Backing Ben Pinkston in his battle with melanoma
Donation protected
“To the World, You May Be One Person, But To One Person You May Be The World.” (Author Unknown)
No truer words were ever spoken as it relates to our Ben Pinkston! Our friend, son, brother, uncle, godson, grandson, nephew, cousin, coworker, great grandson, and neighbor now needs your help.
Many of you know Ben, a 2002 graduate of Central Junior High, a 2006 graduate of Evergreen Park High School, previous employee of the Hometown Bagel Inc., a criminal justice student at Moraine Valley Community College, and current Belt Railroad employee.
At 32 years old, no one could have ever prepared to hear the words he heard on February 25th, 2021 when his oncologist called to tell him that he has inoperable stage 4 melanoma in his lungs, liver, bone, and lymph nodes. Later this week he will have an MRI to see if it has metastasized to his brain.
As many of you already know this all started back in July 2018 with what Ben thought was just a stubbed toe. This has now spiraled into a life changing event. When it would not heal, Ben started seeing the podiatrist whose testing revealed that there was no infection. After being referred to an infectious disease doctor who also concluded that there was no infection present, the podiatrist did a biopsy of his toe that showed malignant melanoma.
After extensive testing and multiple doctors, it was decided that the best course of action was to remove his toe. Ben is very independent and courageous, many people did not realize that this past year, while still working daily at the Belt Railroad, he had been undergoing immunotherapy to fight back and destroy any melanoma cells that may be in his body. Unfortunately, chemotherapy and radiation is not an option and the most recent PET scans have shown that the melanoma is aggressively spreading.
Never married, Ben has had to work through all of this treatment Independently in order to keep the health insurance and finances needed to fight this battle. Never once, has anyone heard him complain or ever ask for help. Ben will continue to fight this battle with the strength, humor, and zest as he always has, but he now needs our help as he will be incurring expenses for things like travel costs for second opinions and treatments, co payments, and the needed supplemental income for when he is unable to work. Without a spouse to lean on for most of this, it is vitally important that we step in to help so that he can stop worrying about expenses and focus on staying comfortable and fighting this battle.
Ben would never ask so I as his Godmother am turning to each of you to please find it in your heart to donate any amount that you can. No amount is too small. This is one worry he should not have to deal with. Any additional funds received that Ben does not need to use will be donated back to the American Melanoma Foundation. Please pass this along to your family and friends as well. We need everyone!
So come on team Ben, Let’s all Back Benny in his battle against melanoma!!!!
No truer words were ever spoken as it relates to our Ben Pinkston! Our friend, son, brother, uncle, godson, grandson, nephew, cousin, coworker, great grandson, and neighbor now needs your help.
Many of you know Ben, a 2002 graduate of Central Junior High, a 2006 graduate of Evergreen Park High School, previous employee of the Hometown Bagel Inc., a criminal justice student at Moraine Valley Community College, and current Belt Railroad employee.
At 32 years old, no one could have ever prepared to hear the words he heard on February 25th, 2021 when his oncologist called to tell him that he has inoperable stage 4 melanoma in his lungs, liver, bone, and lymph nodes. Later this week he will have an MRI to see if it has metastasized to his brain.
As many of you already know this all started back in July 2018 with what Ben thought was just a stubbed toe. This has now spiraled into a life changing event. When it would not heal, Ben started seeing the podiatrist whose testing revealed that there was no infection. After being referred to an infectious disease doctor who also concluded that there was no infection present, the podiatrist did a biopsy of his toe that showed malignant melanoma.
After extensive testing and multiple doctors, it was decided that the best course of action was to remove his toe. Ben is very independent and courageous, many people did not realize that this past year, while still working daily at the Belt Railroad, he had been undergoing immunotherapy to fight back and destroy any melanoma cells that may be in his body. Unfortunately, chemotherapy and radiation is not an option and the most recent PET scans have shown that the melanoma is aggressively spreading.
Never married, Ben has had to work through all of this treatment Independently in order to keep the health insurance and finances needed to fight this battle. Never once, has anyone heard him complain or ever ask for help. Ben will continue to fight this battle with the strength, humor, and zest as he always has, but he now needs our help as he will be incurring expenses for things like travel costs for second opinions and treatments, co payments, and the needed supplemental income for when he is unable to work. Without a spouse to lean on for most of this, it is vitally important that we step in to help so that he can stop worrying about expenses and focus on staying comfortable and fighting this battle.
Ben would never ask so I as his Godmother am turning to each of you to please find it in your heart to donate any amount that you can. No amount is too small. This is one worry he should not have to deal with. Any additional funds received that Ben does not need to use will be donated back to the American Melanoma Foundation. Please pass this along to your family and friends as well. We need everyone!
So come on team Ben, Let’s all Back Benny in his battle against melanoma!!!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Shannon Selvage Gutierrez
Organizer
Oak Lawn, IL
Ben Pinkston
Beneficiary