Dale Brooks Bone Marrow Transplant
Donation protected
Hello. My name is Kara Shayne Brooks and I am setting up this site for my husband of 25 years, Dale. He has been battling cancer hard for the last couple of years.
He was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia when he was 35. Doctors found it accidentally, after he was in a minor car wreck. We could never afford health insurance ($1500 monthly) because of that pre-existing condition. In the beginning of 2015, his spleen became enlarged and his white blood cell count grew to over 237,000, so he started chemotherapy for 6 months at the Medical University of Charleston. MUSC covered most of the cost (thank God) and we thought he was doing better, but in September, he noticed that a groin lymph node had started to swell. By Christmas, he was in a wheel chair.
Testing revealed that the cancer had transformed into a rare and deadly Lymphoma - Diffused Large B-cell Lymphoma. This only happens about 5% of the time to CLL patients. Doctors attacked this cancer with 4 chemo treatments of R-CHOP, with Revlimid. Once this began, hospital social workers helped us get insurance, which resulted in being transferred from MUSC to a local Oncology doctor and hospital. This was a blessing in disguise. We live in Myrtle Beach, SC and had been driving to Charleston for every visit. Dale had lots of side effects from treatment and it has been nice only having to travel 15 minutes. The new practice also has a Nurse Navigator named Cathy (an angel), who spent over 2 hours with us, answering questions, educating us on nutrition, and giving us books.
After the 4th of 6 treatments, he had another petscan and discovereded it wasn't working. Doctors referred us to Duke in Durham, NC. Our experience at Duke has been amazing and they changed his treatment to R-EPOCH with a new miracle drug called, Imbruvica. Hopefully, after 2 treatments of this, he will be in remission and can proceed with a bone marrow transplant at Duke. Without the transplant, the doctors have said he will probably die within 2 years.
The transplant has risks: there is a 50% chance of a cure, 10% chance of death, and up to a 40% chance that his body rejects the donor's marrow. The doctors at Duke are confident that, even with the risks, we should do this.
So, we have to move to Durham, NC for several months and our insurance doesn't cover lodging or travel expenses. Someone has to stay with him 100% of the time, so neither of us can work. After the transplant, he has to go to Duke everyday to monitor his progress, check for infections, and assess his need for things like blood and platelets. We will have to maintain homes in both places for that time.
We are self-employed painters. If you know us, you know how much Dale loves to work! He obviously hasn't been able to work regularly in a long time, but he still (amazingly) has tried. Having painted with him for over 20 years, I have done as much as possible myself, but taking care of him over the past couple of years has had to take precedence and our business has suffered severely.
As with everyone who has experienced cancer, our lives have changed drastically. We can't see our two awesome grandbabies often (3 and 5 yrs old) because of germs. We love our dogs dearly and have one with an expensive skin disorder. Because of the expense and Dale's health protection after his transplant, we may have to have him put-down.
Duke has places to stay that are cheaper than regular apartments, but the cost still adds up to $8-9000. TOO MUCH!! We are diligently looking for cheaper alternatives and have found places that offer 4-month leases and have free shuttle service to Duke. Some of these include everything, like power, etc. for around 1600.00 a month. This is cheaper, but we still can't afford it.
We hate to ask, but we need help. Some people at Duke, along with others, recommended we try Gofundme. We appreciate anything, anyone can do, no matter how small. It all adds up. We are literally fighting for his life. We have great family and church support. Thank God!! We just need a little help financially to get through this. I try to keep Dale from worrying. It would mean so much to be able to tell him our lodging was taken care of - just concentrate on getting better!
Thanks for taking the time to read this and even if you can't donate, please pray for him because we believe in prayers! Pass this on to everyone you know, through every social media form you can! We are gonna beat this cancer!
With All My Heart-God Bless you all.
Shayne & Dale Brooks
He was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia when he was 35. Doctors found it accidentally, after he was in a minor car wreck. We could never afford health insurance ($1500 monthly) because of that pre-existing condition. In the beginning of 2015, his spleen became enlarged and his white blood cell count grew to over 237,000, so he started chemotherapy for 6 months at the Medical University of Charleston. MUSC covered most of the cost (thank God) and we thought he was doing better, but in September, he noticed that a groin lymph node had started to swell. By Christmas, he was in a wheel chair.
Testing revealed that the cancer had transformed into a rare and deadly Lymphoma - Diffused Large B-cell Lymphoma. This only happens about 5% of the time to CLL patients. Doctors attacked this cancer with 4 chemo treatments of R-CHOP, with Revlimid. Once this began, hospital social workers helped us get insurance, which resulted in being transferred from MUSC to a local Oncology doctor and hospital. This was a blessing in disguise. We live in Myrtle Beach, SC and had been driving to Charleston for every visit. Dale had lots of side effects from treatment and it has been nice only having to travel 15 minutes. The new practice also has a Nurse Navigator named Cathy (an angel), who spent over 2 hours with us, answering questions, educating us on nutrition, and giving us books.
After the 4th of 6 treatments, he had another petscan and discovereded it wasn't working. Doctors referred us to Duke in Durham, NC. Our experience at Duke has been amazing and they changed his treatment to R-EPOCH with a new miracle drug called, Imbruvica. Hopefully, after 2 treatments of this, he will be in remission and can proceed with a bone marrow transplant at Duke. Without the transplant, the doctors have said he will probably die within 2 years.
The transplant has risks: there is a 50% chance of a cure, 10% chance of death, and up to a 40% chance that his body rejects the donor's marrow. The doctors at Duke are confident that, even with the risks, we should do this.
So, we have to move to Durham, NC for several months and our insurance doesn't cover lodging or travel expenses. Someone has to stay with him 100% of the time, so neither of us can work. After the transplant, he has to go to Duke everyday to monitor his progress, check for infections, and assess his need for things like blood and platelets. We will have to maintain homes in both places for that time.
We are self-employed painters. If you know us, you know how much Dale loves to work! He obviously hasn't been able to work regularly in a long time, but he still (amazingly) has tried. Having painted with him for over 20 years, I have done as much as possible myself, but taking care of him over the past couple of years has had to take precedence and our business has suffered severely.
As with everyone who has experienced cancer, our lives have changed drastically. We can't see our two awesome grandbabies often (3 and 5 yrs old) because of germs. We love our dogs dearly and have one with an expensive skin disorder. Because of the expense and Dale's health protection after his transplant, we may have to have him put-down.
Duke has places to stay that are cheaper than regular apartments, but the cost still adds up to $8-9000. TOO MUCH!! We are diligently looking for cheaper alternatives and have found places that offer 4-month leases and have free shuttle service to Duke. Some of these include everything, like power, etc. for around 1600.00 a month. This is cheaper, but we still can't afford it.
We hate to ask, but we need help. Some people at Duke, along with others, recommended we try Gofundme. We appreciate anything, anyone can do, no matter how small. It all adds up. We are literally fighting for his life. We have great family and church support. Thank God!! We just need a little help financially to get through this. I try to keep Dale from worrying. It would mean so much to be able to tell him our lodging was taken care of - just concentrate on getting better!
Thanks for taking the time to read this and even if you can't donate, please pray for him because we believe in prayers! Pass this on to everyone you know, through every social media form you can! We are gonna beat this cancer!
With All My Heart-God Bless you all.
Shayne & Dale Brooks
Organizer
Kara Brooks
Organizer
Myrtle Beach, SC