Chad's eye cancer bill fund
Donation protected
My journey started in early December of 2014. I noticed changes in my right eye, experiencing some blurry and missing peripheral vision. I let it go for a few months, hoping it would get better. But, it didn’t. I finally went into a local eye doctor on February 21st, 2015. After seeing two local doctors over the following three days, I was referred to the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan. By Tuesday, February 24th, while accompanied by my parents and teenage daughter, I found out the results. The results you never want to, nor ever expect to hear. “You have cancer.”
The doctors said I have a Choroidal Melanoma (a cancerous tumor) in my right eye. A 16x16x7.1 mm mass that is attached to my optic nerve. Dr. Demirci informed me that there was a treatment for this cancer. A radiation plaque would be placed on the tumor for five days, giving out a small dose of radiation that should kill the tumor… but it would also damage my optic nerve. He also told me that this cancer can spread and we needed to check my lungs and liver. And so after a few more tests, I got more positive news that the cancer was isolated in the eye and we could move forward with surgery.
Monday, March 9th was that day. I arrived at the Eye Center at 6am for surgery. The procedure went well and the radiation plaque was inserted into my eye. The plaque would be taken back out later in the week, but in the meantime, I couldn't have human contact due to the fact that I was radioactive. That Friday, I had another surgery to remove the plaque and put my eye back together and begin the recovery process. It would be a 4-6 week recovery, and then the waiting game to see if the treatment even worked.
If this treatment, which has an 80-90% success rate, does not work, then only one option remains: removal of the eye completely and a glass eye put in its place. And even if the treatment works, I will have some, if not all, vision loss in that affected eye. I know the next year will be tough on not only me, but on my family as well, as we navigate this new reality.
I'm a proud man who works over 50 hours a week and never asks anyone for help, but this is not fair to my two beautiful girls. They have suffered enough dealing with my sickness and time apart. I want my kids’ life to be as normal as possible, and with the extra medical bills and added time off work for follow-up appointments, I will not be able to provide like I had before. So as much as this is uncomfortable and not me.... I am asking for help. I know cancer will affect me for the rest of my life, but plese help me so my kids will not have to suffer as well.
The doctors said I have a Choroidal Melanoma (a cancerous tumor) in my right eye. A 16x16x7.1 mm mass that is attached to my optic nerve. Dr. Demirci informed me that there was a treatment for this cancer. A radiation plaque would be placed on the tumor for five days, giving out a small dose of radiation that should kill the tumor… but it would also damage my optic nerve. He also told me that this cancer can spread and we needed to check my lungs and liver. And so after a few more tests, I got more positive news that the cancer was isolated in the eye and we could move forward with surgery.
Monday, March 9th was that day. I arrived at the Eye Center at 6am for surgery. The procedure went well and the radiation plaque was inserted into my eye. The plaque would be taken back out later in the week, but in the meantime, I couldn't have human contact due to the fact that I was radioactive. That Friday, I had another surgery to remove the plaque and put my eye back together and begin the recovery process. It would be a 4-6 week recovery, and then the waiting game to see if the treatment even worked.
If this treatment, which has an 80-90% success rate, does not work, then only one option remains: removal of the eye completely and a glass eye put in its place. And even if the treatment works, I will have some, if not all, vision loss in that affected eye. I know the next year will be tough on not only me, but on my family as well, as we navigate this new reality.
I'm a proud man who works over 50 hours a week and never asks anyone for help, but this is not fair to my two beautiful girls. They have suffered enough dealing with my sickness and time apart. I want my kids’ life to be as normal as possible, and with the extra medical bills and added time off work for follow-up appointments, I will not be able to provide like I had before. So as much as this is uncomfortable and not me.... I am asking for help. I know cancer will affect me for the rest of my life, but plese help me so my kids will not have to suffer as well.
Organizer
Chad Doan
Organizer
Mishawaka, IN
