Help My Friend Steve Courtney Conquer Myeloma
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Help My Friend Steve Courtney Conquer Multiple Myeloma
Background:
I have a very good friend Steve Courtney. He is a very hard worker and kind man who would help anyone in need. He has been a laboratory technician at the Beckman Coulter Florence, KY manufacturing plant for over 20 years. He loves to golf and riding his Indian Scout motorcycle and spending time with his 2 adult children and 4 grandchildren.
After an abscess tooth was removed on a Thursday in June of this year Steve went to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood for severe nausea and vomiting. His condition continued to get deteriorate as his creatine numbers (measure of kidney function) became life threatening. Steve also became diabetic during this episode. Steve started on insulin and dialysis.
Steve was released after 3 weeks with no diagnosis but required dialysis 3 days/week as his kidneys were not functioning.
DIAGNOSIS:
Finally, after a kidney biopsy and further blood tests it was determined Steve had stage 3 Myeloma, a rare (only 6.5 in 100,000) type of cancer of plasma cells that results in anemia, kidney dysfunction, and infections.
To make matters worse, the type of Multiple Myeloma Steve has is called Light Chain. Light Chain Multiple Myeloma (LCMM) is much more aggressive rapid form of the disease with higher rates of kidney failure. Only 20% of people with Multiple Myeloma have the Light Chain type.
There is no cure for Myeloma but you can go into complete remission for years.
In addition, the excess calcium from bone damage (hypercalcemia) causes severe stomach issues. Steve cannot eat solid food and gets his liquid nutrition from a feeding tube that goes directly into his large intestine. Steve has lost much weight and muscle and is extremely weak.
OUTLOOK:
Dialysis- Steve is responding well to dialysis and his treatment plan has been reduced from 3 days to 1 day/week.
Chemo-Steve is on weekly pill chemo from Oncology Hematology Care (OHC) at Jewish Hospital. He was responded very well and protein levels are almost normal.
Stem Cell Transplant- Once in complete remission, Steve will undergo a stem cell transplant to restore the blood forming cells damaged by the chemo. This will be done with Steve’s own stem cells at OHC.
WHY AM I ASKING FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR STEVE?
Although Steve has short term disability through his employer for 6 months, it only paid 70 of his salary. Steve will begin long term disability in late December that only pays 60% of his salary.
Steve has medical insurance through his employer, but after $4,000 out of pocket, the insurance will only cover 80% and Steve will be responsible for 20%.
· Steve has spent a total of 4 weeks @ St. E Edgewood, has been on dialysis since July, and has had 2 Upper GI’s and 2 feeding tube placements and diagnostic testing. Hospital stay average $2,500/day = $70,000 + procedures = total estimate of $150,000.
· Steve has been on dialysis 3 days/week for 6 months. Average estimated cost $40,000.
· Steve has been on weekly pill chemo @ OHC since July 15th. Average estimated cost $100,000.
· Weekly injections @ $6,000/month x 7 months = $42,000.
· The stem cell transplant costs will be $40,000 average not including 2-week hospital stay in isolation @ OHC @ $30,000 average cost. Total = $70,000
·
Grand Estimated Treatment Total = $402,000.
20% = 80,400 + $4,000 out of pocket = $84,400
Lost Wages Total 9 months total treatment = $16,000
We are asking to help Steve for a total of $104,400
Background:
I have a very good friend Steve Courtney. He is a very hard worker and kind man who would help anyone in need. He has been a laboratory technician at the Beckman Coulter Florence, KY manufacturing plant for over 20 years. He loves to golf and riding his Indian Scout motorcycle and spending time with his 2 adult children and 4 grandchildren.
After an abscess tooth was removed on a Thursday in June of this year Steve went to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood for severe nausea and vomiting. His condition continued to get deteriorate as his creatine numbers (measure of kidney function) became life threatening. Steve also became diabetic during this episode. Steve started on insulin and dialysis.
Steve was released after 3 weeks with no diagnosis but required dialysis 3 days/week as his kidneys were not functioning.
DIAGNOSIS:
Finally, after a kidney biopsy and further blood tests it was determined Steve had stage 3 Myeloma, a rare (only 6.5 in 100,000) type of cancer of plasma cells that results in anemia, kidney dysfunction, and infections.
To make matters worse, the type of Multiple Myeloma Steve has is called Light Chain. Light Chain Multiple Myeloma (LCMM) is much more aggressive rapid form of the disease with higher rates of kidney failure. Only 20% of people with Multiple Myeloma have the Light Chain type.
There is no cure for Myeloma but you can go into complete remission for years.
In addition, the excess calcium from bone damage (hypercalcemia) causes severe stomach issues. Steve cannot eat solid food and gets his liquid nutrition from a feeding tube that goes directly into his large intestine. Steve has lost much weight and muscle and is extremely weak.
OUTLOOK:
Dialysis- Steve is responding well to dialysis and his treatment plan has been reduced from 3 days to 1 day/week.
Chemo-Steve is on weekly pill chemo from Oncology Hematology Care (OHC) at Jewish Hospital. He was responded very well and protein levels are almost normal.
Stem Cell Transplant- Once in complete remission, Steve will undergo a stem cell transplant to restore the blood forming cells damaged by the chemo. This will be done with Steve’s own stem cells at OHC.
WHY AM I ASKING FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR STEVE?
Although Steve has short term disability through his employer for 6 months, it only paid 70 of his salary. Steve will begin long term disability in late December that only pays 60% of his salary.
Steve has medical insurance through his employer, but after $4,000 out of pocket, the insurance will only cover 80% and Steve will be responsible for 20%.
· Steve has spent a total of 4 weeks @ St. E Edgewood, has been on dialysis since July, and has had 2 Upper GI’s and 2 feeding tube placements and diagnostic testing. Hospital stay average $2,500/day = $70,000 + procedures = total estimate of $150,000.
· Steve has been on dialysis 3 days/week for 6 months. Average estimated cost $40,000.
· Steve has been on weekly pill chemo @ OHC since July 15th. Average estimated cost $100,000.
· Weekly injections @ $6,000/month x 7 months = $42,000.
· The stem cell transplant costs will be $40,000 average not including 2-week hospital stay in isolation @ OHC @ $30,000 average cost. Total = $70,000
·
Grand Estimated Treatment Total = $402,000.
20% = 80,400 + $4,000 out of pocket = $84,400
Lost Wages Total 9 months total treatment = $16,000
We are asking to help Steve for a total of $104,400
Organizer and beneficiary
Jay Knochel
Organizer
Union, KY
Steve Courtney
Beneficiary