My fight to win

I am a proud husband and father, I was raised in a great neighbourhood and have a fantastic family. I have a simple but humble life, Im thankful for all which keeps me smiling every day. I was raised with the attitude, if you want something go out and earn it. The one thing I do lack is the ability to truly ask for help when it’s needed, it has never been easy for me to ask for help. However the time has come for me to learn how to do just that. I am asking for help. Help fighting this disease and help to get over much of the financial burden which has arisen.

On September 27th 2015 I was diagnosed with and aggressive Stage 4 Large B cell Diffused Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. My treatment was started quick and required 8 rounds of chemotheropy and plenty of Cat Scans and tests in between. Treatment was progressing well and all signs pointed to remission. So much so I was cleared to return to work. And believe me after not working for 10.5 months the bills really do pile up.  However the sense of winning was short lived, after being back to work for only 7 shifts a biopsy in July of 2016 showed there was still cancer in my Lymph nodes. Once again I am off of work and back in aggressive Chemotherapy waiting and Autologous and Allogenetic Stem Cell transplant.

During the first round of my cancer fight, which took almost a year I didn’t ask help. I assumed the financial burden all to myself, which has me near the end of a rope. Now with a second round and fight ahead of me, I don’t have the resources to go it alone.

This round of treatment comes with a lot of travel to Ottawa and extended stays for up to three months at a time in some cases. I also must bring a chaperone as it is a pre-requirement for the care. Without having insurance on loans I must bear the burden of regular payments at home and the costs associated with all travel and medical expenses which are not formally covered under our Provincial Health plan or my employer’s sick benefits.

So this is my call for help and my pledge. I know the financial number seems high, however my battle will span the better half of a year with treatment here in Sudbury and Ottawa.

My pledge is this.
 I will spend my lifetime fighting. Fighting for me and for those in this very same situation. It is hard for me to ask for help, but one thing I have learned over the last year is I am not alone. There is help if you ask. So I am asking, could you please help.

John