Greg Skol - Cancer Fight

HELLO, IT'S ME....

Hi, my name is Greg Skol. I am a professional artist and have been for 35+ years, living in Santa Fe. NM.

I am a father, a friend, a brother and more. I am disabled from an illness in 2021 which resulted in losing my left leg from the knee down. Even with that challenge I returned to living & working completely independently shortly thereafter ..... and swim in gratitude for the good fortune in my life!

These are some of the things about this person writing to you here.

Another Side of Me..... Cowboying Up In New Mexico a While Back

CANCER - THE ENEMY WITHIN

I can still hardly get the word out of my mouth.... CANCER. Specifically Multiple Myeloma... a type of blood cancer that attacks the bones. At this time, my spine & vertebrae are affected the most. Needless to say this is quite painful and has affected my abilities and progress I've made over the past year as a disabled person. I am starting with radiation treatment for a tumor that threatens to paralyze my leg & residual limb. After this it will be Chemotherapy for the general condition of Multiple Myeloma.

We have ALL had some brush with cancer... either personally or with a loved one. I have too. More times than I care to think about. And yet we never think it will be US! I surely did not... and yet... here I am!

I don't mind telling you, this is all quite frightening and consuming mentally & emotionally.... as I worry about my son, loved ones and falling through the cracks in the system which have already begun to showed themselves.

While I work hard to remain optimistic.... I can't help feeling in some moments like the old sick dog in the back of the rescue kennel... scared, hurting, wondering what will become of me.

CANCER & FINANCIAL MADNESS

A Recent Painting of mine; The Road To There; Oil - 8x10 inches

Everyone knows THIS about Cancer..... THE FINANCIAL COSTS. Particularly after-care where insurance pulls the plug on paying. It leaves us at the edge of the abyss.... home care during & after treatment and the impossible cost of that. This is commonly where people "fall through the cracks" in the system.

The all too common story of family bankruptcy facing home care costs and / or some other horrific situations is just that... all too common!

THIS.... is why I am asking for your help. As a private & proud person (as most of us are).... this is extremely difficult. But....I MUST.

BRASS TACKS.... COSTS, SPENDING & WHY

The endless stories of mind twisting costs are familiar. It was not until I & my loved ones did the math that the mountain of cost came into view on the horizon.

Here I will give you the cost analysis of the home care.

The treatment I will be receiving out patient is going to be lengthy. Probably months. Perhaps longer. The side effects are what you might expect, hence the length of home care. And so... I am here. Trying to raise what seems like an impossible amount of money.... just to be able to live and work as normally as possible during treatment. This is what I found about costs.....

Skilled home care at 24 hours a day (which may be needed so it is the baseline for costs outlined. $24 ooo.oo per month!

Astonishing right?!?

Ok.... let's just breathe now for a second....

Now........let's move forward

1) Home care (private, skilled providers: 7 days a week, 12 hours per day =

$360.oo / day

$10,800.oo / month

$64,000.oo / 6 months

$129,600.oo / 1 year (this is a possibility)

Regular Life Expenses (Average) = 25,000.oo / 1 year

Physical Therapy at home (for maintaining) = $10,400.oo / year estimated

Counciling (various), transport etc..... =$5200.oo

And these are the best to worst case scenario totals.... (rounded):

Minimum : $ 175,000.oo

Maximum : $ 288 000.oo

Hence my goal amount... of $200,000.oo

AND SO, MY FRIENDS.......

This is MY story. Another human being meeting serious illness & putting up a fight.... as a disabled person (which makes the home care services more critical as opposed to able bodied)..... to get through and get well.

Another Recent Painting : Of Earth & Rain II - Oil, 6x6 inches

I feel optimistic about the future even though I can't tell you "why". Perhaps a good prognosis. Perhaps all the blessings and love I have in my life. Perhaps it is because of the mesmerizing beauty in the landscape of my home state and the paintings I create from that. Perhaps my experience with the beauty & community of the "family of man" that has been my fortune to know.

As Jack Kerouac wrote....

"With a beauty that can break your heart".

As I close here I am reminded of another quote I love. From the ancient Hebrew I believe....

"He who saves one man saves the world".

So..... that is my story.

With gratitude and thanks and faith and love I say:

"Thank you sincerely"

Greg

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