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Please Help Save My Son's Life

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                                     Stephen Shaffer
       PLEASE HELP MY SON FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE!
You can help save Stephen’s Life:  My son Stephen Shaffer, (32 years old) in May, 2017, was diagnosed with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS).  aHUS is an ULTRA-RARE chronic life threatening disease that causes the destruction of blood forming blood clots that attack all organs in the body, as in Stephen’s case, caused kidney failure.  What has happened?  Stephen’s kidneys are not functioning to filter out the blood toxins and his life is DEPENDENT ON DIALYSIS.
After 3 months since his diagnosis, Stephen is still in kidney failure.  It is estimated only 600 people in the United States have this rare disease and there are only a few doctors who know about it.
Treatment is very Expensive:  Stephen needs dialysis (5 hours each session) three days a week.  Stephen also receives IV infusions into his blood every ten days of a powerful chemotherapy drug called Eculizumab (Soliris).   Soliris is one of the most expensive drugs in the world at $18,000 per dose for the rest of Stephen’s life.  Soliris helps suppress the disease from attacking and destroying his blood cells and other major organs. Medical expenses are adding up. Co-pays & deductibles for dialysis, plasma exchanges, IV infusions, 9 prescriptions per day plus (Soliris) are adding up. Life Before Diagnosis:  Before the aHUS diagnosis, Stephen was an outgoing, fun loving individual with a genuine smile.  He is engaged to the “love of his life” Charlotte.  They were busy saving up, making plans for their wedding and hoped one day to buy a house and start a family.  Recently, Stephen moved from Virginia to Nevada with Charlotte to start a new job on their life’s journey.  During this devastating time, Stephen cannot do this alone, and we need the support of an ARMY OF GOOD SAMARITANS to help fund for Stephen’s doctors, hospital visits, and very expensive medications.  UCLA – A Ray of Hope:Stephen recently made the trip to Los Angeles to see a kidney Specialist at UCLA that is familiar with aHUS. He recommended a treatment plan that would have Stephen first receive surgery at UCLA to get a Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) port installed, that includes a two week inpatient training (Stephen would have to miss two weeks of work; no pay).  Second, meet monthly at UCLA with the Nephrologist (kidney) and Hematologist (blood) to monitor his progress. Finally, start Kidney transplant procedures, because test results can take up to a year for Stephen before even finding a donor match. What does this mean for Stephen, MORE EXPENSES.  Stephen has exhausted his vacation days.  Additionally, he would have to take two days off of work with no pay for the monthly journey, plus the costs to travel to and from UCLA (4 ½ hours one way trip from Las Vegas), lodging, eating, parking and of course increased medical costs will continue to rise.You can be part of STEPHEN’S ARMY that helps fight this horrible disease, aHUS.  Stephen’s medical bills have soared to over $1 million and are continuing to climb. Stephen’s out of pocket deductible is $10,000 and co-pays for medical treatment, doctor appointments, and prescriptions are approximately $1,600 a month.   With your help, we can fight to return Stephen’s life to some normality.  Stephen’s Family’s goal is to raise $100,000 to help bear the cost of some of Stephen’s uninsured medical care, costly co-pays, long term doctor’s bills, treatment, and care.  PLEASE HELP STEPHEN
With love and gratitude,
Jill Roskowski and our entire Family

“I am Stephen’s mother Jill.  I do not like to ask for help, but my pride is meaningless in our current situation.  If you have the means, we would appreciate help in any amount.  Many hands make light work, so if I ask the masses of people to help in small amounts, it could lighten the burden of asking for a few. ““Our children are our reason we smile, that we laugh, and cry.  They are what makes my heart beat.  My children are my everything.  I would give switch places with Stephen without hesitation if I could.  I hope and pray for a miracle to heal his kidney while I see if I am, or anyone else, is a match”.


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Donations 

  • Buck and Sherry Marr
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Jill Roskowski
Organizer
Chesapeake, VA
Stephen Shaffer
Beneficiary

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