Rick's Medical Bills & Support Fund

^^^^ Rick and his son.

January 25th, 2015
I talked to Rick a few minutes ago and we mutually decided to end the campaign today. The donation button is now disabled.
We managed to raise $3,370 in only NINE days.
That is incredible!!!! If it wasn't for you guys spreading the news and donating, this wouldn't have been possible.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to make this campaign a success. Rick is extremely grateful and wishes to thank you all as well.
Signing off for now.....
Laura

Welcome to Rick's GoFundMe Campaign!

Our good friend, Rick, is humbly asking for our help.  As most of you know, for the past few years, we have been reading facebook posts from him or his wife regarding his health, the highs and the lows. We've read about his tests, diagnosis', procedures, surgeries, doctors he's liked and not liked, and his emotions during all of it. It's been quite a roller coaster ride for Rick, his wife and their son for a little over two years.


Rick recently underwent a Total Pancreatectomy surgery. 
The surgery is the removal of your entire pancreas.
No pancreas? No way for his body to naturally produce insulin anymore. He is now solely reliant on insulin medication to have insulin in his body.
He also had to have his spleen and some other nearby organs removed.

It is a very difficult surgery to recover from.
It is also RARELY DONE. If you are to have this surgery, you are only eligible for it if the doctor's think there is absolutley no other option.
Obviously, if you are having this rarely done procedure, you want the best doctors and surgeons who have experience in performing this surgery.
Often, the best place to find these sort of specialists are at Mayo Clinic. These specialist doctors and Mayo Clinic are not cheap.

The surgery revealed cancer via biopsy all throughout his pancreas. He may be looking at an even longer than he planned leave from work because the doctors are testing him in the next few days to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else. If so, he will need radiation and/or other cancer treatments. He is reeling in shock from this news. (Wouldn't we all, if it was us?)

As if the surgery and the discovery of cancer wasn't bad enough, Rick was diagnosed with diabetes in February 2014. The diabetes responded poorly to treatment and he's suffered a lot since then and has been very ill off and on.

Now that his pancreas has been completely removed, it makes him an instant "brittle diabetic." A brittle diabetic experiences major swings in blood sugar levels going from high to low and back again. They are often frequently hospitalized because of the major swings in blood sugar levels and sometimes, only a doctor is able to get it back under control.  A brittle diabetic tends to miss more work than people who have other types of diabetes. Rick will have to be very careful with his weight, what he eats and he will have to take many blood sugar readings a day to see if he's swinging too high or too low and then inject insulin as needed for the rest of his life.

Rick has also suffered from years of spinal, back and leg pain. He's had multiple surgeries and tried many medications, but he still hasn't achieved the relief or comfort he deserves to have.

Today, he informed me that his company's long term benefits plan isn't going to cover anything.
He has no more paid leave. This means him, his wife and son are now solely relying on his wife's income.
He was the breadwinner of the household.
Their monthly household income has been cut in half.
To get by the past two years, even with him working as much as he was able, they've had to use what funds they had in their savings account.
That money is now gone.

He told me that he and his wife clearly could use some financial help in the upcoming months ahead. He doesn't expect a "crazy" amount of money, but if anyone would like to donate, it would be very appreciated and he would be "grateful beyond measure."

All of us adults know, taking unpaid leave from work can be financially stressful. We all have rent/mortgages, utility bills, groceries to buy, gas for the car, various Insurances to be paid and miscellaneous expenses for ourselves and our families. Now on top of that, Rick will have numerous medical bills for the treatment he's received so far and for future medical treatment.
Not only medical bills from bloodwork/MRI&CT scans/ other types of testing/doctors and hospital fees, but airfare to get back and forth to Mayo Clinic because it is too far away to drive AND if he has to stay there as an outpatient while they run tests, he pays for a hotel room.


Let's see if we can pitch in and relieve at least some of the financial stress for this family.

Rick and I have been good friends via Facebook since 2012.  Rick has made me smile, laugh, given me advice, wrote thought provoking insights and extended his sympathy/lent an ear when I needed it. I've watched him help others and be a good friend to many.  He is a good hearted, kind, smart and wonderful person to know. He is an excellent husband to his wife and a wonderful father to his son.
I know *my* world is a little brighter having a friend like him in it.

In conclusion: If you are able, please consider donating. (I aimed high at setting the goal of $10,000, but what the hell, it can't hurt and you never know!) He certainly didn't request anywhere near that amount or expects it. Any amount raised helps him and his family.  If you are unable to donate, that's okay too. I ask that you please share the link to his campaign with your friends, family, whomever on your facebook wall or in any other ways as well.

Donations are Quick and Easy! You don't need to make an account. You can click on the Donate button -- that takes you to a secure site  and you enter in your debit/credit card details. Hit submit and you're done!
Even if you are outside of the United States, you can donate through this website.

Again, thank you for reading and please know Rick is grateful for any help, all your well wishes, prayers, positive vibes sent his way and more!

Sincerely,
Laura

*NOTE:  A friend of Rick's asked me if this campaign had to raise the $10,000 goal for him to get his funds.
No, it doesn't have to reach goal. Rick can request at any time a withdrawal of whatever funds are available for withdrawal and he will receive them within 2 weeks as the campaign is ongoing. When he feels like he's received enough to be better off financially, he will ask me to take down the campaign. 



^^^ Rick and his wife.