Support For Ken Elliott & Family
Donation protected
There’s no other way to go about this than to get right to it.
The last few weeks have presented my family with some significant challenges and it has come time to share the news. For several months, my brother, Ken Elliott, has been dealing with severe back pain. His doctors were able to determine the source of his pain as a fractured vertebrae (L1) and that it had been caused by a compression in his spine. Apparently, he’s been busy growing a tumor next to his L1 and it has been pulling nutrients, weakening the bone, and leading to the fracture.
Further scans have identified additional tumors in each of his lungs, his hip/pelvis, and each kidney. All told, it looks like he has 7 confirmed masses and the doctors believe they are all related. The larger mass on his spine is the only one to be classified, at this time. The diagnosis includes Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma. The tumors range from a few millimeters to several centimeters in size.
That’s a lot to take in. I’ve known about it for weeks and I am still trying to wake up.
This weekend he was relocated to the James Cancer Institute at The Ohio State University. He’s on the 19th floor and has a great view of The Shoe.
The plan is to go in on Wednesday and significantly reduce the blood supply to the larger L1 tumor in preparation for full surgery on Thursday. The most important thing right now is to get his back pain under control. The doctors will work to stabilize his spine by constructing a cage around L1 by connecting the adjacent vertebrae. After they close him up, there’s going to be 3-5 days of heavily medicated pain relief and they expect him to be back on his feet prior to be released, to go back home. The recovery period will not be pleasant, but at least he will be back home.
The next few months will be used to assess the situation and formulate a plan for the next phase of treatment. I’m no doctor, but I believe the tumors on the kidneys pose the next greatest threat. I don’t want to speculate any further on what may or may not happen.
The focus, right now, is Thursday.
We have talked at length about how to release this news to the world, so I hope I have accomplished that mission here. My goal is to have you read this, understand the gravity of situation, and know that we are all scared. It’s scary. But you must also know Ken and that makes you very lucky. None of this is fair, but right now he needs your good vibes, your comments… your love. Sandy, Abby, and Alli need you, too. This is that time where we all realize it actually does happen to someone you know. It happens to GOOD people with HUGE hearts. Ken is a father, husband, son, big brother, relative, friend, and coach. Please keep him and our family in your thoughts.
Success:
1) Please provide any financial support to help through this challenging time.
2) Please reach out via social media comments or posts. Find an old picture. Share an old story. Tag him in a memory. Show the love.
3) Share this message. Sharing this post is critical. Share, share, share. Let it find its own life out there in the world. Ask your friends to share it as well.
I hope this message finds you healthy, happy, and safe. Thank you.
The last few weeks have presented my family with some significant challenges and it has come time to share the news. For several months, my brother, Ken Elliott, has been dealing with severe back pain. His doctors were able to determine the source of his pain as a fractured vertebrae (L1) and that it had been caused by a compression in his spine. Apparently, he’s been busy growing a tumor next to his L1 and it has been pulling nutrients, weakening the bone, and leading to the fracture.
Further scans have identified additional tumors in each of his lungs, his hip/pelvis, and each kidney. All told, it looks like he has 7 confirmed masses and the doctors believe they are all related. The larger mass on his spine is the only one to be classified, at this time. The diagnosis includes Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma. The tumors range from a few millimeters to several centimeters in size.
That’s a lot to take in. I’ve known about it for weeks and I am still trying to wake up.
This weekend he was relocated to the James Cancer Institute at The Ohio State University. He’s on the 19th floor and has a great view of The Shoe.
The plan is to go in on Wednesday and significantly reduce the blood supply to the larger L1 tumor in preparation for full surgery on Thursday. The most important thing right now is to get his back pain under control. The doctors will work to stabilize his spine by constructing a cage around L1 by connecting the adjacent vertebrae. After they close him up, there’s going to be 3-5 days of heavily medicated pain relief and they expect him to be back on his feet prior to be released, to go back home. The recovery period will not be pleasant, but at least he will be back home.
The next few months will be used to assess the situation and formulate a plan for the next phase of treatment. I’m no doctor, but I believe the tumors on the kidneys pose the next greatest threat. I don’t want to speculate any further on what may or may not happen.
The focus, right now, is Thursday.
We have talked at length about how to release this news to the world, so I hope I have accomplished that mission here. My goal is to have you read this, understand the gravity of situation, and know that we are all scared. It’s scary. But you must also know Ken and that makes you very lucky. None of this is fair, but right now he needs your good vibes, your comments… your love. Sandy, Abby, and Alli need you, too. This is that time where we all realize it actually does happen to someone you know. It happens to GOOD people with HUGE hearts. Ken is a father, husband, son, big brother, relative, friend, and coach. Please keep him and our family in your thoughts.
Success:
1) Please provide any financial support to help through this challenging time.
2) Please reach out via social media comments or posts. Find an old picture. Share an old story. Tag him in a memory. Show the love.
3) Share this message. Sharing this post is critical. Share, share, share. Let it find its own life out there in the world. Ask your friends to share it as well.
I hope this message finds you healthy, happy, and safe. Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Bernie Elliott
Organizer
Cincinnati, OH
Sandy Elliott
Beneficiary