Help Aric reach Australia—Lymphoma
Donation protected
In August, following the advice of his sister (a breast cancer survivor), Aric went to see a genetic counselor at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines to see if he carried the "cancer gene". His results showed that he did, in fact, carry the gene. After discussing a lump that he had in his left armpit, the genetic counselor referred him to the John Stoddard Cancer Center for further testing.
At the JSCC, biopsies were taken of some moles in his armpit that had returned after having them removed several years ago. The results came back positive for cancer. Next came a more tests and a PET scan. The results showed that he had cancer—Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, Stage 4, that had already spread to his lungs and heart.
On Monday, December 19th, at the age of 37, he was informed that he had 6-8 months to live. The doctor further explained that while he could start chemotherapy and radiation treatment, it would likely only extend his life by 2-3 months and much of his remaining time would be spent in the hospital. They told him his only other hope would be to receive a heart and lung transplant since the cancer had spread so far in his body. There was no single tumor that could just be removed.
After weighing his options and considering all the family and friends that he had watched suffer before ultimately losing their battles with cancer, he opted to decline treatment in order spend his remaining time with his family and friends and to travel to places that he had always dreamed of visiting.
His dream has always been to travel to Australia to meet some of the amazing people he has met through online gaming—friends who have become family—in Noosa, Toowoomba, and Maryborough to name just a few.
Furthermore, he would like to add money to the college funds for his children, Skylar, 18, and Sidney, 13, that he started with his sister while working at Tim's Amoco in Ankeny, IA.
At the JSCC, biopsies were taken of some moles in his armpit that had returned after having them removed several years ago. The results came back positive for cancer. Next came a more tests and a PET scan. The results showed that he had cancer—Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, Stage 4, that had already spread to his lungs and heart.
On Monday, December 19th, at the age of 37, he was informed that he had 6-8 months to live. The doctor further explained that while he could start chemotherapy and radiation treatment, it would likely only extend his life by 2-3 months and much of his remaining time would be spent in the hospital. They told him his only other hope would be to receive a heart and lung transplant since the cancer had spread so far in his body. There was no single tumor that could just be removed.
After weighing his options and considering all the family and friends that he had watched suffer before ultimately losing their battles with cancer, he opted to decline treatment in order spend his remaining time with his family and friends and to travel to places that he had always dreamed of visiting.
His dream has always been to travel to Australia to meet some of the amazing people he has met through online gaming—friends who have become family—in Noosa, Toowoomba, and Maryborough to name just a few.
Furthermore, he would like to add money to the college funds for his children, Skylar, 18, and Sidney, 13, that he started with his sister while working at Tim's Amoco in Ankeny, IA.
Organizer
Dru Stoeffler Hoogerwerf
Organizer
Nevada, IA
