It’s been an up and down year for us. Right before into the holidays of 2014, we learned that my brother Michael Pascoe was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. I didn’t even know what that was until I researched it on the internet. When I heard that Multiple Myeloma was considered to be incurable, it gave me a lump in my throat.
Multiple Myeloma causes cancer cells to accumulate in the bone marrow, where they crowd out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause kidney problems.
When you find out that a sibling has an incurable disease, it’s like a punch in the stomach.

This was a shock because Michael and his wife Carole had just left to live their dream of going back to California when they found this out. A week before they left Las Vegas, Michael’s hip began to bother him. After putting off going to the doctor for a few days, it got so bad he could not walk. Michael finally had his wife drive him to the E.R.
After extensive tests, the doctor told Michael he didn’t like the way the hip looked. The Hemoglobin was low and the ER Doctor told Michael that he had anemia as well as problems with the bone marrow. He told Michael he had blood cancer that was a cousin to Leukemia. He suggested that they go see a Hematologist for a second opinion as soon as possible to make sure. The entire E.R. stay was $11,506.

In California, they met with Doctor Bourne, who ordered a number of lab tests. And he referred Michael to an Oncologist/Hematologist named Dr. Joshua Rosenberg. Dr. Rosenberg confirmed the worst. Michael did have the blood cancer which Dr. Rosenberg told them was called Multiple Myeloma. Their hearts sank. It was like a knife going through them. They were told that Multiple Myeloma is a cancer that forms in a type of red blood cell called a plasma cell.
Carole said that she has never been so scared in her life! Dr. Rosenberg set up aggressive treatments right away which included chemotherapy. The chemotherapy consisted of six cycles of weekly infusions and pills. This also included weekly lab work to check his blood count and cancer levels.
The pills alone are $5000 a month. If you include the chemo infusions, labs, room rental while getting the infusion, as well as the nurse that goes with it, the cost for them is astronomical. The deductibles are high as well as the co pays and all of this only covers about 50% of the procedure.
Doctor Rosenberg scheduled for Michael to see a bone marrow transplant at the City of Hope on April 21st. As he consults with the doctor, it will include more labs. If fate determines that he needs the transplant, the procedure can cost up to $100,000 to $200,000.
If he does decide to do this, his system will be shut down and he will be at great risk of catching infections. This will be the greatest risk to him. He will also be weak from the treatment and his recovery slow.
Before he can get a Stem Cell Transplant, he has to be cancer free. To do that, he would need an intense chemo treatment. All of the horror stories you have heard about chemo, he will face. This will be followed by the Stem Cell Treatment. Because his immune system would be weak, he will be watched in a hospital to make sure he does not get sick.
This is the standard treatment for this kind of cancer. The break through is that they now use your own Stem Cells instead of looking for a matching donor. None of this would be cheap.

The doctor said not to get stressed, but it’s hard not to when the bills keep coming in. As you can see, the expenses are overwhelming, and it is highly stressful, even though he is at that critical stage where he needs to avoid such nervous tension for him to continue to heal. Michael is working a temporary job. His anemia sets in and he can’t work anymore than that. The stress of money makes it difficult to concentrate. Carole thought to herself that Mike is only 54 years old and too young to have this happen to him.

Michael and Carole are too proud to ask for themselves. It is through friends who encouraged them to go on this site, they hesitated for months.  Already Michael has responded well to treatment through the love and prayers from friends and family. To relieve the pressure that Michael and Carole are facing, I am asking for donations to help pay the sky rocketing medical bills as stated.

If you can't donate, that's okay, I thank you for taking the time to read my story, and the positive influences so many have gave.