Help Bruce Continue His Cancer Fight

Hi, my name is Alex and I'm collecting donations to help my dad, Bruce, pay for his medical bills. Before I dive into the reason for this fund, I want to start by sharing a bit about my dad.

In my earliest memory of my father, the night was warm and it smelled hot with summer air. The chirps of crickets, cicadas, and frogs drift through the open window. He and I were seated comfortably in his bed watching the Yankees game. I was curled up against my parents' pillows and he was beside me strumming his acoustic guitar, signed by Jerry Cantrell, softly while the game played on the TV. I don't remember what he was playing, but a good guess is it was my favorite, Blackbird by The Beatles. I would beg him to play it all hours of the day. He could be outside busy with yard work or fixing something in the house and I would still ask him to drop everything he was doing and play the song for me. It was never the original song with Paul McCartney's unique, distinct voice I loved. It was the version my dad played while I drifted off to sleep, wrapped in the warmth and safety of our home.

My dad is smart and funny. He's hardworking and curious. When he finds a new topic of interest, he dives in to learn everything he can about it. He is clever and good at finding unique ways to solve problems. He loves music and baseball. Like any stereotypical dad, he tells corny jokes worthy of an eye roll. And when we need him, he is there.

In 2022, my dad had a seizure and fell, resulting in an L2 compression fracture in his back. However, we didn't understand the extent or root of the damage at the time. My dad tried physical therapy, nerve blockers, and cortisone shots, but nothing worked. His pain persisted, which prompted the test that would eventually diagnose him with stage 2 multiple myeloma in February of 2023. The MRI showed masses in his bone marrow and a low T1 bone marrow signal. Had he not fallen and injured his back, we wouldn't have known he had multiple myeloma until it began to affect his organs.

Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. These plasma cells, responsible for fighting disease or infection, become abnormal and interfere with healthy blood cells. This causes a variety of health issues including brittle bones, kidney dysfunction, anemia, and a weaker immune system. There are 3 stages: early, intermediate, and advanced. Multiple myeloma is incurable and usually follows repeated cycles of remission followed by relapse.

My dad was lucky. They caught his cancer early and immediately began treatment. By the fall of 2023, he was already in remission and has been since then. However, his cancer is only dormant and continues to have a significant impact on his health. Because of the myeloma, his doctors cannot treat his fractured back, leaving him with limited mobility and relying solely on pain management.

At the beginning of this year, he started the process of stem cell transplantation and had his stem cells harvested. However, due to the costs of the treatment, which insurance does not cover, he has had to put off completing the transplant. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the combination treatment my dad received upon his diagnosis (VRd) costs $220,000. I'm starting this GoFundMe to give my dad the financial support needed to pay for stem cell transplant so he can continue his treatment and prolong his remission.

While he's in remission, my dad's M-spike (a measure of monoclonal antibodies) is steadily rising by 0.1g/dl every 2 months, meaning his transplant in imminent and will need to happen soon.

I've seen other people create GoFundMes to help raise money for family members who need financial support for medical costs, but I never imagined I would have to make one for my own. All donations are greatly appreciated and will go entirely toward the cost of my dad's stem cell transplant. For those who donate, thank you. I am grateful for and humbled by your kindness. With your help, my dad can receive the care he needs.