Help Make #EDSTRONG
Donation protected
We are raising money to help fight the financial stress that cancer places on Eddie and his family each day. Let’s help make #EDSTRONG.
In 2013, Eddie’s family and friends had a successful fundraiser to help with the financial challenges of fighting cancer and the Whaley family has been eternally grateful. But now, six years later, Eddie's cancer has been relentless and demanded significant financial resources from his family each year. It is time for Eddie’s support system to come together to do the one thing that we can to help Eddie get better. We need to relieve Eddie and his family of the financial stress that cancer puts on them each day. We can’t help Eddie with the pain his cancer has caused and time it has taken from his family and friends. We can address the financial stress that burdens them. Eddie is not done with his fight and needs all of the support we can offer him. Let’s give Eddie the power to fight cancer without the worry about its financial impact on his family.
100% of the funds raised will go to Eddie Whaley.
Eddie's Cancer Timeline:
2001 Eddie was diagnosed Hodgkins Lymphoma (Hodgkins Disease). After a hard 11 months of ABVD Chemotherapy Eddie was told he was cancer free!
2011 tests confirmed a diagnosis of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma called Small Lymphocytic Leukemia (SLL) and in 2013 it was determined that his SLL was now considered CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia).
2011-present Eddie has been fighting cancer. His body has been subjected to ongoing chemotherapy treatments as well as blood transfusions and therapeutic interventions to support his immune system. Eddie’s battle with cancer has been ongoing medical visits, hospitalizations and prescriptions.
Eddie’s Story (from the Whaley Family)
Eddie Whaley has been Fighting Cancer since January 2001 when he was diagnosed Hodgkins Lymphoma (Hodgkins Disease). After a hard Eleven months of ABVD Chemotherapy Eddie was told he was Cancer Free! Eddie was told the Chemotherapy he received could result in a future Cancer diagnosis. He lived the next Ten Years as normal as he could. Building a life with his Girlfriend Dana and his Son Colten. Eddie married Dana in 2004 and Welcomed a Daughter, Emma, in August 2005. The Whaley’s purchased their first home in 2005. Eddie spent a lot of time Coaching Colten in Football, Basketball, and Baseball and helping with Emma’s Softball, Basketball and Soccer teams. Eddie also was very involved with the Associations in South St. Paul. Volunteering his time on the Youth Baseball and Youth Basketball Boards and The Varsity Baseball and Basketball Boosters. Eddie enjoyed Ordering and Designing uniforms and apparel for the Kids and their families. During this time Eddie struggled with the fear of living Without Cancer. Every lump, bruise and body ache led to thoughts of having to hear the words “You have Cancer” again. Living with survivor’s guilt as friends and family members lost their battles.
2011 having a PET Scan, Lymph Node and Bone Marrow Biopsy confirmed that Cancer had returned. This time Non Hodgkins Lymphoma called Small Lymphocytic Leukemia (SLL). Eddie was told it was a slow moving Cancer that he may have had for awhile and not been Symptomatic. It usually is diagnosed in elderly people 60-70 years old. Being only 35 he was young. Eddie’s Older Brother Bob was unfortunately diagnosed approximately 2 years prior with the same form of Cancer. Because it was still early and Eddie only had been dealing with enlarged lymph nodes his Oncologist decided it was safe to consider it Wait and Watch. There is no cure for SLL. Two years later Eddie was having trouble keeping up physically with his day to day activities. Over sleeping before work and falling asleep during lunch breaks. Needing to rest between the kids Sporting events and just not feeling his social self.
In June 2013 Eddie was struggling at work. Even lifting his arms to write on paper was hard to do. He went to the ER and blood tests showed very low Hemoglobin. Eddie received his first of many Blood Transfusions. After many tests and scans it was determined his SLL was now considered CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia). The same type of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma That has infiltrated the Bone Marrow. In July Eddie had a Port implanted in his right chest and began Chemotherapy. (Rituximab + Bendamustine) Eddie received 2 Rounds, four sessions, of therapy. During this treatment Eddie developed PCP Pneumonia. (Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and spent two weeks in the hospital. Needing Physical and Occupational Therapy along with two weeks of Oxygen at home. From September 2013 until January 2014 Eddie needed many Blood Transfusions. Finally, his Hemoglobin numbers stabilized and the Bilirubin which was making him yellow with Jaundice returned to normal. His face and body swollen from months of high doses of steroids began to get back to the way it should be. In July 2015 still trying to get all the way back from his treatments Eddie began feeling tired, weak, and very sore. He went in to the ER and after tests revealed his Hemoglobin had dropped a lot. He needed more transfusions. His Oncologist decided to treat his CLL with a newly approved oral Treatment called Ibrutinib. Eddie took this medication from 2015 until it stopped doing the job in 2019. In 2019 Eddie was told to stop the medication because it no longer was helping with his Anemia. His Hemoglobin was constantly low and Eddie needed Weekly Blood Transfusions. Eddie’s new Oncologist (One moved, another retired) decided to try a new Chemotherapy Treatment regimen - Rituximab for 6 months and Another Oral Chemotherapy Pill Venetoclax. Eddie had to spend a weekend in the hospital for monitoring because The Venetoclax is very hard on the body. After 4 weeks of ramping up to the full 400 mg dose Eddie started his first monthly IV Rituximab. Eddie started this new treatment in June 2019. He already has had many setbacks. He needs weekly Neupogen shots because he became neutropenic. These shots have been very uncomfortable and painful at times. He has needed to stop his Venetoclax and restart it at a lower dose. We are Praying Eddie’s Treatment works and can knock his CLL down enough where he can get his quality of life back.
In 2013, Eddie’s family and friends had a successful fundraiser to help with the financial challenges of fighting cancer and the Whaley family has been eternally grateful. But now, six years later, Eddie's cancer has been relentless and demanded significant financial resources from his family each year. It is time for Eddie’s support system to come together to do the one thing that we can to help Eddie get better. We need to relieve Eddie and his family of the financial stress that cancer puts on them each day. We can’t help Eddie with the pain his cancer has caused and time it has taken from his family and friends. We can address the financial stress that burdens them. Eddie is not done with his fight and needs all of the support we can offer him. Let’s give Eddie the power to fight cancer without the worry about its financial impact on his family.
100% of the funds raised will go to Eddie Whaley.
Eddie's Cancer Timeline:
2001 Eddie was diagnosed Hodgkins Lymphoma (Hodgkins Disease). After a hard 11 months of ABVD Chemotherapy Eddie was told he was cancer free!
2011 tests confirmed a diagnosis of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma called Small Lymphocytic Leukemia (SLL) and in 2013 it was determined that his SLL was now considered CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia).
2011-present Eddie has been fighting cancer. His body has been subjected to ongoing chemotherapy treatments as well as blood transfusions and therapeutic interventions to support his immune system. Eddie’s battle with cancer has been ongoing medical visits, hospitalizations and prescriptions.
Eddie’s Story (from the Whaley Family)
Eddie Whaley has been Fighting Cancer since January 2001 when he was diagnosed Hodgkins Lymphoma (Hodgkins Disease). After a hard Eleven months of ABVD Chemotherapy Eddie was told he was Cancer Free! Eddie was told the Chemotherapy he received could result in a future Cancer diagnosis. He lived the next Ten Years as normal as he could. Building a life with his Girlfriend Dana and his Son Colten. Eddie married Dana in 2004 and Welcomed a Daughter, Emma, in August 2005. The Whaley’s purchased their first home in 2005. Eddie spent a lot of time Coaching Colten in Football, Basketball, and Baseball and helping with Emma’s Softball, Basketball and Soccer teams. Eddie also was very involved with the Associations in South St. Paul. Volunteering his time on the Youth Baseball and Youth Basketball Boards and The Varsity Baseball and Basketball Boosters. Eddie enjoyed Ordering and Designing uniforms and apparel for the Kids and their families. During this time Eddie struggled with the fear of living Without Cancer. Every lump, bruise and body ache led to thoughts of having to hear the words “You have Cancer” again. Living with survivor’s guilt as friends and family members lost their battles.
2011 having a PET Scan, Lymph Node and Bone Marrow Biopsy confirmed that Cancer had returned. This time Non Hodgkins Lymphoma called Small Lymphocytic Leukemia (SLL). Eddie was told it was a slow moving Cancer that he may have had for awhile and not been Symptomatic. It usually is diagnosed in elderly people 60-70 years old. Being only 35 he was young. Eddie’s Older Brother Bob was unfortunately diagnosed approximately 2 years prior with the same form of Cancer. Because it was still early and Eddie only had been dealing with enlarged lymph nodes his Oncologist decided it was safe to consider it Wait and Watch. There is no cure for SLL. Two years later Eddie was having trouble keeping up physically with his day to day activities. Over sleeping before work and falling asleep during lunch breaks. Needing to rest between the kids Sporting events and just not feeling his social self.
In June 2013 Eddie was struggling at work. Even lifting his arms to write on paper was hard to do. He went to the ER and blood tests showed very low Hemoglobin. Eddie received his first of many Blood Transfusions. After many tests and scans it was determined his SLL was now considered CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia). The same type of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma That has infiltrated the Bone Marrow. In July Eddie had a Port implanted in his right chest and began Chemotherapy. (Rituximab + Bendamustine) Eddie received 2 Rounds, four sessions, of therapy. During this treatment Eddie developed PCP Pneumonia. (Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and spent two weeks in the hospital. Needing Physical and Occupational Therapy along with two weeks of Oxygen at home. From September 2013 until January 2014 Eddie needed many Blood Transfusions. Finally, his Hemoglobin numbers stabilized and the Bilirubin which was making him yellow with Jaundice returned to normal. His face and body swollen from months of high doses of steroids began to get back to the way it should be. In July 2015 still trying to get all the way back from his treatments Eddie began feeling tired, weak, and very sore. He went in to the ER and after tests revealed his Hemoglobin had dropped a lot. He needed more transfusions. His Oncologist decided to treat his CLL with a newly approved oral Treatment called Ibrutinib. Eddie took this medication from 2015 until it stopped doing the job in 2019. In 2019 Eddie was told to stop the medication because it no longer was helping with his Anemia. His Hemoglobin was constantly low and Eddie needed Weekly Blood Transfusions. Eddie’s new Oncologist (One moved, another retired) decided to try a new Chemotherapy Treatment regimen - Rituximab for 6 months and Another Oral Chemotherapy Pill Venetoclax. Eddie had to spend a weekend in the hospital for monitoring because The Venetoclax is very hard on the body. After 4 weeks of ramping up to the full 400 mg dose Eddie started his first monthly IV Rituximab. Eddie started this new treatment in June 2019. He already has had many setbacks. He needs weekly Neupogen shots because he became neutropenic. These shots have been very uncomfortable and painful at times. He has needed to stop his Venetoclax and restart it at a lower dose. We are Praying Eddie’s Treatment works and can knock his CLL down enough where he can get his quality of life back.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rebecca Melton Masterman
Organizer
St. Paul, MN
Eddie Whaley
Beneficiary