Help Darla Needs Support

My name is Darla Arrington. I would like to explain my journey and why I'm here. My younger brother, Joseph, came to me to show me this lump on his side. He said, 'I think I was bitten by a spider.' I've been a nurse for 30 years, so I said we need to see the doctor. I took my brother on his 49th birthday to get the most devastating news: this could be some type of cancer!!! She ordered a CT and lab tests. Joe didn't make it but 4 days of excruciating pain before Joe called 911. Sent to ER, they just said you have lymphomas and discharged him home. On the second ER visit, Joe was admitted to VMC for further testing. A CXR showed an 8cm x 7cm mass. He was unable to breathe and in extreme, intense pain from the mass pushing on his 7th rib through the chest wall. We got the most devastating news anyone wants to hear: biopsy labs showed Sarcoma Stage 4. No cure. 'Mr. Frias, you should get your affairs in order.'

I'm so emotionally upset, and he says, 'It's okay, Darla. I've had a good life. I want to see Mom and Dad anyway.' The next month was trying to manage this extreme pain! Joe agreed to go to radiation for 6 weeks. That's picking him up each day, being unable to sit; he had to lay flat in the truck. It was too painful to wear a shirt, no shoes, just having socks on hurt his feet. My honey, Ryan, has been my rock, driving to pick Joe up and taking him to Valley Medical Center. Joe would have to be laying down; if they had no place for him, he would lay right on the floor crying in pain. Imagine doing this daily, watching my baby brother waste away. As radiation focused on the main cancer so he could breathe and have less pain, now it's radiating down his legs as well. Next step: radiation to pelvis to ease his pain. When this started, Joe had 3 Sarcomas, and now he has over 100's on the front and 100's on the back of his body. Dx Advanced Stage Sarcoma which is a type of Cancer originating from the muscle tissue with widespread metastasis to the soft tissue of entire trunk, chest, abdomen, back, pelvis, right lung invading into the chest wall, and bones. In addition Joe has a painful tumor on his spine.

We followed up with several doctors at VMC. The oncology team, Dr. Liu, and the pain doctor are so awesome. We got a second referral to Fred Hutch. The oncologist stated we need to do Chemotherapy right away. Joe said, 'Can we wait the weekend so my friends can come visit me and say goodbye?' and the doctor agreed. He said this cancer is extremely aggressive and this could buy you some more time, but if you decide not to do Chemotherapy, you have weeks to live, Joseph. That's when it hit me. I am going to lose my little brother, who I've taken care of most of his life. Mind you, as soon as he was diagnosed, I went to start the paperwork at DSHS, arriving daily as soon as they opened, making sure they copied all medical files and consents. But that's a whole headache! Dealing with DSHS while working, trying to take care of my family and work at the same time. Trying to file and apply for rental assistance. He qualified, but submitting forms and applications everywhere, it's a lottery system. Waiting for the HEN program. He was accepted, and I started crying. All the blood, sweat, and tears, I finally did it. When I talked to the social worker, they stated Joseph E. Frias qualifies for supplemental income for rental assistance but 'we have no funding!!!'....

I've been praying and applied to United Way which is a lottery system. Multicare is out of funds, and Joe does not qualify for SSI. He is able to get ABD $450.00 but HEN program is suppose to help with the part of rent.

I am asking for donations or kind words of motivation to keep my brother going, anything helps during this devastating time.

Lot rent: $1,090.00 a month

Water

Power: I have applied for one-time emergency assistance.