The F*ck Cancer Fund
Donation protected
On December 17th I was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) . I noticed I wasn’t feeling well in early fall and at the end of October I could no longer work. I had tests and imaging done around that time and surprisingly everything came back normal so all I could do was rest and try to recover. At the beginning of December I developed a fever that left me bedridden for two weeks, so I went back in for more tests. We received the results on the 17th and by that time the leukemia had began crowding out room in my blood for normal cells. I was admitted to the hospital several days later and began chemotherapy December 23rd...
I feel very lucky and here's why... Despite this shortcoming, things are good. ALL is a highly treatable form of leukemia. It typically occurs in children but is not unusual in young adults, and chemotherapy is very successful.
I’m being treated here in the city at NYU Tisch Hospital and Hassenfeld Center and my doctors are amazing! I am on a pediatric protocol because I’m young and resilient enough for the slightly more intensive therapy than is used for adults. I’ve just finished the initial 4 week phase and soon I’ll begin 6 months of intensive chemotherapy. So far things are going great! I’m relieved to know what’s going on after not feeling like myself for so long… and that my condition is CURABLE.
I have been settling into a new routine and I’m ready for this challenge!
Unfortunately, I will be unable to work or travel for the next 6 months at the very minimum due to my weakened immune system and this presents a substantial financial challenge. I currently have excellent affordable health insurance and my medical expenses are totally taken care of (thank you, ACA!). However, I am just over the cutoff age for most foundations that provide assistance to young people during treatment. Fortunately I have been approved for some public assistance programs, but they only cover a small portion of my expenses and projected costs. I have started a Gofundme to help cover these costs so I can kick this bullshit and get back on my feet!
What the $ will be used for:
-Household expenses like rent and utilities.
-Other bills like phone, health insurance and student loans
-Groceries
-Transportation - I am prohibited from using public transportation for the next 6 months which means I have to take a private car to and from the clinic several times per week. The one way trip takes about 45 minutes which means these rides add up very quickly!
-Support for my mother - There will be months at a time that my amazing mother will be here to help me and some of these funds will help support her while she takes time off work to help take care of me.
-Moving - My current lease is up at the end of April. For safety reasons my doctors strongly recommend living alone during treatment. Fortunately working in the Brooklyn rental market for the last year and a half has given me enough connections to make this possible, but monthly rent to live alone in Brooklyn typically runs $1800-2500. A large portion of these funds could likely go toward these moving costs, including the number of months I’ll need to get through treatment that will have to be paid up front as a result of not being financially qualified for these rent prices in NYC.
I'm set to begin the more intense consolidation phase on Thursday, January 26th, which will last for 2 months.
Because we are unsure of how long it will take to completely eliminate the cancer cells, and how long it will take for me to be well enough to support myself again, the funds I'm asking for are for year's worth of support, which, according to my doctors is a realistic time period for rest and recovery. Your help, no matter how great, will help me get through this unexpected life hurdle and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
My family and friends have shown me so much love and I’m engulfed in positivity! Everything helps and it’s impossible to express the overwhelming gratitude I have for all of the love and support
Thank you again, and feel free to reach out to me to ask questions or just say hi!
PS - your donation may be tax deductible! Just check with your CPA!
I feel very lucky and here's why... Despite this shortcoming, things are good. ALL is a highly treatable form of leukemia. It typically occurs in children but is not unusual in young adults, and chemotherapy is very successful.
I’m being treated here in the city at NYU Tisch Hospital and Hassenfeld Center and my doctors are amazing! I am on a pediatric protocol because I’m young and resilient enough for the slightly more intensive therapy than is used for adults. I’ve just finished the initial 4 week phase and soon I’ll begin 6 months of intensive chemotherapy. So far things are going great! I’m relieved to know what’s going on after not feeling like myself for so long… and that my condition is CURABLE.
I have been settling into a new routine and I’m ready for this challenge!
Unfortunately, I will be unable to work or travel for the next 6 months at the very minimum due to my weakened immune system and this presents a substantial financial challenge. I currently have excellent affordable health insurance and my medical expenses are totally taken care of (thank you, ACA!). However, I am just over the cutoff age for most foundations that provide assistance to young people during treatment. Fortunately I have been approved for some public assistance programs, but they only cover a small portion of my expenses and projected costs. I have started a Gofundme to help cover these costs so I can kick this bullshit and get back on my feet!
What the $ will be used for:
-Household expenses like rent and utilities.
-Other bills like phone, health insurance and student loans
-Groceries
-Transportation - I am prohibited from using public transportation for the next 6 months which means I have to take a private car to and from the clinic several times per week. The one way trip takes about 45 minutes which means these rides add up very quickly!
-Support for my mother - There will be months at a time that my amazing mother will be here to help me and some of these funds will help support her while she takes time off work to help take care of me.
-Moving - My current lease is up at the end of April. For safety reasons my doctors strongly recommend living alone during treatment. Fortunately working in the Brooklyn rental market for the last year and a half has given me enough connections to make this possible, but monthly rent to live alone in Brooklyn typically runs $1800-2500. A large portion of these funds could likely go toward these moving costs, including the number of months I’ll need to get through treatment that will have to be paid up front as a result of not being financially qualified for these rent prices in NYC.
I'm set to begin the more intense consolidation phase on Thursday, January 26th, which will last for 2 months.
Because we are unsure of how long it will take to completely eliminate the cancer cells, and how long it will take for me to be well enough to support myself again, the funds I'm asking for are for year's worth of support, which, according to my doctors is a realistic time period for rest and recovery. Your help, no matter how great, will help me get through this unexpected life hurdle and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
My family and friends have shown me so much love and I’m engulfed in positivity! Everything helps and it’s impossible to express the overwhelming gratitude I have for all of the love and support
Thank you again, and feel free to reach out to me to ask questions or just say hi!
PS - your donation may be tax deductible! Just check with your CPA!
Organizer
Galen Beck Gatzke
Organizer
New York, NY
