Gregs Fight for Life
Donation protected
I have started this go fund me page to honor and to help my sister's husband, Greg Hodgdon. You see, 18 years ago, he gave me his kidney to save my life, and now HE is fighting for his. Please read his story.
In September of 2019, Greg was diagnosed with a rare combination of two bone marrow diseases, which were triggered by an enlarged spleen. It was decided after many doctors appointments and tests that a stem cell transplant was the best way to move forward. In October, he began chemotherapy, and in January, a bone marrow donor was found. In late March, the night before his scheduled drop off to prepare for his transplant, he was admitted because he was very weak, as the blood and platelet transfusions weren't helping. His condition was grim and after a few days of being under sedation and on a ventilator (which was not helping), the doctors decided that his 9 lb spleen needed to be removed. It was causing more harm than good. He had surgery to remove the spleen and the plan was for him to come home to Woolwich for a few months to recover and gain strength before proceeding with the chemo and transplant. However, a recent bone marrow biopsy has revealed that his bone marrow disease has morphed into an aggressive cancer, AML (acute leukemia). In order to proceed with a life saving stem cell transplant, the cancer must be in remission. The doctors will soon begin a strong and accelerated chemo attack to zap the cancer. This will be a painful process for Greg, but it is the only way to move forward to the transplant that he needs.
This is a very difficult journey for their whole family, and made even more difficult by Covid-19. Greg is at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, 3 hours away, alone throughout this whole journey. The hospital allows no visitors in trying to protect patients from the virus. Greg is a pastor at Woolwich- Wiscasset Baptist Church and their church has been nothing short of amazing in helping them, both financially, and in every other way possible. We are thankful that they continue to pay his salary while he is sick. My sister Jen who is a dental hygienist, is currently not working because her dentist office is closed due to Covid-19 and it is uncertain when the office will reopen. Even with many already helping financially, the medical bills continue to rise and are overwhelmingly large.
I know that many of you have asked how you can help. First of all, pray. Please pray for Greg's healing. He is still in the hospital as I write this, and will be indefinitely. In all of the uncertainty of what the future holds for Greg, and for Jen and the kids, one thing is sure. They are glorifying God through this trial. Their faith holds steady. Even when it's not the path that anyone would have chosen, we know that God is sovereign. Second, I ask that if you are able to give to help Jen and Greg, please do. Even with insurance, and people giving to help, the doctor and hospital bills continue to pour in and are continuing to grow higher and higher. It's always humbling to ask for help.
Thank you for whatever you can give, and thank you for praying for their family. Pray for Greg and Jen, and their kids as well...Emily and her husband Aaron, Madison, and Asa.
In September of 2019, Greg was diagnosed with a rare combination of two bone marrow diseases, which were triggered by an enlarged spleen. It was decided after many doctors appointments and tests that a stem cell transplant was the best way to move forward. In October, he began chemotherapy, and in January, a bone marrow donor was found. In late March, the night before his scheduled drop off to prepare for his transplant, he was admitted because he was very weak, as the blood and platelet transfusions weren't helping. His condition was grim and after a few days of being under sedation and on a ventilator (which was not helping), the doctors decided that his 9 lb spleen needed to be removed. It was causing more harm than good. He had surgery to remove the spleen and the plan was for him to come home to Woolwich for a few months to recover and gain strength before proceeding with the chemo and transplant. However, a recent bone marrow biopsy has revealed that his bone marrow disease has morphed into an aggressive cancer, AML (acute leukemia). In order to proceed with a life saving stem cell transplant, the cancer must be in remission. The doctors will soon begin a strong and accelerated chemo attack to zap the cancer. This will be a painful process for Greg, but it is the only way to move forward to the transplant that he needs.
This is a very difficult journey for their whole family, and made even more difficult by Covid-19. Greg is at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, 3 hours away, alone throughout this whole journey. The hospital allows no visitors in trying to protect patients from the virus. Greg is a pastor at Woolwich- Wiscasset Baptist Church and their church has been nothing short of amazing in helping them, both financially, and in every other way possible. We are thankful that they continue to pay his salary while he is sick. My sister Jen who is a dental hygienist, is currently not working because her dentist office is closed due to Covid-19 and it is uncertain when the office will reopen. Even with many already helping financially, the medical bills continue to rise and are overwhelmingly large.
I know that many of you have asked how you can help. First of all, pray. Please pray for Greg's healing. He is still in the hospital as I write this, and will be indefinitely. In all of the uncertainty of what the future holds for Greg, and for Jen and the kids, one thing is sure. They are glorifying God through this trial. Their faith holds steady. Even when it's not the path that anyone would have chosen, we know that God is sovereign. Second, I ask that if you are able to give to help Jen and Greg, please do. Even with insurance, and people giving to help, the doctor and hospital bills continue to pour in and are continuing to grow higher and higher. It's always humbling to ask for help.
Thank you for whatever you can give, and thank you for praying for their family. Pray for Greg and Jen, and their kids as well...Emily and her husband Aaron, Madison, and Asa.
Organizer and beneficiary
Amy Richards
Organizer
Whitefield, ME
Jennifer Hodgdon
Beneficiary
