Atlas Family

Last October, Jeff Atlas was diagnosed with stage three, high risk multiple myeloma, which is an incurable bone marrow cancer that attacks your blood plasma and that has resulted, for him, in full renal failure. 85% of patients with multiple myeloma are considered low risk, unfortunately Jeff is among the roughly 15% who are considered high risk due to chromosomal characteristics. This means that Jeff's particular cancer is more difficult to treat and keep under control, as it frequently finds a way to outsmart and become resistant to the treatments. For our friend Jeff, the last 9 months have been a continuous battle, where each new treatment offers a limited reprieve before his cancerous cells multiply and regain strength. 


Since last October, Jeff has endured a rigorous schedule of dialysis three times a week, chemotherapy treatments a minimum of three times per week, as well as multiple lengthy inpatient hospitalizations. It has been an unrelenting and exhausting battle.

Jeff is a self employed clinical psychologist who has dedicated his professional career to helping others. It is now Jeff who is in need of our help. Due to the demand of his therapies, Jeff has been unable to work since last September. Jeff and his wife Leisa have three children, Katie (22) rising senior in college, Kyle (19) rising junior in college, and Jake (17) rising senior in high school. Jeff is the sole source of income for their family.  Though their privacy must be respected, it’s worth noting that with three kids in school, they are selling their home in an effort to continue providing for Jeff’s health care, pay bills, and to support their childrens’ educational wellbeing. They remain in a precarious financial situation with no easy solution.

I think it is clear to anyone who knows the Atlases that Jeff is kind, warm, and compassionate, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for his family and friends. Jeff and Leisa along with their children have been a staple of the Marvin community for as long as they’ve lived here, always welcoming and essential to so many of our lives. Jeff and Leisa would be making this Go Fund Me for any of us if we were in this situation, so I’m writing to ask that you donate any amount—however small or large—so that the emotional and physical stress of Jeff’s illness won’t be further compounded by financial concerns.

**Jeff and Leisa welcome spiritual support in whatever form that may be. Jeff is currently undergoing rigorous preparations for a tandem stem cell transplant in the beginning of August, which if successful, could offer him more precious time with his family and friends. Jeff and Leisa greatly appreciate any well wishes you are able to offer.