Help Joe Through Cancer Surgery

I have been asking for weeks to set this up and after much angst and a pit in his stomach, he sighed and finally agreed that with no other alternative… We are asking for help.

After being struck by another vehicle, an MRI was required which showed an injury requiring back surgery. It came as quite a shock that on top of the back injury, a large mass was found pushing on my brother Joe’s left kidney and spine. Approximately three weeks ago, he was diagnosed with a very rare cancer called liposarcoma. We have started a GoFundMe to assist with overwhelming medical costs. At this time there are still many unknowns.

After weeks of fighting with an insurance company that doesn’t cover out of network, he finally met with an Oncology Surgeon who is a Sarcoma Specialist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston yesterday. The beginning stages are now in place and additional radiology and renal scans have been set up for Wednesday to see if the cancer has metastasized to his lungs (among other things) along with a lengthy biopsy procedure on Friday. The biopsy results are expected 10 days later, and surgery will take place within two weeks of those results. The current plan is for a specialized team of Oncologists to perform a surgery to completely remove the tumor along with Joe’s left kidney, ureter, adrenal gland and parts of his pancreas, spleen, colon, back muscle and more. Chemo and radiation will be determined after surgery and pathology results.

With very high insurance deductibles, out of pocket medical bills, surgery looming with unknown treatments and recovery, transportation to Boston and day to day bills, financial stress is abundant. He is the sole provider for the three of his boys that still live at home, Jake (15) and twins Luke and Cole (13) and quite honestly, we are scared.

Joe spent 25 years working in public safety and on rescue, dedicated to helping the people of South County and continues to teach students to save lives. We are humbly asking for any help people are willing and able to give, be it financial or thoughts and prayers.

Every little bit helps!

I will continue to update as we get more answers.

Sincerely,

Erin (Tedeschi) Gingerella