Support Dean Kalcoff as he fights Leukaemia

Hello, my name is Tania and I'm a good friend of Dean Kalcoff's and I've started this GoFundMe to assist Dean at a very critical time in his life and for the upcoming year ahead.

Back at the start of August, Dean and I were on video chat, talking about his recent house move. "My doctor reckons it's probably shin splints" Dean explained to me. He had just had a phone appointment with his doctor describing unbelievable bone pain in his right shin. "You know what Tania, I'm getting really bad ingestion, I'll call you back"

The next day (August 8), Dean woke up to discover this ingestion had moved from shoulder to shoulder and between his left ribs, resonating in his heart. His leg, now so painful he could not get out of bed. Steve, his close friend, got his text for help and immediately drove Dean to Sandringham emergency.

At Sandringham, they quickly worked out his ingestion was actually MYOCARDITIS, and transported Dean to the Alfred Hospital that evening.

At the Alfred, Dean started receiving meds for his heart infection, his right leg now three times the size of normal was put as second priority. The pain from this area was excruciating, and intuitively Dean knew something was amiss. He insisted nursing staff to further investigate. On August 14, a BONE MARROW biopsy was taken from the side of his lower spine.

The next day, the doctor's came in to announce his DIAGNOSIS:

ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA.

AML is already an incredibly rare blood cancer, affecting approx. 900 people per year in Australia, accounting for 0.8% of all cancers diagnosed, BUT to have this cancer in conjunction with Myocarditis, under the age of 60, makes Dean an extremely RARE patient.

Before proceeding with his first round of chemotherapy, it was suggested that Dean would get a heart biopsy to determine the course of chemo treatment. After a lot of hesitation, Dean resigned to the idea of the biopsy, and was reassured it was a routine, low impact test.

On August 21, Dean had his heart biopsy, as the doctor took the sample, Dean felt it, and knew something wasn't right.

The next day, pain swelled intensely around his heart. Initially his pain was considered psycho-somatic. Then he was pumped with so much morphine, that he was beginning to hallucinate, and despite the level of pain medication, he could STILL feel intense pain around his heart and chest.

On the night of August 23, this escalated to a point where Dean was inconsolable, pleading to address this pain. When the doctor's checked his heart they discovered 600ML of blood around his heart, which would have lead to cardiac arrest, potentially ending Dean's life that night. They put a tube directly into his chest to drain the blood.

This ordeal greatly weakened Dean, his morale and created another issue, PERI-MYOCARDITIS and fluid on his lungs.

Sunday 27 August, Dean was moved from ICU to Oncology ward at the Alfred. It was important to start chemotherapy to halt any further progression of the cancer. On Wednesday 30 August Dean started his 5 day chemo treatment.

Right now Dean is nearly at the point where his natural immunity kicks back in, and he starts to see white blood cells click into the positive. He never expected a trip to Sandringham Emergency would lead to a cancer diagnosis, staying over a month in hospital. The next stages would allow Dean to head home in remission and build up his cell count. His bone marrow will be tested to see whether the cancer has mutated and returned, and this could lead to another round of chemo, more time in hospital.

Ultimately, this will all lead to Dean requiring a bone marrow transplant. When a match is found, he will undergo this transplant which replaces his bone marrow with healthy stem cells. During the recovery of this procedure, Dean will need to stay in hospital, for up to 90 days.

This GoFundMe has been set up to ensure Dean's basic living expenses are covered for the next 12 months. I know that if we can relieve this weight from his during this time in his life, it will lead to Dean being able to focus on his healing, recovery and regain some normality in his life.

The money will cover the following:

Rent

Utility bills (gas/electricity/water)

Phone/Internet

Car rego/insurance

Pet insurance

Pet care/food (he's got an adorable Devon Rex, Jonesy)

Quickbooks/Clipstudio/Apple music subscriptions

I have not included: loss of income during this period of time.

If we reach the goal together, perhaps that's something we can consider adjusting the target towards.

Dean is a remarkable, kind and incredibly talented man. His cancer is as unique as he is, and his age and health are fantastic indicators to him conquering this disease. He's not one to ask for assistance easily, or even expects it. He has inspired countless artists, tattooists with his art, and continues to inspire his friends, family and followers with his resolve to endure and beat this cancer. I know he has a lot of people out there that wish to assist him, and the best way you can do that is through this.

Dean and we all thank you dearly.