Lend a Hand for Ben

Hi Everybody!

My name is Ben Phipps, and I am starting a GoFundMe campaign to help me with expenses related to my recent diagnosis of brain cancer. I have a glioblastoma, which is an aggressive grade 4 incurable brain tumor.*

I am not primarily seeking help with basic medical expenses related to my treatment. Most of the medical bills should be covered by either Medicaid or UW Medicine financial assistance. However, I am not currently working in my previous profession as a residential painter, as this type of work is not suitable in my condition. ** I currently have no income and have moved back in with my parents. I am working toward a return to performing as a flamenco guitarist, but the diagnosis makes it hard to plan ahead or make big commitments.

I have applied for disability benefits from the SSA, but if I qualify, the current delay in payments is one year. I am therefore seeking assistance with basic living expenses so that my parents, who are retired, don’t have to support me while I await disability benefits.

For groceries, gas, and other basic living expenses, I estimate $1000 per month. For now I am looking six months out, so my GoFundMe goal is $6000. This is a general goal and I will be grateful for whatever assistance I can get.

A truly epic tidal wave of gratitude to all who are able to contribute! You are all heroic geniuses, gods and goddesses, titans. I love you so much I can’t stand it.

*Brain tumors are graded one through four, with four being the fastest growing and least susceptible to treatment. Most brain tumors are treatable but not curable. With glioblastomas, the tumor also tendrils out like an octopus monster so that even with modern targeted radiation, plenty of cancer cells survive.

**Due to my risk of seizures, I am not permitted to drive, I should not be on extension ladders, breathing in paint dust or fumes, or spending too much time in direct sunlight. As my treatment progresses (intensive chemo and radiation), I should expect more fatigue and other side effects. Then, if the tumor grows back - as is typically the case - or if treatment is ineffective, there will be decreased neurological function caused by the tumor itself. My tumor is in the right frontal lobe and therefore can affect left side body movement and a bunch of other stuff.