Joel Pickel Kidney Cancer Fund
Donation protected
I am Joel's mother, Sheryl. Joel is a single father, 34 years old, with two sons, ages 14 and 11. Joel is a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Rockledge, in Rockledge, FL and also works part time at an urgent care clinic in Satellite Beach.
In 2016, as part of his physical for the City of Rockledge, he received a life scan screening. In 2017, when his second life scan screening was done, something appeared on the scan of the kidney that wasn't on the 2016 scan.
It was recommended that Joel see Dr. Zamip Patel, with Florida Hospital. Dr. Patel discovered that Joel had several issues going on with his kidney. There was a large mass or tumor on the top of his left kidney, he had several kidney stones and a misplaced ureter, which was preventing his kidney from completely draining. Dr. Patel, who is trained in robotic surgery for the kidneys, told Joel, that while he hoped to be able to save part of his kidney, it was possible the entire kidney would have to be removed.
On Friday, October 19th, Joel underwent robotic surgery, knowing he would most likely wake up with just one kidney and a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Patel, was able to completely remove the cancerous tumor, by removing part of the kidney. The kidney stones were also removed and the ureter was moved to an area of the kidney so it would drain properly. Joel was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma. While the main course of treatment is removal of the tumor, Joel will have to be scanned periodically and have blood work to check to see if the cancer has returned.
Joel's out-of-pocket medical bills are currently at over $10,000 and are expected to reach well over $15,000. Joel had saved vacation and sick time from the Fire Department to help during 6 week post-surgery time off. He also worked extra days at his urgent care job before surgery to help ease the financial burden of his daily expenses.
Joel goes back in for surgery, the day before Thanksgiving, to have a stent removed and so Dr. Patel can look and see how the kidney is healing.
The burden of the current and future medical bills are financially overwhelming. Anything you can do to help would be so greatly appreciated. Absolutely no donation is too small.
Thank you,
Sheryl
In 2016, as part of his physical for the City of Rockledge, he received a life scan screening. In 2017, when his second life scan screening was done, something appeared on the scan of the kidney that wasn't on the 2016 scan.
It was recommended that Joel see Dr. Zamip Patel, with Florida Hospital. Dr. Patel discovered that Joel had several issues going on with his kidney. There was a large mass or tumor on the top of his left kidney, he had several kidney stones and a misplaced ureter, which was preventing his kidney from completely draining. Dr. Patel, who is trained in robotic surgery for the kidneys, told Joel, that while he hoped to be able to save part of his kidney, it was possible the entire kidney would have to be removed.
On Friday, October 19th, Joel underwent robotic surgery, knowing he would most likely wake up with just one kidney and a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Patel, was able to completely remove the cancerous tumor, by removing part of the kidney. The kidney stones were also removed and the ureter was moved to an area of the kidney so it would drain properly. Joel was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma. While the main course of treatment is removal of the tumor, Joel will have to be scanned periodically and have blood work to check to see if the cancer has returned.
Joel's out-of-pocket medical bills are currently at over $10,000 and are expected to reach well over $15,000. Joel had saved vacation and sick time from the Fire Department to help during 6 week post-surgery time off. He also worked extra days at his urgent care job before surgery to help ease the financial burden of his daily expenses.
Joel goes back in for surgery, the day before Thanksgiving, to have a stent removed and so Dr. Patel can look and see how the kidney is healing.
The burden of the current and future medical bills are financially overwhelming. Anything you can do to help would be so greatly appreciated. Absolutely no donation is too small.
Thank you,
Sheryl
Organiser and beneficiary
Sheryl Blakely Pickel
Organiser
Cocoa, FL
Joel Pickel
Beneficiary
