Donation protected
In September 2018, Greg was diagnosed with Rectal Cancer..
He had developed some issues and went for a colonoscopy which resulted in the findings of a mass in his rectum. Shocked as no one in his family had ever had cancer and he really did not know what this meant to him. Not knowing what this meant he had to do many tests: MRI’s, Cat Scans, blood work and other tests to determine what stage and what plan was going to be done to treat the cancer. Additionally, he had to construct a team of doctors including Oncologist, Hematologist; Radiation Oncologist and Surgeons… equally lots of doctors’ visits. It was determined that he would have Radiation and Chemotherapy daily simultaneously for eight weeks. It only took about two weeks before Greg was unable to do anything including work. He took treatments from November to December. He spent most of December in the hospital due to complicated side effects from both radiation and chemo. He was not able to work, drive or be social with his mates. This was a tremendous blow to him and he was continuously battling the anemia and other problems that were resulting from his treatment.
Greg has been self-employed as a machinist working on varies projects from motors, bearing, yachts parts, plumbing and all the above small to enormous unusually pieces that he crafts to save the day of non-existing parts or repairs needed for his customers. His employment involves him totally and he is the one who has to determine the dimensions and all aspects of everything he makes and repairs. He has no employees and no one that can step into his shoes and perform his job. With these known facts the ideal of him shutting down while doing his treatments was a great hardship not only to his customers but to Greg financially. He wasn’t excessively ill prior to his diagnosis and the cost exceeds most individual rain day funds and definitely his. While, Greg has medical insurance he still has co-pays and his portions of certain procedures he is responsible for out of pocket. At this time, he owes medical expenses over $15,000! Sadly, the bills continue to come in.
Now some may know that Greg has made it through the first part of his treatment and slowly has returned to work and riding his bike some to spend time out with friends. Nevertheless, he has been continuing his medical appoints and it is time for the next part of his treatment SURGERY…
In May Greg will undergo a major surgery to remove the cancerous mass from his body and he will be unable to work and will need time to heal from this major surgery. The doctor has estimated that it takes about 8 weeks to recovery from surgery.
Greg has fought and is still fighting this horrible disease. He has spent thousands of dollars to have tests and treatment. The financial stress is strong every day in his fight to cure this rectal cancer and regain his life to where he can work and enjoy his family and friends. He has a new respect for anyone that has done or will do cancer treatment or any aspect of cancer. He had no idea that it would totally encompass his life.
He has been able to do some work the last few weeks but cannot take on jobs that he cannot complete with the upcoming surgery. He knows he will be unable to work again with the surgery and it has not been determined if he will have to have chemo therapy again after surgery. He has friends that have helped him through daily but needs financial help. He needs donations to help pay off his current medical debt and more importantly keep the workshop. Greg will incur more debt for the surgery and chemo if he has to have chemo therapy again after surgery. Greg needs to be able to focus on healing and getting well. It is important to treat cancer with the medications and surgery but to also treat the body for the mental and stress tolls it has on the body. So another important necessity in Greg’s treatment plan is for him to relax and stay stress free as stress is a major negative when fighting cancer. Therefore, Greg will do his best to enjoy small things like motorcycle rides, listening to bands at his favorite spots and enjoying his friends during this time. Stress relieving activities are great healing for him as he prepares for surgery and afterwards. He is very optimistic that he is going to get well and be able to return to work and live life to the extreme.
Greg had no idea that when he was told he had ‘cancer” what a road he had before him. So supporting him during this time will allow him to focus on healing and relieve some of the worry on how he is going to pay the bills. Greg thanks you from the bottom of his heart for your donations and this will help him get well and put the cancer behind him. Thank you in advance for your donations, support and prayers.
He had developed some issues and went for a colonoscopy which resulted in the findings of a mass in his rectum. Shocked as no one in his family had ever had cancer and he really did not know what this meant to him. Not knowing what this meant he had to do many tests: MRI’s, Cat Scans, blood work and other tests to determine what stage and what plan was going to be done to treat the cancer. Additionally, he had to construct a team of doctors including Oncologist, Hematologist; Radiation Oncologist and Surgeons… equally lots of doctors’ visits. It was determined that he would have Radiation and Chemotherapy daily simultaneously for eight weeks. It only took about two weeks before Greg was unable to do anything including work. He took treatments from November to December. He spent most of December in the hospital due to complicated side effects from both radiation and chemo. He was not able to work, drive or be social with his mates. This was a tremendous blow to him and he was continuously battling the anemia and other problems that were resulting from his treatment.
Greg has been self-employed as a machinist working on varies projects from motors, bearing, yachts parts, plumbing and all the above small to enormous unusually pieces that he crafts to save the day of non-existing parts or repairs needed for his customers. His employment involves him totally and he is the one who has to determine the dimensions and all aspects of everything he makes and repairs. He has no employees and no one that can step into his shoes and perform his job. With these known facts the ideal of him shutting down while doing his treatments was a great hardship not only to his customers but to Greg financially. He wasn’t excessively ill prior to his diagnosis and the cost exceeds most individual rain day funds and definitely his. While, Greg has medical insurance he still has co-pays and his portions of certain procedures he is responsible for out of pocket. At this time, he owes medical expenses over $15,000! Sadly, the bills continue to come in.
Now some may know that Greg has made it through the first part of his treatment and slowly has returned to work and riding his bike some to spend time out with friends. Nevertheless, he has been continuing his medical appoints and it is time for the next part of his treatment SURGERY…
In May Greg will undergo a major surgery to remove the cancerous mass from his body and he will be unable to work and will need time to heal from this major surgery. The doctor has estimated that it takes about 8 weeks to recovery from surgery.
Greg has fought and is still fighting this horrible disease. He has spent thousands of dollars to have tests and treatment. The financial stress is strong every day in his fight to cure this rectal cancer and regain his life to where he can work and enjoy his family and friends. He has a new respect for anyone that has done or will do cancer treatment or any aspect of cancer. He had no idea that it would totally encompass his life.
He has been able to do some work the last few weeks but cannot take on jobs that he cannot complete with the upcoming surgery. He knows he will be unable to work again with the surgery and it has not been determined if he will have to have chemo therapy again after surgery. He has friends that have helped him through daily but needs financial help. He needs donations to help pay off his current medical debt and more importantly keep the workshop. Greg will incur more debt for the surgery and chemo if he has to have chemo therapy again after surgery. Greg needs to be able to focus on healing and getting well. It is important to treat cancer with the medications and surgery but to also treat the body for the mental and stress tolls it has on the body. So another important necessity in Greg’s treatment plan is for him to relax and stay stress free as stress is a major negative when fighting cancer. Therefore, Greg will do his best to enjoy small things like motorcycle rides, listening to bands at his favorite spots and enjoying his friends during this time. Stress relieving activities are great healing for him as he prepares for surgery and afterwards. He is very optimistic that he is going to get well and be able to return to work and live life to the extreme.
Greg had no idea that when he was told he had ‘cancer” what a road he had before him. So supporting him during this time will allow him to focus on healing and relieve some of the worry on how he is going to pay the bills. Greg thanks you from the bottom of his heart for your donations and this will help him get well and put the cancer behind him. Thank you in advance for your donations, support and prayers.
Organizer and beneficiary
Denise Lewis
Organizer
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Gregory Gallocher
Beneficiary