Frankie's Medical Treatments Fund
Donation protected
Frankie Blandino, Boston-born composer, guitar stylist extraordinaire and bandleader (The Fathoms, The Cranktones, The Spurs, The Premiers) as well as current guitarist with Bee-Dee and The Doo-Rites has had a reoccurrence of the physical syndrome “Dupuytren’s Contracture”. This has seriously begun to affect both hands and his ability to perform simple fingerings and chording maneuvers on the guitar to a point that a number of medical procedures are necessary now and in the future.
Dupuytren's Contracture causes the fingers of the hands to eventually 'claw inward' totally, making even simple tasks like tying shoelaces or getting dressed difficult to do. This syndrome, if not treated, can make playing guitar impossible. Fretting a guitar with his fingers will eventually be out of the question if treatments are not undertaken.
Treatments are in the works now, and will be initiated this December 2017: injections by specialists of a very expensive drug called Xiaflex . Unfortunately, Frankie’s medical insurance does not completely cover the cost of the treatments and ancillary procedures. These injections are often successful for a patient like Frankie, and in fact, he had them in past years and the treatments worked for him then.
These medical costs, plus the typical economic pressures any life-long dedicated musical artist like Frankie goes through, are reaching crisis stage now.
We, his friends and band-mates in the current line-up of The Fathoms (Rob Amaral, Steve McCrossan and Neil Curran) have suggested he allow us to create a Go Fund Me page, because we believe that Frankie's friends and fans in the Boston area, all over the United States (and indeed, Internationally) will help him make up the difference in these costs.
The raised funds will help in the costs for the treatments coming up and in the future, and reduce the crippling consequences that Dupuytren's Contracture brings to its victims. They will also help him navigate the unforeseen economic vagaries that typically arise with such issues.
The Fathoms are grateful for your interest in Frankie’s cause and we hope you can help Frankie out with a donation at this important time. Your generosity in giving will be greatly appreciated by him! We also ask that you please share this page with others.
Dupuytren's Contracture causes the fingers of the hands to eventually 'claw inward' totally, making even simple tasks like tying shoelaces or getting dressed difficult to do. This syndrome, if not treated, can make playing guitar impossible. Fretting a guitar with his fingers will eventually be out of the question if treatments are not undertaken.
Treatments are in the works now, and will be initiated this December 2017: injections by specialists of a very expensive drug called Xiaflex . Unfortunately, Frankie’s medical insurance does not completely cover the cost of the treatments and ancillary procedures. These injections are often successful for a patient like Frankie, and in fact, he had them in past years and the treatments worked for him then.
These medical costs, plus the typical economic pressures any life-long dedicated musical artist like Frankie goes through, are reaching crisis stage now.
We, his friends and band-mates in the current line-up of The Fathoms (Rob Amaral, Steve McCrossan and Neil Curran) have suggested he allow us to create a Go Fund Me page, because we believe that Frankie's friends and fans in the Boston area, all over the United States (and indeed, Internationally) will help him make up the difference in these costs.
The raised funds will help in the costs for the treatments coming up and in the future, and reduce the crippling consequences that Dupuytren's Contracture brings to its victims. They will also help him navigate the unforeseen economic vagaries that typically arise with such issues.
The Fathoms are grateful for your interest in Frankie’s cause and we hope you can help Frankie out with a donation at this important time. Your generosity in giving will be greatly appreciated by him! We also ask that you please share this page with others.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rob Amaral
Organizer
Walpole, MA
Francis Blandino
Beneficiary
