GoFundSam In His Fight To Crush Cancer

On February 8, 2022, Sam Cooledge (Son of Sandra and Steve Ramsey, brother of Chris Cooledge) learned that his life had been completely turned upside down. A simple MRI for a strained neck discovered multiple tumors in his brain as well as his lungs. He was quickly diagnosed with stage 4 brain and lung cancer. He is facing an estimated $240,000 total in medical costs over the next 36 months for outpatient care and the medicine that will help him defeat the cancer.

 

Sam is taking this situation on exactly how he has taken on other challenges to his 36-year life: He will overcome and crush it. Sam overcame drug addiction in 2010 and has spent the last 12 years sober. Over this time, he has sponsored and mentored many individuals and has built an incredible network of friends. While in recovery, Sam put himself through college and became a programmer for a ground-breaking addiction recovery technology firm, WEconnect. In mid-2019, Sam moved to Thailand to fulfill a dream of living and working abroad. He became a Product Manager for a multinational software firm. He is living happily in Thailand with his wonderful girlfriend, his friends, and a blossoming career.

 

Although facing a diagnosis of cancer is incredibly challenging, a strong medical game plan is in place. Sam has an excellent medical team that has created a treatment strategy through a blend of ground-breaking targeted therapy, along with the latest radiation technology.

 

His team is comprised of team of a lead oncologist, cardiologists, psychiatrists, physical therapists, radiation technicians, and pain management specialists. This team is committed to saving Sam’s life by managing a treatment that is state-of-the-art. With Sam's age and health, the team is confident the treatment will be successful in deterring any re-growth of cancer cells.

 

The cost of medical care is significantly less in Thailand than it would be in the U.S., however, the Thai insurance system does not cover cancer treatments. Sam is facing an extraordinary challenge with medical bills as he gets very little support from his Thai health insurance.

 

We estimate that it will take at least $240,000 to cover his initial medical expenses over the next 3 years.

 

For example, the targeted immunotherapy medicine alone will cost $5,200 per month. This game-changing treatment might well last for years and is the cornerstone of Sam’s cancer recovery strategy. This drug will save Sam’s life.

 

The financial road ahead is hard and we are asking for your support to help Sam to get through this incredibly challenging time.

 

Since $240,000 is a daunting amount to raise at one time, we are breaking that figure into 3 phases.

 

The initial goal for phase 1 is $80,000 by April 30, 2022.

Phase 2 begins May 1, 2022, and the goal of $80,000 is needed by July 30, 2022

Phase 3 goal is $80,000 and runs from August 1, 2022 until October 31, 2022

 

We believe we can raise the entire amount needed for Sam by November 1, 2022.

 

Your direct donation to Sam will help pay for:

 

- Radiation treatment for existing brain cancer cells (one month of treatment)

- Immunotherapy for lung cancer treatment (at least two years of treatment)

- Outpatient therapy and treatment

- Continued neurological observation, analysis, and treatment

- Preventative cardiological procedures and care

- Continued MRI, EEG testing, PET/CT scans, and x-rays

- Psychiatric appointments

- Physical Therapy

- Continued prescription medication management

- Regular appointments and consultations with his team of oncologists, cardiologists, psychiatrists, physical therapists, radiation technicians, and pain management specialists

 

Sam is a loving brother, son, boyfriend and a friend to many. His smile and personality are as big as his heart and his dreams. If you ask Sam for help, he shows up. Now he’s asking for you to help save his life with a donation.

 

We need your help to cover costs to make sure he can focus his best efforts on treatment, recovery and his future.

 

He will crush cancer, but he cannot do it alone. Please give what you can here.

 

You are receiving this appeal because you are a friend of Sam’s and/or his family. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

 

Onward in hope,

 

Sandra, Steve and Chris