Help Keith with His Last Cancer Battle

Update. On Saturday, January 20th 2024, Keith passed. He fought right to the very end. Keith cared deeply for everyone. Those were the two things I would ask everyone to think of when they think of Keith. Strength and love, strength in love.

I would thank every single one of you personally if I could. All of you made this time easier for Keith and us to bear.

With much gratitude.

Heather

Pictured, Keith and Tori, (2000), and Keith, (2022.)

And it is a battle. Cancer, leukemia, bone marrow transplant and rejection, and now terminal cancer.

Keith has been fighting since 2011 when he was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer and the genetic condition that caused him to develop cancer, familial adenomatous polyposis.

A spontaneous mutation caused the genetic condition, so no one knew to look for cancer symptoms. Keith was 37 when he received a stage 3 cancer diagnosis. So Keith fought. Radiation, chemotherapy, a 12-hour-long surgery to remove his colon and the tumor, excellent medical professionals, and Keith’s strength pushed him into remission.

Then in 2014, Keith got a cough. And after a series of tests, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. By the time they realized that it was leukemia, one lung had collapsed entirely, and the other was at 30% functionality. In adults, this leukemia has a 30-40% survival rate. So Keith fought. Chemo and eventually a bone marrow transplant in 2015 stopped leukemia in its tracks. Unfortunately, Keith developed Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD aka rejection). He was near death when a fantastic doctor begged the insurance company to let him try a medication on Keith that had a different use and was being tested on 20 people in Germany. The longest of long shots. It worked, and to this day, Keith still takes this particular medicine two times a day to keep GvHD at bay.

Life moved forward, and just like that, it was 2020. During the lockdown and due to a move to another state, at the end of 2019/first days of 2020, there was difficulty getting a doctor’s appointment for his several yearly CEA (tumor marker) tests. By the time he was able to get in to have a test done towards the end of 2020, cancer had returned and moved throughout his body, and he was given a terminal diagnosis with a 3-year survival average. So Keith fought and is continuing to fight.

While undergoing treatment, Keith has worked except for short periods to recover from surgery or have a particularly invasive treatment. In 2020, 2021, and 2022 alone, Keith had 38 chemo sessions while still working full time. It was hard on him, but back in 2011, when he found out about the genetic condition, our daughter, our only child, Tori, was diagnosed with the same cancer-causing genetic disease. Tori had her colon removed in 2017 to prevent the type of cancer that is now killing her father. This surgery was done hoping to prolong Tori's life. So Keith didn’t slow down, feel sorry for himself, or even entertain the idea of giving up because our daughter will one day be fighting this same fight.

In March of 2022, due to cognitive damage caused by chemo, Keith is no longer able to work and requires a caretaker. Keith has gone on long-term disability. Tori is forgoing school to work full-time. I (Tori’s mom) am Keith’s caretaker. James (another family member) helps us by doing many things that keep our household going, whether fixing furniture, mowing the yard, or emergency transportation. It just isn’t enough. By this point, Keith’s treatments are contingent on retaining his health insurance, and its payments are costly. Between the insurance payments, medication, everyday travel expenses to the hospital for treatment, and everything else that comes with the nightmare that is cancer, there is more than one battle being waged under our roof. Not to mention Tori’s tests and all the medical issues she has due to this genetic condition…

It’s hard to ask for help. Keith always thought he would beat cancer and lived with that mindset, so this step of no longer being able to work is hitting him hard. It isn’t just the finances; the man loved his job, the company, and the people he worked with. He’s fought so hard, and all I want to do is make the struggle to pay some of the medical bills one less thing that will keep him up at night. Any monies received will be used for COBRA payments, co-payments to doctors/hospitals/tests, medications and treatment to prolong his life, and transportation costs. Keith would also like to remain in the home for hospice care. Keith has a pretty good physical and emotional support system, but we will need a nurse to oversee and handle certain aspects of Keith’s care for in-home hospice. I want this man who spent the past 11 years battling cancer or being watchful for its recurrence to keep a measure of dignity.

Lastly, I would like to get his final expenses arranged and paid for so he won’t have to dwell on the financial aspect of funeral and burial arrangements. The plan isn’t for anything fancy, just a simple remembrance for the people who love him.

I am here asking for help because we need it badly. We worked hard to try and prepare for this, but the medical bills are just eating us up, and there aren’t many other options. We appreciate any assistance and are eternally grateful for the time this will buy Keith and keep our family together just a little while longer.

Thank you so very much,

Heather Whitemore