Support Ron and Mary through cancer treatment
Donation protected
The Immediate Need
March 31 2020: Ron may be selected to participate in some promising clinical trials. However, to do that he must remain otherwise healthy. His only method of income has been driving for ride-share apps, which puts him at extreme risk of being exposed to the novel coronavirus and catching COVID-19. We'd like to raise $500 in the month of April to help cover the housing and living needs of his family so that he doesn't have to worry about income for now.
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Ron and Mary's story
Ron and Mary live in West Seattle. They enjoy gardening, reading, and home improvement. Ron has a passion for computers, recently having completed furthering his education to start a new career in web development.
The bad news
In late November 2018 Ron was working on clearing out a storage unit, but not feeling so great. He ended up heading to the ER and being treated for his blood sugar being massively out of bounds. He'd never been suspected of diabetes before. Testing showed a mass on his pancreas blocking the flow of insulin. A biospy confirmed the worst: pancreatic cancer.
The location of the tumor was the worst possible, entangled with the critical blood vessels connecting the pancreas and the liver. The tumor couldn't be surgically removed as it was. His doctor planned treatment to try and shrink the tumor then perform the whipple procedure . The whipple would remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct.
Through 2019 Ron's doctors tried two types of chemo treatments. They failed to shrink his tumor, and spots appeared on his liver and lungs. His condition was further complicated by obstructions in bile ducts and an infection in his gal bladder, requiring surgeries and hospitalization in ICU.
Ron reached the limits of these two chemo treatments, trying the third and final chemo option in early 2020. He tolerated this version so poorly that it sent him to the hospital for several days. That took any more chemo off the table.
The good news
Ron has already beaten the odds so far! The heartbreaking statistic is that for patients with his prognosis the survival rate for one year is 50%. He's made it to 1 year and 4 months, as of April 2020!
Though he's exhausted approved chemotherapy options, there is still some chance for improvement. He is scheduled for a lung biopsy in April. If the results from that are what the doctors are looking for, and he has certain genetic markers, then he is a candidate for some clinical trials.
Our plan
Ron and Mary's greatest need during his treatment is help to support their living situation. Ron lost his job shortly after receiving his diagnosis. They had all but emptied their financial reserves in order to fund Ron's education to start his new career. Mary is already a major caregiver for their young grandson who has his own medical needs. Now, with Ron sick and Mary trying to take care of everyone, the family's only income has been from Ron driving for ride-share apps.
With the looming thread of COVID-19 exposure and a "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order from the governor, driving for a living is no longer an option. Ron is in a highly at-risk group as an over-60 cancer patient. Even if driving was safe, the reduced demand means he hardly gets any rides. He tried driving for food delivery apps, but his health prevents him from walking much or climbing stairs. The best place for him to be is at home, focusing on his own health.
Thankfully, Ron has insurance to cover his medical needs.
We are hoping to find donors who will help cover the costs of Ron's family's home and living for as long as the COVID-19 risk continues in our area. He gets a great deal of comfort from being in his own home and enjoying the nature that surrounds it. Any funds donated will go to keeping him in his home as long his health permits.
We'd like to raise $500 a month, or $4500 by thr end of the year.
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This campaign is managed by Ron's niece, Nancy. I'm in contact with Ron regularly, and will update as his story progresses. Thank you from all our family for considering giving.
March 31 2020: Ron may be selected to participate in some promising clinical trials. However, to do that he must remain otherwise healthy. His only method of income has been driving for ride-share apps, which puts him at extreme risk of being exposed to the novel coronavirus and catching COVID-19. We'd like to raise $500 in the month of April to help cover the housing and living needs of his family so that he doesn't have to worry about income for now.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Ron and Mary's story
Ron and Mary live in West Seattle. They enjoy gardening, reading, and home improvement. Ron has a passion for computers, recently having completed furthering his education to start a new career in web development.
The bad news
In late November 2018 Ron was working on clearing out a storage unit, but not feeling so great. He ended up heading to the ER and being treated for his blood sugar being massively out of bounds. He'd never been suspected of diabetes before. Testing showed a mass on his pancreas blocking the flow of insulin. A biospy confirmed the worst: pancreatic cancer.
The location of the tumor was the worst possible, entangled with the critical blood vessels connecting the pancreas and the liver. The tumor couldn't be surgically removed as it was. His doctor planned treatment to try and shrink the tumor then perform the whipple procedure . The whipple would remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct.
Through 2019 Ron's doctors tried two types of chemo treatments. They failed to shrink his tumor, and spots appeared on his liver and lungs. His condition was further complicated by obstructions in bile ducts and an infection in his gal bladder, requiring surgeries and hospitalization in ICU.
Ron reached the limits of these two chemo treatments, trying the third and final chemo option in early 2020. He tolerated this version so poorly that it sent him to the hospital for several days. That took any more chemo off the table.
The good news
Ron has already beaten the odds so far! The heartbreaking statistic is that for patients with his prognosis the survival rate for one year is 50%. He's made it to 1 year and 4 months, as of April 2020!
Though he's exhausted approved chemotherapy options, there is still some chance for improvement. He is scheduled for a lung biopsy in April. If the results from that are what the doctors are looking for, and he has certain genetic markers, then he is a candidate for some clinical trials.
Our plan
Ron and Mary's greatest need during his treatment is help to support their living situation. Ron lost his job shortly after receiving his diagnosis. They had all but emptied their financial reserves in order to fund Ron's education to start his new career. Mary is already a major caregiver for their young grandson who has his own medical needs. Now, with Ron sick and Mary trying to take care of everyone, the family's only income has been from Ron driving for ride-share apps.
With the looming thread of COVID-19 exposure and a "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order from the governor, driving for a living is no longer an option. Ron is in a highly at-risk group as an over-60 cancer patient. Even if driving was safe, the reduced demand means he hardly gets any rides. He tried driving for food delivery apps, but his health prevents him from walking much or climbing stairs. The best place for him to be is at home, focusing on his own health.
Thankfully, Ron has insurance to cover his medical needs.
We are hoping to find donors who will help cover the costs of Ron's family's home and living for as long as the COVID-19 risk continues in our area. He gets a great deal of comfort from being in his own home and enjoying the nature that surrounds it. Any funds donated will go to keeping him in his home as long his health permits.
We'd like to raise $500 a month, or $4500 by thr end of the year.
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This campaign is managed by Ron's niece, Nancy. I'm in contact with Ron regularly, and will update as his story progresses. Thank you from all our family for considering giving.
Organizer
Nancy Bea Nims
Organizer
Lynnwood, WA