Help Kevin with cancer treatment

If anyone can help with donation it would be greatly appreciated. Cancer SUCKS, but when it hits home and a really good friend come downs with it, you really start looking around and wonder what the hell is going on? The statement below is from Kevin, this is my friend laying it out there for all of his family and friend to read his personal private business. Kevin has never been one to post anything this personal, at this point, he is looking at friends and family for comfort. I felt the need to ask for donation to help Kevin cover his deductible and airline tickets and treatment at MD Anderson cancer center in Houston TX. Please take the time to read Kevin’s story and help if at all possible. Thank you so much

AIN’T LIFE A BITCH

Where to start…

Heart Attack. ✅

Diabetes ✅

Covid ✅

A Nationwide shut down ✅

Inflation and food/goods shortage✅

Violence and Loss of faith in God as a country ✅

Family loss ✅

Family greed ✅

Pet loss ✅

Anxiety and depression ✅

NICE BUCKET LIST!!

All of these things can be and were devastating

WELL…How about Terminal Cancer!? ✅ ✅ ✅

Let’s Cut to the Chase; in October of 2021, I was diagnosed with a “Curable” Rectal/Colon Cancer. After being poked and prodded by every type of specialist imaginable, I was rushed into emergency surgery to install a Chemo Port in my Chest; this was followed two days after surgery with radiation and Chemotherapy five days a week for almost two months.

Never in our wildest dreams(Reb and I) would We have been able to prepare for this.

Radiation…

My first four tattoos were put there to line up a laser beam with the tumor in my wazoo!! So much for a cool tattoo, but come to think of it. It makes sense that cancer survivors often get tattoos to remind them of their “first ink” experience. By the way, Radiation has a way of Wrecking everything in its path, including the Prostate

(Look up Radiation Cystitis).

Chemotherapy (Poison in a bag)…

Hours in the chemo chair along with wearing a pack plugged into my chest Monday through Friday

Feeling like death warmed over. Thank God for our pup “Zoggy Doggy,” as he sat in my lap for hours at every treatment.

When this was over, I was retested and prepped for surgery to remove “the dead and shrunken tumor” with a promise of 100% cancer-free life within six months.

Considering what we had gone through thus far, This was a tremendous lift in spirits for both of us

One week before this “Awesome Plan,” I was re-diagnosed with stage 4 (terminal) Liver Cancer. Somehow, during my treatments, cancer decided to spread to my liver. My Oncologist informed us that he had canceled surgery because in the time that it would take for me to recover from the Colon surgery, the “Newly Found” Cancer in my Liver would spread, and I Would die of liver cancer.

What a devastating blow from a phone call while having our “Monday morning coffee.”

Reb and I took this shocking news like a punch in the face and a kick in the gut; our wonderful Life together and plans for our future now had taken a whole new dark direction…

No More vacations (you got to be on Chemo for life), no more happy years of retirement (you Are going to die of Liver Cancer sooner than later), and no more financial security (by the way health Insurance is a joke and so is disability options).

We ended that Phone call from a guy that we entrusted “OUR LIVES” with… Our optimism for the future was instantly replaced with sadness, bewilderment, Anxiety, devastation, and hopelessness.

In Less than 6 months our lives were changed forever…

“Terminal Cancer”.

What does that even mean?

Why Me (US)?

- I’m a “good guy”, maybe a bit stubborn at times

- I’m not old enough to be dying. I just hit my mid fifties

- I’m just hitting my stride and have an eye on the retirement years, traveling and relaxing

We didn’t even know what to think or do, but boy, did we find out quick.

Chemotherapy ever other week “for life”

Endless hours of crying, feeling sorry for ourselves, uncertainty , anxiety and depression, did I mention that cancer is also physically and mentally painful? Try sleeping and waking up in the middle of the night when you know that you are dying.

Up to this point, Reb and I have decided to keep this off of social media at the time for privacy reasons. There are a lot of you that know what’s going on and that is because we had to share this with friends because it is just too much to face alone.

We are going to continue to ask for Privacy. We aren’t asking for, or do we need, any Suggestions for treatments or advice as we have that under control. What we would ask for at this time, are Prayers and encouragement from everyone, to help us keep our strength and Faith up.

Financially we are doing ok. However, even with medical insurance (did I mention what a broken system we live in)?

my deductibles alone are nearing $15,000 between the Heart Surgery last year and the current treatments. This isn’t even counting the expenses to travel to the Cancer center in Houston At the end of April (explained in the next Paragraph).

We searched for alternative treatments with MD Anderson cancer center in Houston TX for a Case study as my colon cancer gene has mutated to a more aggressive type of cancer.

They won’t accept my Insurance, so it would be completely “out of pocket” for the first evaluation trip at least. If they accept me as a case study they would pay for further treatments. Our fingers are crossed and we are praying hard for this to happen

If I’m not accepted (which is highly likely), I’m seriously considering discontinuing the chemotherapy as it is wrecking my body and mind as well as stealing whatever quality time that I have left.

My advice to all of you that are going through life on “AUTO-PILOT”!!

PLEASE STOP AND ENJOY THE THINGS AROUND YOU THAT YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED”!!

Because once you hear this kind of news, these things have a whole new meaning. Please don’t wait until it's too late!

LIKE I SAID, “AIN’T LIFE A BITCH!!

*NOW THE CELEBRATION*

I fought against having a benefit but I was greatly out-voted by some wonderful friends. Telling me how many times that we have played benefits for others to help those in need.

So I agreed to it, provided that I was allowed to pick the venue and the bands.

I Chose Orange County Choppers because of the capacity of the venue (plus my Boy Vic Lima was all about it).

I chose a Sunday (6/26) so that most of our Musician friends could attend.

Please Mark this Date on your calendar so that you can Attend. If you have any ideas for the benefit, want to get involved, or wish to donate (Donations/Sponsors/Auction Items) please contact Rebecca or myself Directly.

We absolutely appreciate everyone but Please try to avoid too many text and/or Phone calls at this time.

We are both swamped with dealing with this situation.

There will be a Flyer for the benefit very soon!

You’re not going to want to miss the artist line-up we have selected for this event. As I said “All’ of the bands and MC’s were hand-selected by me for different reasons.

To all the bands that have offered to play this event, thank you guys I wish I had more room for all of you.

(Maybe it should be a benefit weekend so I can have everyone play).

THIS WILL BE THE PERFECT TIME TO CATCH SOME OF THE ABSOLUTE HOTTEST BANDS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA ALL AT ONE EVENT””

Love to all of you and thanks for the friendships. Please keep Reb and In your prayers!

Reb, Kevin, Zoggy Doggy, and LuLu!