Navy Vet's Bone Marrow Cancer
Donation protected
Nearly a year ago around Thanksgiving my seemingly healthy dad, Paul Zach, was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Myelofibrosis. The doctors at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in Omaha explained that his bone marrow was turning into scar tissue. He would experience progressive fatigue and weakness and the disease would be fatal.
Life as we knew it changed drastically. The severe fatigue forced my dad to quit his job, and as his doctors predicted, just battling his disease became a full time job. He traveled weekly, sometimes twice a week, for blood transfusions, the only "treatment" available. Between the actual transfusion and the travel time to the nearest hospital, the treatments could take between four and six hours. Added to this were appointments at the VA in Omaha, two hours away.
While my dad was away at his medical appointments, it then left my mom at home alone. She herself battles diabetes and various mental illnesses. Due to myself being out of the state on active duty in the Navy and my siblings being grown and out of the house, my dad is my mom’s primary caregiver and she relies on him to take her to her own medical appointments.
In early spring during an oncology visit at the VA Hospital in Omaha we were elated to learn that there was a possibility that my dad could have his life prolonged, or even be cured, by a stem cell transplant. The summer was one of constant travel, constant testing for the transplant and constant fatigue for my dad. The fatigue became so debilitating that driving for 20 miles would wear him out, and even a walk to the mailbox left him exhausted. But we had every reason to be hopeful - my Aunt Julie was a perfect match for my dad and the transplant was scheduled!
They both traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to one of the available stem cell research hospitals to receive treatment. On October 5th my Aunt Julie donated over 7 million stem cells and on the 7th my dad received them! The symptoms of this procedure brought on pain throughout his whole body but he never once complained. Unfortunately two weeks later he had a severe reaction to his anti rejection medication which sent him to the ICU for three days. They immediately took him off the medication, he slowly regained stability and is currently doing much better.
Due to my dad's 18 years of service in the Navy, the Veterans Administration pays for the majority of the transplant costs. But there are out of pocket expenses for all veterans now including co-payments for all visits and co-payments for all medicines (which my dad has been told will number at least 50 after the transplant).
The protocol for my dad's transplant is that he and his caregiver, my Aunt Gina, stay in Nashville until January 15th. While the VA pays for the hotel (which includes some meals) this still leaves him to maintain his home in Nebraska, my mom's medical expenses, and his expenses in Nashville, all from his one disability payment.
When my dad is finally welcomed home, his expenses will not end. He will have monthly visits in Nashville for the first four months, then quarterly visits all in Nashville. This will always continue to be a financial challenge, but of course one we're grateful for. Because of my dad's disability combined with my mom's difficulties we were urged to open a Go Fund Me account. Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated by my entire family. God Bless you all!
If you would like to read more on my dad's journey see the link below on a local newspaper article written on him
http://norfolkdailynews.com/news/matching-sibling-provides-hope-for-cancer-patient/article_a1a94510-e9c1-11e4-80c7-3bf90937710a.html?mode=image&photo=0
If you are unable to donate monetary, there are others ways to make an impact not only for my family but others in need. You can donate blood at your local blood banks (Redcrossblood.org ), but you can also register to the National Bone Marrow Registry (Bethematch.org ) and possibly be a match to save a life.
Life as we knew it changed drastically. The severe fatigue forced my dad to quit his job, and as his doctors predicted, just battling his disease became a full time job. He traveled weekly, sometimes twice a week, for blood transfusions, the only "treatment" available. Between the actual transfusion and the travel time to the nearest hospital, the treatments could take between four and six hours. Added to this were appointments at the VA in Omaha, two hours away.
While my dad was away at his medical appointments, it then left my mom at home alone. She herself battles diabetes and various mental illnesses. Due to myself being out of the state on active duty in the Navy and my siblings being grown and out of the house, my dad is my mom’s primary caregiver and she relies on him to take her to her own medical appointments.
In early spring during an oncology visit at the VA Hospital in Omaha we were elated to learn that there was a possibility that my dad could have his life prolonged, or even be cured, by a stem cell transplant. The summer was one of constant travel, constant testing for the transplant and constant fatigue for my dad. The fatigue became so debilitating that driving for 20 miles would wear him out, and even a walk to the mailbox left him exhausted. But we had every reason to be hopeful - my Aunt Julie was a perfect match for my dad and the transplant was scheduled!
They both traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to one of the available stem cell research hospitals to receive treatment. On October 5th my Aunt Julie donated over 7 million stem cells and on the 7th my dad received them! The symptoms of this procedure brought on pain throughout his whole body but he never once complained. Unfortunately two weeks later he had a severe reaction to his anti rejection medication which sent him to the ICU for three days. They immediately took him off the medication, he slowly regained stability and is currently doing much better.
Due to my dad's 18 years of service in the Navy, the Veterans Administration pays for the majority of the transplant costs. But there are out of pocket expenses for all veterans now including co-payments for all visits and co-payments for all medicines (which my dad has been told will number at least 50 after the transplant).
The protocol for my dad's transplant is that he and his caregiver, my Aunt Gina, stay in Nashville until January 15th. While the VA pays for the hotel (which includes some meals) this still leaves him to maintain his home in Nebraska, my mom's medical expenses, and his expenses in Nashville, all from his one disability payment.
When my dad is finally welcomed home, his expenses will not end. He will have monthly visits in Nashville for the first four months, then quarterly visits all in Nashville. This will always continue to be a financial challenge, but of course one we're grateful for. Because of my dad's disability combined with my mom's difficulties we were urged to open a Go Fund Me account. Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated by my entire family. God Bless you all!
If you would like to read more on my dad's journey see the link below on a local newspaper article written on him
http://norfolkdailynews.com/news/matching-sibling-provides-hope-for-cancer-patient/article_a1a94510-e9c1-11e4-80c7-3bf90937710a.html?mode=image&photo=0
If you are unable to donate monetary, there are others ways to make an impact not only for my family but others in need. You can donate blood at your local blood banks (Redcrossblood.org ), but you can also register to the National Bone Marrow Registry (Bethematch.org ) and possibly be a match to save a life.
Organizer and beneficiary
Giacomo Zach
Organizer
Wayne, NE
Virginia Cook
Beneficiary