Team Chaddurday: Support Chad's Medical Expenses
Donation protected
On Monday, October 12th, at 6:02am, Chad passed away alongside Kerri in his home in Brooklyn. In the weeks prior he had visits from friends and family, as well as dozens of videos wishing him happy birthday. Through it all, Chad maintained his light spirit and ability to deliver a laugh at any moment. Donations are still accepted, as a better understanding of outstanding bills and costs comes together.
His funeral information is below:
Please Join Us in Celebration of the one and only Chad David Joseph on Wednesday Oct 14 at 2p PT/5p ET.
For those of you in the NYC area, please join us in Williamsburg:
D'Arienzo Funeral Home, Inc.
104 Skillman Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(347) [phone redacted]
For those able to join via video please use this link - note that the service will begin at 5:30:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7092490954
We encourage active participation in this joyous event. For those in-person, please bring a story, poem, prayer, song or anything that helps you honor Chad. For those attending virtually, we will have a site so you can share online. Link coming soon.
-----//-----
This is a page set up to help support Chad's fight with cancer. There will be updates posted here as things evolve. You can also sign up for emails or reach out to help in any of number of ways by messaging on this campaign, as well as putting your information in here. Please do share this campaign with all who know Chad, to help continue the support throughout the strong community that Chad has built.
UPDATE #1 - 12/19/19
Most of you have heard by now, but our good friend Chad has been diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer, most likely stemming from his lungs and has spread to his spine, brain, and liver. Initially looked at by a doctor as pneumonia about a week ago after having some shortness of breath and growing headaches, a scan quickly revealed masses is his lungs. A shock for him and his girlfriend Kerri to learn, he was quickly admitted early Tuesday AM to Mount Sinai hospital’s oncology floor for more urgent scans.
Chad and Kerri left the hospital last Friday after a week of MRIs, tests, and a CT scan, capped with a biopsy on Friday night. The biopsy was taken via a bronchoscopy – an invasive procedure completed under general anesthesia where a scope is passed through the throat and a sample is taken from the lungs. Happily, in the evening after a long week, they went home and were able to relax and recoup with each other, friends, and their new dog, Kobe Bean.
What’s Next?
Chad and Kerri are waiting for full biopsy results which should come at the end of the week/beginning of next week. Chad has been on a steroid since being admitted last week with a goal of easing the brain swelling. The swelling can cause significant damage to motor and physical function. The steroids are not a permanent solution, however they help in the short term. Doctor’s appointments have begun, as the different experts (lung, brain, general oncology, etc.) all need to review tests. At this time it appears that a doctor at Sloan Kettering will take lead.
So far, doctors have not recommended a surgery option, as the cells are in both lungs, but medication, radiation, and chemo have all been discussed. Radiation treatments for the brain will begin today, as it is important for those lesions to stop growing. There will be 10 treatments that will conclude Jan 3rd. Side effects include nausea, tiredness, and some temporary cognitive forgetfulness.
At this time, there is no indication of probabilities, concrete diagnosis, etc. as doctors are reviewing test results. That said, Kerri has been on top of the doctors, has tapped connections, and found other resources to put eyes on the results and share their thoughts as this progresses.
Providing Help
A very common question, and somewhere we can all jump in. The good news is that we can! The reality of it is that this will be costly, both in time, money, and effort. We want to start this campaign in looking at what we understand as some potential hard costs for the first year. For example:
- Health Insurance: $800/mo: $9600 a year
- Uber to treatment appointments: $150/week: $7800 a year
- Meal support: $100/week: $5200 a year
- Minimum doctor co-pay: $7500
- Prescription minimums: $5000
Just looking at some quick estimates, it is easy to hit $35,000 between hospitalizations, insurance costs, treatments, etc. As appointments continue, it could easily soar to $100K, just in looking at a few hard costs alone. So let's see what we can do to start to help provide some financial assurance that will allow Chad and Kerri to focus on the immediate need of understanding the diagnosis, acquiring 2nd opinions, and keeping their spirits up.
There will be more news to follow, so please stay tuned!
His funeral information is below:
Please Join Us in Celebration of the one and only Chad David Joseph on Wednesday Oct 14 at 2p PT/5p ET.
For those of you in the NYC area, please join us in Williamsburg:
D'Arienzo Funeral Home, Inc.
104 Skillman Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(347) [phone redacted]
For those able to join via video please use this link - note that the service will begin at 5:30:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7092490954
We encourage active participation in this joyous event. For those in-person, please bring a story, poem, prayer, song or anything that helps you honor Chad. For those attending virtually, we will have a site so you can share online. Link coming soon.
-----//-----
This is a page set up to help support Chad's fight with cancer. There will be updates posted here as things evolve. You can also sign up for emails or reach out to help in any of number of ways by messaging on this campaign, as well as putting your information in here. Please do share this campaign with all who know Chad, to help continue the support throughout the strong community that Chad has built.
UPDATE #1 - 12/19/19
Most of you have heard by now, but our good friend Chad has been diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer, most likely stemming from his lungs and has spread to his spine, brain, and liver. Initially looked at by a doctor as pneumonia about a week ago after having some shortness of breath and growing headaches, a scan quickly revealed masses is his lungs. A shock for him and his girlfriend Kerri to learn, he was quickly admitted early Tuesday AM to Mount Sinai hospital’s oncology floor for more urgent scans.
Chad and Kerri left the hospital last Friday after a week of MRIs, tests, and a CT scan, capped with a biopsy on Friday night. The biopsy was taken via a bronchoscopy – an invasive procedure completed under general anesthesia where a scope is passed through the throat and a sample is taken from the lungs. Happily, in the evening after a long week, they went home and were able to relax and recoup with each other, friends, and their new dog, Kobe Bean.
What’s Next?
Chad and Kerri are waiting for full biopsy results which should come at the end of the week/beginning of next week. Chad has been on a steroid since being admitted last week with a goal of easing the brain swelling. The swelling can cause significant damage to motor and physical function. The steroids are not a permanent solution, however they help in the short term. Doctor’s appointments have begun, as the different experts (lung, brain, general oncology, etc.) all need to review tests. At this time it appears that a doctor at Sloan Kettering will take lead.
So far, doctors have not recommended a surgery option, as the cells are in both lungs, but medication, radiation, and chemo have all been discussed. Radiation treatments for the brain will begin today, as it is important for those lesions to stop growing. There will be 10 treatments that will conclude Jan 3rd. Side effects include nausea, tiredness, and some temporary cognitive forgetfulness.
At this time, there is no indication of probabilities, concrete diagnosis, etc. as doctors are reviewing test results. That said, Kerri has been on top of the doctors, has tapped connections, and found other resources to put eyes on the results and share their thoughts as this progresses.
Providing Help
A very common question, and somewhere we can all jump in. The good news is that we can! The reality of it is that this will be costly, both in time, money, and effort. We want to start this campaign in looking at what we understand as some potential hard costs for the first year. For example:
- Health Insurance: $800/mo: $9600 a year
- Uber to treatment appointments: $150/week: $7800 a year
- Meal support: $100/week: $5200 a year
- Minimum doctor co-pay: $7500
- Prescription minimums: $5000
Just looking at some quick estimates, it is easy to hit $35,000 between hospitalizations, insurance costs, treatments, etc. As appointments continue, it could easily soar to $100K, just in looking at a few hard costs alone. So let's see what we can do to start to help provide some financial assurance that will allow Chad and Kerri to focus on the immediate need of understanding the diagnosis, acquiring 2nd opinions, and keeping their spirits up.
There will be more news to follow, so please stay tuned!
Organizer and beneficiary
Connor Swegle
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
Kerri-ann McGinty
Beneficiary