HELP JOE SAVARESE BEAT CANCER

Family and friends,

 

You all know him as Joe Savarese.  We just know him as Joe, Dad, Grampie, Brother, Cousin, Uncle, Friend, Joey Bob or Pizza Joe.

 

Recently Joe’s life changed in a moment. It did not change for the better and now he faces a challenge nobody wants to face… especially  alone.

Joe  was diagnosed with STAGE 1 MULTIPLE MYELOMA.

MULTIPLE MYELOMA is a cancer of the plasma cells. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell in the bone marrow. With this condition a group of plasma cells become cancerous and multiply. The disease can damage the bones, immune system, kidneys, and red blood cell count. 

He will undergo an autologous stem cell transplant this month at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, CA.

An autologous stem cell transplant is similar to a blood transfusion. Joe’s own cells will be collected and stored with a preservative so they will be available for use after he receives high doses of chemotherapy. Returning these cells to Joe is the actual transplant procedure. 

Basically Joe becomes his own donor.

 

The transplant process will take 2 months if all goes as planned, longer perhaps.  

 

Joe is required by City of Hope to have a caregiver with him 24/7 and utilize a rental car throughout the transplant. He will be HIGHLY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED making public transit not an option.  Alone these costs are significant. 

 

The financial burden is immense and Joe has more to worry about than money. Joe knows all too well the costs of cancer. Joe lost Jean Savarese to Lymphatic Cancer in 1994. Joe continued to pay the financial burden of cancer for years after Jean passed. Here he is again burdened financially by cancer. He should be resting and healing as anyone in his situation should. 

With the help of all of you, we can help Joe focus on beating cancer and getting back to chasing Milo, his grandson. His daily routines and joys have changed but we can get him back to living his best life in remission. 

Joe needs help.
Please help Joe.
Donate to Joe’s cancer journey.
Every dollar counts.
20s count faster than 1s.
50s count faster than 20s… and so on.
We love and thank you all.

And to make this more sappy (Joe despises sappy), here are some costs associated with cancer:

 

*RENTAL CAR FOR 2 MONTHS MINIMUM

*HOUSE-SITTER

*PET-SITTER  FOR 2 DOGS AND 2 CATS

*COST OF PAYING A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING COMPANY TO DEEP CLEAN ENTIRE HOUSE TOP TO BOTTOM TO PREVENT INFECTION WHEN JOE IS HIGHLY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED

*CAREGIVER AIRFARE

*GOFUNDME FEES

*CHEMOTHERAPY PATIENT RELIEF PRODUCTS (non alcohol chapsticks, anti nausea products, port pillows and seat belt covers, radiation creams, toothettes and extra soft toothbrushes for a sensitive mouth, dry mouth products and much more.

*LUGGAGE

*PARKING FEES FOR 2 MONTHS

*MEALS FOR DAD (mostly Monty’s vegan  burgers where their slogan is “Come hungry, leave hungry!”, questionable street truck delights and vast amounts of soy based Starbucks  coffee beverages) & CAREGIVER

*LAUNDRY SERVICES (to prevent Joe from hanging clothesline throughout the room with mostly just socks)

*CLEANING PRODUCTS AND TOOLS FOR CLEANING

*GAS TO AND FROM CHEMOTHERAPY APPOINTMENTS AND BLOOD DRAWS AND TESTS AND OTHER APPOINTMENTS TO AND FROM SOUTH KONA TO KAILUA-KONA (APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES ONE WAY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK)
*GAS FOR RENTAL CAR

*PRODUCTS FOR WARMTH SUCH AS BLANKETS, SCARVES & BEANIES

*SHOWER CHAIRS
*HICKMAN PORT PILLOWS AND SEAT BELT PROTECTORS 
*ROLLING TRAY TABLE FOR EATING IN BED

WHEN INCAPACITATED 
And probably 100 other things we can’t think of.

 

THE SAVARESE FAMILY humbly asks for your help.

PLEASE DONATE NOW AND SHARE, SHARE, SHARE on Facebook, Instagram, MySpace, Tinder, Farmers Only, Twitter, West Hawaii Today, The Pony Express, your choice.

Lets get the word out and help Joe.

Thank you for taking the time to read Joe’s story.

 

Love you all,

THE SAVARESE FAMILY

 

They say cancer is strong

HOPE IS STRONGER