Bill Phillips Memorial Fundraiser
Donation protected
My name is Nathan Reece and we are now taking donations on behalf of William (Bill) Phillips.
The money donated for Bill and his family will go towards the memorial funds when the time presents itself.
While many of you will just be finding out about Bill’s illness it will come by surprise, and the ones that already know, understand the difficulty that comes with putting this into words, here it goes:
Billy was diagnosed with early onset of Familial ALS approximately a year ago, he was experiencing some weakness in his left arm and neck area, and also significant pain due to curvature of the spine known as Spinal Stenosis. On May 15th, 2015, Bill and his mother Doris set out to meet for an opinion with a Neurologist at KU Medical Center, in which they found that Familial ALS was the determining factor of Bill’s illness. Bill went into an immediate state of depression, not wanting to accept what he’d been told, and not wanting to go out like his father (Clark), who also passed away with ALS in 1995. Bill began to have serious breathing issues and began to get weaker as days went on. He decided to go see the doctor regarding his breathing issues that were stemming from the asthma he has always had, the doctor found a vertebral hemangioma (tumor) on the upper part of his spine which could have accounted for a lot of the symptoms that were happening.
February 16, 2016
Bill had come down with pneumonia and found himself in a battle to be able to breathe adequately, the doctor indicating the he was experiencing Chronic Respiratory Failure requiring a six day stay in the hospital. Bill was taking a turn for the worse, and had started to deteriorate quickly, weighing approx. 104 lbs. and now needing oxygen and constant care around the clock from his brother (Scotty) and Mother (Doris), it was becoming inevitable that the time was coming, but no one was willing to accept this outcome.
March 21, 2016
Once again, Bill was taken to St. Luke’s East Hospital for a three day stay for acute chronic respiratory failure. It was determined, at that time, Bill would be placed in the Gentiva Hospice Care Program so that he could be at home. Scotty has put his teaching career on-hold to stay at home and become Bill’s primary care giver. Roxanne has flown in many times from Montana to help also.
April 1, 2016
Jason Murray (better known as the Murph) and I had the opportunity of getting to go see Bill. After talking with each other and preparing ourselves, we were elated to be able to see our good friend who we hadn’t seen in over a year, so we met with the family first to get brought up to speed. They wanted us to know a few things before meeting with him:
He was down to approx. 94 lbs. which will be a little shocking, and has a great beard, it is possible he will not make it till June 2016. They reminded us that while it is his body that is being affected at this time, his mind is the same, it is the same Bill they told us, the same sharp, intuitive, witty, comical, jokester, kind, and understanding friend/sibling you remembered throughout all those years.
Murph and I sat around with him for about an hour, joking with him, giving him a hard time (as if he needed it), and watching him smile like the old days during friendly banter that would always take place. It was great, but reality was definitely setting in.
After our visit, we received an e-mail letting us know that Bill had taken another turn for the worse. He is currently refusing his medications, food, and is now receiving a dosage of morphine to make him more comfortable breathing.
To everyone who has ever known or had the privilege to meet Billy, you understand the previous information given is a hard one to swallow, and Bill, the family and friends appreciate anything you could possibly give to help out during the unfortunate present circumstances.
Love to All
The money donated for Bill and his family will go towards the memorial funds when the time presents itself.
While many of you will just be finding out about Bill’s illness it will come by surprise, and the ones that already know, understand the difficulty that comes with putting this into words, here it goes:
Billy was diagnosed with early onset of Familial ALS approximately a year ago, he was experiencing some weakness in his left arm and neck area, and also significant pain due to curvature of the spine known as Spinal Stenosis. On May 15th, 2015, Bill and his mother Doris set out to meet for an opinion with a Neurologist at KU Medical Center, in which they found that Familial ALS was the determining factor of Bill’s illness. Bill went into an immediate state of depression, not wanting to accept what he’d been told, and not wanting to go out like his father (Clark), who also passed away with ALS in 1995. Bill began to have serious breathing issues and began to get weaker as days went on. He decided to go see the doctor regarding his breathing issues that were stemming from the asthma he has always had, the doctor found a vertebral hemangioma (tumor) on the upper part of his spine which could have accounted for a lot of the symptoms that were happening.
February 16, 2016
Bill had come down with pneumonia and found himself in a battle to be able to breathe adequately, the doctor indicating the he was experiencing Chronic Respiratory Failure requiring a six day stay in the hospital. Bill was taking a turn for the worse, and had started to deteriorate quickly, weighing approx. 104 lbs. and now needing oxygen and constant care around the clock from his brother (Scotty) and Mother (Doris), it was becoming inevitable that the time was coming, but no one was willing to accept this outcome.
March 21, 2016
Once again, Bill was taken to St. Luke’s East Hospital for a three day stay for acute chronic respiratory failure. It was determined, at that time, Bill would be placed in the Gentiva Hospice Care Program so that he could be at home. Scotty has put his teaching career on-hold to stay at home and become Bill’s primary care giver. Roxanne has flown in many times from Montana to help also.
April 1, 2016
Jason Murray (better known as the Murph) and I had the opportunity of getting to go see Bill. After talking with each other and preparing ourselves, we were elated to be able to see our good friend who we hadn’t seen in over a year, so we met with the family first to get brought up to speed. They wanted us to know a few things before meeting with him:
He was down to approx. 94 lbs. which will be a little shocking, and has a great beard, it is possible he will not make it till June 2016. They reminded us that while it is his body that is being affected at this time, his mind is the same, it is the same Bill they told us, the same sharp, intuitive, witty, comical, jokester, kind, and understanding friend/sibling you remembered throughout all those years.
Murph and I sat around with him for about an hour, joking with him, giving him a hard time (as if he needed it), and watching him smile like the old days during friendly banter that would always take place. It was great, but reality was definitely setting in.
After our visit, we received an e-mail letting us know that Bill had taken another turn for the worse. He is currently refusing his medications, food, and is now receiving a dosage of morphine to make him more comfortable breathing.
To everyone who has ever known or had the privilege to meet Billy, you understand the previous information given is a hard one to swallow, and Bill, the family and friends appreciate anything you could possibly give to help out during the unfortunate present circumstances.
Love to All
Organizer and beneficiary
Nathan Reece
Organizer
Blue Springs, MO
Doris Phillips
Beneficiary
