
For my family
Donation protected
I was diagnosed with stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I was actually treated with 6 months of chemotherapy. I found out at the end I was mis-diagnosed and my 95% cure rate went to 50% remission rate with Burkitt's like Lymphoma. I continued to work as a doctor. As a child, my mother passed away at an early age due to drinking and hemochromatosis. The IRS took away our home so I worked full time in high-school to help with rent. I continued to work until I was 23 years old. I applied for college. I slept on the floor because I could not afford a bed. I continued to work 2 full time jobs through college. I was accepted into a Masters class and eventually Medical school. I worked 100 hours a week for the 1st two years and eventually graduated from residency and fellowship. 2 years later I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I was able to over come, even though I was misdiagnosed. I continued to work 60 hours a week until I had live failure then kidney failure. I found out I have Chronic Granulomatous Common Variable Immune Deficiency. This placed me in disability, but I could not afford the $4000 a month school loan repayments. I went back to work. I had liver failure and found out I have a 2nd autoimmune disease hemochromatosis which causes excess iron deposition in organs and causes failure in multiple organs. This spread to my kidneys so I had stents placed to maintain openings. I have phlebotomies every 2 weeks, IGG infusions every 3 weeks and multiple surgical procedures every 6 weeks. We have 3 children ages 10, 8, 5 and no family help. Possible options may include a robotic surgery to take both ureters and move them into another portion of the body or wait for a donor while undergoing dialysis. I started off with $715,000 in school loans and now am down to $350,000 between my wife and I. Before I leave this earth I just want to make sure my family if financially stable with no loans. I do not need extra money but any help with the loans is appreciated. God bless
Organizer
Ryan Wood
Organizer
Edwardsville, IL