Randy Eckmann's Cancer Fight

This is our dear brother Randy Eckmann of North Bend, Nebraska, originally from Bloomfield, Nebraska and his son Chance. Some of you may know that he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the Spring of 2016. A multiple myeloma diagnosis, sometimes called bone marrow cancer, affects plasma cells in the bone. 

During the Winter of 2016-17, Randy underwent chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, using his own stem cells, to try to combat the multiple myeloma cancer  at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Several months after being released home, Randy came down with pneumonia due to his depressed immune system. So he headed back to the medical center to be closely treated, and it was there where he was diagnosed with a second cancer, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Doctors told us that this was unfortunately a side effect of the previous rounds of chemo and stem cell transplant that he underwent. 

This was heartbreaking news because we were confident as a family and with the medical team that this stem cell transplant would deliver a good prognosis.  Although there was a set back, Randy is preparing to undergo  chemo treatments again to prepare for a second stem cell transplant, this time from donor cells.   

As you can probably imagine, these treatments are not cheap, and medical expenses are piling up for Randy. After this next stem cell transplant he receives, he will have to stay within 30 minutes of the Buffet Cancer Center and his physicians in Omaha for up to 100 days. He will have to rent a motel or small apartment, as the hospital does not provide this type of living space. In addition, insurance does not cover something like this. 

Randy will not be able to go home until the medical team decides that the coast is clear and that he is healthy enough, God willing the procedure is successful. 

 As a family, we have chosen to reach out to family members and friends to help give Randy a fighting chance. We need to bring him emotional and financial comfort so he can focus on winning this fight for his son and him!

Randy is so strong, and for those who know him know that he was a very successful boxer in his younger years. Randy is the type of friend and brother who would go out of his way to help you at the drop of a hat. We know he will come out on top of this fight, and we know he will beat this crappy disease and get back to doing what he loves!

Besides having a great job with Great Plains, he loves spending time with his son Chance and all his family and multitude of friends. Whether he's cheering on the Huskers, camping, deer hunting or fishing...he will be back out there in no time, but for now he needs OUR help! No gift is too small, and if you have any suggestions for housing in Omaha the family would appreciate that immensely!

Randy and his son Chance, along with his brothers, sisters and mom want to thank everyone in advance for your graciousness and prayers during this difficult time.