Help with Stem Cell Transplant

I have been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, which is a form of blood cancer. It develops when abnormal plasma cells grow out of control. The disease damages bones and causes other health problems because of its effect on blood cells.

The cause of the disease is not known.

This is something that has been building over time but got serious about 2 months ago I believe. I was out making a door dash delivery one day and hurt my back. Being the guy that I am I tried to tough it out and did get some relief over a couple weeks before reaggravating it by loading our suitcase into the car for our trip from AZ to MI. Sucked it up got on the plane and just took more OTC pain pills to help ease the pain. Slowly started to see relief again during our 2 weeks in MI until day before we were to fly home. While walking into work from my car in the parking lot my back locked up and I needed help into the building to my desk. (I currently work remotely but was in town to work at offices for yearly inventory)

I made it thru the day and was able to get into urgent care the next morning before we scheduled to fly home. X-rays showed what looked like compression fractures in my T12 & L3. Recommended MRI as soon as we arrived home to get long term treatment.

Got home and was finally able to get into a doctor to get referral for MRI. They noticed it had been a few years since my last physical so we we scheduled one for Tuesday March 26th. I mentioned not feeling well over the last 2-3 weeks prior so the did all the blood work etc. to see what might be going on. 3 days later when results came back on March 29th I got the call from Doctor. “Come to the office, pick up these lab results and go directly the hospital your kidneys are shutting down!”

I was in shock. I honestly paused for a few seconds and said ok and was thinking the results were wrong. That lasted about 10 seconds and I wised up and said ok on my way.

Told the family and Brendan immediately brought Shannon & I to the hospital. Tests there confirmed I was in kidney failure with only 8% function. Was immediately admitted to try and find a cause as I have never had a serious health issue like this ever. I never get sick.

After testing and going over the pain and issues I had over last 2 months didn’t added up. They decided to to do a fully body X-ray and discovered I had holes all over my bones in my body including my skull. A pretty good indication of Multiple Myeloma. Had bone marrow biopsy on Monday (4/1/24) to confirm. Results on Tuesday (4/2/24) showed that I did in fact have this cancer and started chemo that same day.

There is currently no cure but it sounds like they are just a few years away from that. Doctor says I will live to see that cure but we are still going to talk about a bone marrow transplant using my own bone marrow (not sure how that works yet but he said we will discuss that later on in my treatment).

I am currently going in for weekly chemo treatments and the prognosis is looking good. As of 4/19/24 the doctor said my numbers are trending in the right direction and he feel I can be ready for the transplant in a couple of months.

This will be a long road to treat and I am doing the best I can to keep working. The weekly co-pays for both ongoing doctors appts, treatments and prescriptions can be somewhat overwhelming financially as time goes on. I may also have to miss days at work in the future as well.

We have no savings and obviously insurance will not cover it all. I am asking you to give as you see fit to help me and family deal with the financial impact this disease will have on us very soon. Any little bit helps to help pay copays and medication costs.