Support Mark's Fight Against Cancer

In May, Memorial Day weekend of 2024, my best friend and beloved spouse of 7 years, Mark Benseler, was diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), a rare and aggressive type of cancer that typically affects the elderly.

Mark had been complaining for a few years of stomach pains, repeatedly going to doctors but kept getting dismissed and told to take antacids, until one day he couldn't make it to work and after finally getting a scan it was revealed he had stage 4 cancer which had spread to his liver. He had become jaundiced and we were told that the jaundice would probably never go away.

We got some good news after finding out that Mark was one of 25% of people that had a particular genetic biomarker that would qualify him to take a gene targeted chemotherapy pill that only kills the cancer and does not damage the other organs in his body.

While we were waiting on insurance to approve this expensive treatment, I managed to get him completely cleared of jaundice by changing his diet and adding supplements. He was doing great, better than we could've hoped.

Unfortunately, the insurance company refused to pay for that less harmful therapy unless he tried traditional chemotherapy first.

Mark's last chemotherapy session was on Nov 6 on his birthday and he stopped going because it was making him extremely sick and resulted in him developing Ascites, a condition when fluid builds up in his stomach as a result of the liver and kidneys shutting down from the damage of the chemo.

Given insurance delays and delays in getting timely oncology and GI doctor visits, the fluid build up got out of control.

Mark got his bile duct stent replaced on December 3rd, and things rapidly deteriorated since then. Due to the fluid build up, he was no longer eating and he went from 170lbs to 120lbs. Every doctor apt we made was too far out to wait and we have gone to ER resulting in hospitalization several times in December. This is where we learned of the Ascites diagnosis, and have had a number of paracentesis procedures done to drain the fluid from his stomach.

On Jan 11th at 5a, he complained of chest pains and was unable to stand up. After calling 911, he was admitted to ICU where we were told he obtained a blood infection and bacterial pneumonia infection which are currently being treated and common when fluid build up gets left untreated. He was moved down from ICU to immediate care on Jan 14th, and he is due to be potentially released on Jan 29th.

While Mark has been improving, he is extremely malnourished and dehydrated from this ordeal and it hurts for him to talk.

In order to be an effective advocate during his stay in the hospital, I've found it necessary to be here with him 24/7, and sleep here in the chair next to his bed to ensure he continues being treated.

Unfortunately, standardized Healthcare won't do much for him and Mark continues to fight (how else will make it into Valhalla?)

Mark is going to need full time home care and physical therapy to recover and regain mobility while he pursues alternative treatment options, of which have been proven very successful with other cancer patients that were in a similar condition as he is now. Insurance will not cover these costs and so I've been taking money from our rent to pay for upcoming medical consultations, etc., one of which is called "Faithfully Guided Primary Care" here in Florida.

I've been asked to get trained and certified with IV's so I can continue to care for him when he comes home, which of course I am more than happy to do!

I'm asking friends, family and anyone who can and wants to contribute who can, to help him in his recovery and us in this challenging time.

We are looking to get aid from palliative care for such things as:

Wheelchair

Ramp for front porch stairs

Supplements

Transportation assistance to get him to outpatient for paracentesis

IV setup

Commode for bedside

Medications

I'm not sure the cost of all of this, but I will be posting updates, receipts and pictures so you can see how your contributions are helping.

Mark is a botanist and horticulturist and has been working as a team lead at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL horticulture dept, where there's a good chance you've seen his work with all the landscaping and design of the plants and trees in the the parks and rides.

My time with him has been the happiest in my life and the last 2 years we've been in Florida have been even more so! We've been warmly welcomed here and the incredible support of our neighbors has been absolutely awe inspiring and we couldn't be more grateful.

He's the most loving and kind partner, spouse and best friend I could've ever asked for. We've spent our time here gardening (he's taught me so much), fishing, nature hikes, reading and enjoying barbecues and bs'ing with the neighbors.

I know Mark is missed at work and he's won the appreciation and friendship of many of his coworkers, some of whom refer to him as "the professor", as he's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to plants, as he calls it... "playing in the dirt".

Any support and any contributions you could offer would be appreciated beyond words!

My and our gratitude for any help you can provide is beyond measure.

With sincerest gratitude,

Shawna Walker