Howard's battle with cancer
Donation protected
We met Howard and his wife Alejandra while residing in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2010. As young couples we quickly became close friends. Howard's impressive career has taken him around the world and given him the opportunity to help many people. However he now needs our help. Here's a little of how Howard has contributed his time to others.
Howard started his career in 2007 with the Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. His first assignment was in the New York Field Office (NYFO) where he conducted multiple investigations and protective details. In 2009 he was then sent to the security office at the U.S. Embassy of Baghdad, Iraq. After a year in Baghdad he was posted in Tel Aviv, Israel where we met. Once completing that tour Howard and Alejandra were assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan before returning to the U.S. Before he became a Diplomatic Security Special Agent for the U.S. Embassies around the world Howard also served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 4 years, receiving an honorable discharge as a Sergeant of Marines.
In 2014 we were shocked that at the age of 34, Howard was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.
This is his story:
After departing Islamabad, Pakistan in May of 2014, Howard fell ill while residing in Florida. After abdominal pain became too intense to bear, Howard went to the hospital for further examination. The hospital monitored Howard for several days before it became clear that an infection had developed in his intestine and punctured his intestinal wall. Howard was rushed to surgery where 6 inches of infected tissue was successfully removed. However, while removing Howard's airway tube after the surgery there was a complication which caused his lungs to fill with fluid and resulted in aspiration pneumonia. Howard fell into a coma for 2 days.
When Howard awoke from the coma , specialists discovered he had developed several blood clots within his lungs. In an attempt to dissolve the blood clots, Howard was placed on blood thinners. Although the blood thinners reduced Howard's blood clots, they caused his incision site to bleed uncontrollably. He was rushed back into surgery to reseal the incision site, stop the bleeding, and stabilize him. Once stabilized, Howard and Alejandra were advised that the infection removed from his intestine was malignant. Howard was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer.
Howard rested for 6 weeks before he began a 6 month regimen of chemotherapy that lasted until late 2014. Soon after completing chemotherapy treatments, a CT scan determined that Howard was cancer free! Doctors determined that Howard required one final surgery before he could recover and potentially return to full health. In April of 2015 Howard underwent a successful surgery and was given a clean bill of health. After recovering, Howard and Alejandra prepared to make their long awaited move to Miami and Howard prepared to return to work.
The weekend before their planned move to Miami, Howard felt a strange, painful sensation in his lower back. A CT scan revealed a cluster of inflamed lymph nodes that impacted the way his kidneys functioned. More conclusive tests were negative for cancer, however Howard and Alejandra sought a second opinion. The second opinion revealed that the cancer had returned and spread rapidly. Howard and Alejandra traveled to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for access to state of the art cancer treatment facilities, experimental clinical trials, and world class medical professionals.
Howard retuned to Florida were he recently started another round of aggressive chemotherapy. Howard and Alejandra are planning to move to Boston to finish his chemotherapy and conduct followup treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital.
As a result of Howard's diagnosis and health care needs, Alejandra has been unable to maintain steady work. Alejandra has been instrumental in caring for Howard during chemotherapy and through numerous surgeries, while also coordinating medical appointments, paying the bills, shuttling Howard to daily medical appointments, residing with Howard during hospital stays and serving as the foundation of Howard’s support system while he wages this battle with cancer.
While receiving treatment in Florida, Howard and Alejandra had constant support from Howard's parents who reside in the area. Being the only family around they acted as a vital part of their support network. However, now that they are relocating to Boston for advanced treatment they no longer have an immediate support system in place and will be relying solely on each other.
As you can see from the above summary, Howard and Alejandra need our assistance. We all come to points in our lives where we need to lean on friends and family for support. This is one of those times where we can rally around Howard and Alejandra and make a significant difference in their lives. Please consider giving anything you can, no donation is too small. Any funds donated will be used towards Howard and Alejandra's living and travel expenses associated with his treatment in Boston.
Howard started his career in 2007 with the Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. His first assignment was in the New York Field Office (NYFO) where he conducted multiple investigations and protective details. In 2009 he was then sent to the security office at the U.S. Embassy of Baghdad, Iraq. After a year in Baghdad he was posted in Tel Aviv, Israel where we met. Once completing that tour Howard and Alejandra were assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan before returning to the U.S. Before he became a Diplomatic Security Special Agent for the U.S. Embassies around the world Howard also served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 4 years, receiving an honorable discharge as a Sergeant of Marines.
In 2014 we were shocked that at the age of 34, Howard was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.
This is his story:
After departing Islamabad, Pakistan in May of 2014, Howard fell ill while residing in Florida. After abdominal pain became too intense to bear, Howard went to the hospital for further examination. The hospital monitored Howard for several days before it became clear that an infection had developed in his intestine and punctured his intestinal wall. Howard was rushed to surgery where 6 inches of infected tissue was successfully removed. However, while removing Howard's airway tube after the surgery there was a complication which caused his lungs to fill with fluid and resulted in aspiration pneumonia. Howard fell into a coma for 2 days.
When Howard awoke from the coma , specialists discovered he had developed several blood clots within his lungs. In an attempt to dissolve the blood clots, Howard was placed on blood thinners. Although the blood thinners reduced Howard's blood clots, they caused his incision site to bleed uncontrollably. He was rushed back into surgery to reseal the incision site, stop the bleeding, and stabilize him. Once stabilized, Howard and Alejandra were advised that the infection removed from his intestine was malignant. Howard was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer.
Howard rested for 6 weeks before he began a 6 month regimen of chemotherapy that lasted until late 2014. Soon after completing chemotherapy treatments, a CT scan determined that Howard was cancer free! Doctors determined that Howard required one final surgery before he could recover and potentially return to full health. In April of 2015 Howard underwent a successful surgery and was given a clean bill of health. After recovering, Howard and Alejandra prepared to make their long awaited move to Miami and Howard prepared to return to work.
The weekend before their planned move to Miami, Howard felt a strange, painful sensation in his lower back. A CT scan revealed a cluster of inflamed lymph nodes that impacted the way his kidneys functioned. More conclusive tests were negative for cancer, however Howard and Alejandra sought a second opinion. The second opinion revealed that the cancer had returned and spread rapidly. Howard and Alejandra traveled to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for access to state of the art cancer treatment facilities, experimental clinical trials, and world class medical professionals.
Howard retuned to Florida were he recently started another round of aggressive chemotherapy. Howard and Alejandra are planning to move to Boston to finish his chemotherapy and conduct followup treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital.
As a result of Howard's diagnosis and health care needs, Alejandra has been unable to maintain steady work. Alejandra has been instrumental in caring for Howard during chemotherapy and through numerous surgeries, while also coordinating medical appointments, paying the bills, shuttling Howard to daily medical appointments, residing with Howard during hospital stays and serving as the foundation of Howard’s support system while he wages this battle with cancer.
While receiving treatment in Florida, Howard and Alejandra had constant support from Howard's parents who reside in the area. Being the only family around they acted as a vital part of their support network. However, now that they are relocating to Boston for advanced treatment they no longer have an immediate support system in place and will be relying solely on each other.
As you can see from the above summary, Howard and Alejandra need our assistance. We all come to points in our lives where we need to lean on friends and family for support. This is one of those times where we can rally around Howard and Alejandra and make a significant difference in their lives. Please consider giving anything you can, no donation is too small. Any funds donated will be used towards Howard and Alejandra's living and travel expenses associated with his treatment in Boston.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rosa Lea
Organizer
West Falls Church, VA
Alejandra DePietri
Beneficiary
