Help me fight my Battle against Cancer.

Hello, everyone I am Archie, a nurse here in Germany. I would like to share my story, so you can help me with what I am going through, but mostly in financial difficulties we are facing now and also spread awareness regarding my illness, hence this fund raising.

On September last year 2023, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Synovial Sarcoma on my right foot and I´m still fighting it since then. Synovial Sarcoma (SS) is a rare and aggressive form of tumor that starts to grow on deep soft tissues anywhere in the body. Although it can happen at any age, it typically affects younger adults and children, with a peak incidence on the 40th year of life. (ESMO Open, 2023). According to my oncologist, only about 500 individuals over 83+ million people in Germany is currently diagnosed with it. The tumor usually starts in the soft tissues near the joints, although the name states “synovium” i.e. joints, tendons, ligaments, it is rare for it to start there.

I was already operated twice and was hospitalized for a month after the operation of removing the tumor. Then the plastic surgeon transplanted a tissue graft from my left flank and skin graft from my left thigh to my foot. Praise God, fortunately, I did not lost the limb. However, the cancer has also metastasized to my lungs and will also require a portion of my right lung to be surgically removed very soon on 25.09.2024 on Klinikum Rechts der Isar in Munich.

I already finished all my 8 exhausting and painful Chemotherapy sessions, during those times I need to stay in the hospital for 5 days to receive the toxic chemo drugs to kill the cancer cells. So, It took me almost 6 months, because I needed to stay 1 week (for administration of drugs) in the hospital and 2 weeks at home, as rest interval. Then, I would start the cycle again, completing the 8 sessions.

Additionally, I completed my radiation therapy, soon after the chemo, which took me almost 2 months to finish and that took my ability to walk normally again, because it damaged the skin of the donor site on my foot and I experienced the excruciating pain of a radiation burn.

We are currently struggling financially, for the reason that, although most of the expenses for my treatment is covered by the health insurance, it is not entirely free (e.g. hospital stays, taxi fares, medical supplies/equipment, medicines, etc.) that I need to still partly pay myself. I need to dig deeper into my pocket, which is currently empty and have holes. I really would not want to ask for your help. I hesitated a lot of times, if I should do this or just keep this to myself, if I didn´t think anyone would be kind and generous enough to help me in this most challenging time of our life. I was recently inspired to go through with this, seeing how many people could help you, especially the “Bayanihan” of the Filipino Community when a fellow countryman is in their trying time.

I have a wonderful 1 year and a half old son and a loving and caring wife, who takes care of me and my son at the moment, since we do not have any close family/relatives here.

But the thing is, I still need to take care of our daily expenses and my further treatment/s, but my insurance couldn´t cover it all, especially now that everything is expensive and I am currently unable to work.

This is why, I am knocking at your door, to help me and my family get through this difficult time, while I am still alive and able. I hope you will be a light in our darkest times and lift some of my burden. It is a long, lonely and fierce battle. Any amount that you donate will help us greatly. Thank you all so much, for helping us and reading my story. Please also include my full healing in your prayers. God Bless us all...

Yours sincerely,

Archie