support. With more hospital visits then expected so far and, I'm sure more to come, and the amount of time that my dad will be out of work during the stem cell process, they will need all the help they can get. Every little bit counts at this point and we appreciate your support more than anything in the world and we thank you.
Organizer
Jenny Meeks
Organizer
Pasadena, MD
