Dear Friends, 07/02/2026

In 2019 i was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I had also been Diagnosed with Crohns Disease years earlier and testicular cancer in 2005.

I had become very limited in what i could do for work. But my Wife Lin and I got by. The 1st Hodgkin's diagnosis was out of the blue id been feeling worse than usual and a large swollen lymphnode in my groin. It was removed and turned out to be Hodgkin's. I did chemo and we raised the money on here to get us by. It was a huge help and kept us a float. Chemo did a number on me and i had some bad reactions including a mild heart attack that required a metal stent i couldnt do the more modern stent because of the crohns and active bleeds but i survived. Also in here I was Diagnosed with Lupus which has been very painful with frequent flare ups. I was in remission from Hodgkin's for well over a year and had a recurrance with another swollen lymphnode the cancer came back. They tried chemo again but i started having problems again so it was decided id do stem cell replacement therapy. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks and things seemed to go well then i developed a rash. The rash progressed and my skin began to shed its extremely painful and was diagnosed as graft vs host disease. I had also started show symptoms of parkinsons disease. So i added that and parkinsons like illness to everything else my treatment for the graft vs host requires a chemo medication called methotrexate and an injectable called stellara to keep it under control but i get spots of this rash that burns fairly often. I describe the pain as getting splashed with hot oil. But im still in the fight. The methotrexate wipes me out for 3 or 4 days out of the week. I take it on Sundays and it eases up by Wednesday mornings. Crohns would flare up and Lupus but things were tolerable with pain management and my meds then. I had an intestinal blockage in 2024 that had me admited into the hospital. I passed a bezor that was very large hard and sharp. It did significant nerve damage on the way out which made going number 2 very difficult 6 months later i passed something similar that finished off my rectum to the point i could no longer pass anything out and had to glove up to remove the now rock hard stool. This went on for a year and became untenable so we decided a colostomy might be my best bet so on March 2nd of 2026 the procedure was done. Things seemed to be going well but around march 16th i lost my appetite this happens with me from time to time so it didnt register as something to be concerned with then on march 18th in the evening i was in extra ordinary pain. We went to the ER and scans show my colon had ruptured. I had emergency surgery and it turned out not only had the colon ruptured it spilled its contents into my abdomen over 30 lbs of rock hard stone like stool and bezors. The crohns had taken its toll over the years and made it so they had to remove my entire colon. I now have an illiostomy that i was just getting used used to When in June of 2026 life would trow us another curve ball. I had some swollen lymph nodes in my neck again and after and ultrasound, Pet Scan and testing my Hodgkin's is back. We are getting the staging done on July 9th and will come up with a new treatment plan and were gonna need help My meds and medical supplies cost us several hundred dollars a month i see Doctors and do blood work and scans multiple times and each specialist has a $75 co pay with our insurance. We get some help from various assistance programs but its still costing us around $600 per month in expenses i am unable to work and my poor wife not only works full time but shes also my primary care giver she helps me get dressed empties my varios collection device's makes sure im taking my meds fights with ins and supply companies to get me what need and its taken a toll weve downsized from a 3/2 house with a pool to a single wide trailer i sold off most of my collections and we struggle to get by we maxed out 7 credit cards and do our best to make payments but we really need help in knocking those down.

What follows is the older version of this campaign. i try and update the main story after large events but you can read through the updates that weve made over years to learn more of our plight. Heres where the older version begins.

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to you today because I have been going through a difficult health journey, and I am in need of your help. In December 2018, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, I managed to beat it for a time, but my health has taken a toll since then. In February 2020, I had a heart attack, and in 2021, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Unfortunately, in June 2022, I discovered a new swollen lymph node at the original cancer site, and the signs pointed to a relapse. I had to undergo surgery in September 2022 to remove and biopsy a 5cm lymph node, which tested positive for a recurrence of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. This time, the treatment plan was far more aggressive, and I had to undergo chemotherapy and stem cell replacement therapy, which essentially stripped away my immune system and replaced it. During this treatment, I required several blood transfusions and platelets, and the process took the better part of December 2022 and 3 weeks in the hospital. The hope was that this would also cure or help with my other autoimmune diseases, Crohn's and Lupus respectively, but unfortunately, both diseases came back with a vengeance.

Sometime in March 2023 I developed what's called Graft vs Host Disease and it was a nightmare I developed an ugly painful rash that covered 70% of my body as of late June 2023 it started to get a little better and the cancer was in remission again, In March of 2024 I had another swollen Lymph node suggesting the cancer had come back, during those few month I became very weak and while the the thinking was cancer it was something else entirely in June of 2024 I became Constipated for over 6 weeks and due to a blockage that when it passed did significant nerve damage to my colon since then i've lost almost 100lbs which is great on one hand on the other it's indicative of more problems I'm seeing a new gastro to try and figure out whats wrong now. As of Feb 2025 were still seeking answers im very weak and struggle to do most anything I rely on a cane or mobility scooter to get around and I struggle with daily activites My Wife and Dog take great care of me but it's really hard getting by on one income with ongoing medical costs. Which is why we need ongoing support from our friends and family. The hope is they can figure out whats causing the pain and extraordinary fatigue and not just treat the symptoms, so that I can return to some kind of life. The ongoing treatments are expensive, not to mention the mountain of credit card debt that we've accumulated to cover the larger co-pays and supplementing lost income over the past 6 years. This is why I am reaching out to you today to ask for your support. Any financial assistance that you can provide will be greatly appreciated, and it will help me to continue fighting this battle.

A little about me I go by Wolf - it's been my nickname since I was a kid. Professionally, I've had a diverse career, working as an IT guy, theater manager, video editor, business consultant, actor, director, and writer. Before my most recent diagnosis, I was also a part-time Lyft driver.

My hobbies have been a consistent source of joy over the years. I've been performing in various Rocky Horror Picture Show casts for over 30 years, and Repo! The Genetic Opera casts for over 10 years. I ran the shadow casts at Spooky Empire - one of the biggest horror conventions in the US - for over 17 years. I've also been part of the Renaissance Faire community for decades and ran Wolf's Swordmasters until 2017. When I'm feeling well enough, I enjoy going on fossil and gem hunting expeditions. I also love to cook for my friends and family, and hosting large gatherings is one of my favorite things to do. As a self-proclaimed giant nerd, my home is adorned with all things Star Wars, Star Trek, Godzilla, Firefly, Lovecraft, and other assorted geek fandoms. In 2020, I sold off a chunk of my collection to help with costs.

I have been happily married to my wife for close to 16years. Our home though small is shared with our pup Gideon, and friends and family members who visit. We had to down size to a mobile home community last year as expenses keep pilling up but even still we love to have company over, Our friends and family mean the world to us - both blood and chosen. Many come to me when they have problems, and I enjoy being in that role. I'm fiercely loyal, and many can attest to that.

I understand that everyone's financial situation is different, and I appreciate any help that you can provide. If you are unable to contribute monetarily, please consider sharing my story with your network. Any help in spreading the word will be of great assistance.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I am grateful for your support and kindness during this challenging time. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Frank Wolf Connell