Helping Felix with his medical expenses
Donation protected
What happened to me:
I was diagnosed on June 30 with Pancreatic Cancer stage 2B. Here is what happened.......
Within the past 12 months, around September 2018 - March 2019, I was experiencing abdominal pain when eating and other times afterward. The pain level was from 2-3 mild while many times, it was 7-8 somewhat painful. At this time, I weighed approximately 215 pounds.
I made an appointment with a gastroenterologist specialist (Dr. Jon Nam) in which after some tests and procedures, his finding indicated that I had a cyst on my pancreas which would need further testing to determine if it was cancerous. He recommended I should look into a hospital that specializes in cancer.
Having never been with any serious illness or hospitalizations in my 59 years, I would say, I am going to tell you, I was a bit in denial. I did not follow up with my doctor at this time. Meanwhile, stupidly I just kept sucking up the pain and losing weight fast in these months, now weighing 190.
Come late June 30, 2019, I experienced what I thought was my stomach wanting to explode. After many hours of level 10 pain pleads from my wife Myrna to go to the hospital, I could not stand the pain anymore and I was taken to Einstein Hospital Emergency Room at Montgomery PA.
After many hours of tests being performed and pain medicine, they informed us that I needed to be transferred to the main Einstein hospital at Philadelphia (about 30 miles from my home) to have this cyst removed as it had grown from 6 to now 10 centimeters and not looking good. With this news of needing to be hospitalized for some undetermined days, Myrna had to make choices of how she was going to be with me and where she would be staying to be closer to me in this hospital.
We are, fortunate, to have one of our daughters, Vilmaris who lives very near this hospital in Philadelphia and told us, Myrna was welcome to stay at her house the time needed. This was of great help and alleviated the many stress since this hospital was more than 30 miles from our home.
At Einstein hospital, Philadelphia, a team of doctors were assigned to my care lead by Dr. Zaki (Director of the Transplant of major organs) to review the best course of action. Dr.Zaki decided to extract fluid from this mass.
He ordered an endoscopic procedure which would extract fluid through the stomach walls into the tumor. This fluid was sent to a laboratory to determine if it was cancerous. Since it would take 2 weeks for the results to come back On July 4th, 2019, I was sent home as my pain was manageable (thanks to the good pain medication taken at the hospital). Meanwhile, Dr. Zaki scheduled the surgery for August 2, 2019, to remove the tumor.
For the next 2 weeks, I started experiencing mid-level pain but I continue going to my job and while at night I would take some pain medicine until June 18 when I couldn't tolerate the pain any longer and once again had to go to the ER at Einstein of Montgomery.
As expected, I was transferred again to Einstein hospital in Philadelphia. Dr.Zaki moved up my surgery date to July 26, 2019. Within this week, I had another endoscopy procedure and more tests.
Come July 26, at 7:30 am I was sent down to the pre-operation room. WIth Myrna at my side, I was a bit calm but wanting to get this over quickly. Before I knew it, I was in la-la land. At around 2:00 pm, Dr. Zaki came to Myrna and told her happily it was a 6-hour successful surgery. Meanwhile, I was in Intensive Care, knocked out, to be truthful, all I really remember is pressing that medicine button and going back to La-la Land to sleep. On July 29th I got moved out of the Intensive Care Unit and into a regular room.
On July 30th, Dr. Zaki gave me and my wife, the big upsetting news (deep inside we knew) that I had "The Big PC", Pancreatic Cancer word. I asked a few questions to the doctor while my wife just looked at me. He was short and to the point. He left and we felt the pain over us and hugged tightly as I told her "It's going to be alright my love". My faith in God is helping me through this day and night as I have to be strong for both. I have full faith in "His" healing power and “He will guide us throughout this process as I will be at my wife side as we both combat "the Big PC".
Finally, I was discharged from the hospital and was able to do many times on my own now going to my wonderful home with my family. Very happy but still in pain, I have a few good medicines to ease it while in the healing process with the help of my wonderful wife Myrna and homecare nurses that come to the house and checks my wound.
Now, came the big day, August 8 my appointment with the Oncologist, Dr. Gilani. During this visit, she explains to Myrna and me that I will have to go through 12 cycles of Chemotherapy for the next 6 months (possibly until February 2020). As of now, my pancreatic cancer is at stage 2B as there are no other known areas that have been infected.
This is when I really got shocked as it hit me hard and into my heart. This is just the beginning and unsure when in it really will end (perhaps really never as it will always be in my mind).
Where I stand now (Mid-August 2019):
I have been cleared to work (my last work date was on June 17, 2019) and started working on August 11, 2019. It felt so great getting back to work as I love my job. I am currently weighing at 172 lbs from 220 lbs a year ago!
On August 23, I will be fitted with an infusion port that will be inserted into my chest as the means to allow the medication into a vein along with any blood extraction needed. The following week, the chemo treatment will commence (August 30).
I hope it does not ill me that much and will allow me to continue feeling normal so that I can work since each day that I can not go to work will be an unpay day for me unless I use any of my remaining "2020 vacation days" (not much left).
Here are some of the procedures that were done:
Two trips to the ER for pain management with procedures (ultrasounds, CT-scans), and tests performed to determine the cause of pain. Two ambulances transport to the main hospital,
Ultrasounds, CT-scans, and two special endoscopies that passed a needle through the stomach into the pancreas tumor and extract fluid and tissues for analysis.
Along with many blood-related tests and the many medications were given while on my 20 days stay at the hospital.
60+% of my pancreas was removed due to the large 10 cm tumor. My spleen was also removed.
Since the tumor was touching my stomach, some extract of this was necessary which reduced it ( Dr. Zaki called it "The poor man stomach by pass"). This has changed the amount of food that I can eat in one meal to about less than half the amount I use to eat and many times this can be very painful while waiting until the food is digeste if I eat too much in one sitting.
Insulin medication was added. At this stage, we are unsure how much insulin my remaining pancreas is providing to my body, but will need to continue this medication along with a low carb diet.
Recommended treatment to follow:
12 cycles of Chemotherapy (each cycle lasts 2 weeks) starting August 30, 2019, for the next 6 months (February 2020).
.
There may be radiations in this time frame but as of yet, there is none scheduled (fingers crossed).
Taking all my medications, eating well, drinking water and with your support and prayers.
How these funds will help me:
My hospital and medical bills will be in the thousands of dollars, This along with my ongoing medical and chemotherapy treatment expenses for the coming months. I also expect additional follow up treatments and medicine.
With the generosity and support of everyone, I would be able to concentrate and focus 100% in positive thoughts and ensuring I get better without having to think about these expenses.
I do not have a short-term or long -term disability program thru my company as it is not an option offered. My only means of support in paying these medical bills will be based on the days I am able to work (I used up all my sick and vacation days in 2019). We, like many families, live closely paycheck to paycheck, where a bad situation can cause a domino effect where the loss of our home can occur.
This part of asking you for a small financial help is hard for me and with this plead, if you can to help us please do. We thank you from our heart for your support in our rough days ahead.
If you are unable, we completely understand and would ask you to please keep in touch with me via a comment here, email, text or a good old phone call to chat for a few minutes. We will remain friends and family always.
I have full trust in my treating doctors, I also have my faith along with my strong family support and everyone's prayer, I will be here for the long run.
Thanking you in advance from my heart for any support from you. Myrna blesses you all as well.
I was diagnosed on June 30 with Pancreatic Cancer stage 2B. Here is what happened.......
Within the past 12 months, around September 2018 - March 2019, I was experiencing abdominal pain when eating and other times afterward. The pain level was from 2-3 mild while many times, it was 7-8 somewhat painful. At this time, I weighed approximately 215 pounds.
I made an appointment with a gastroenterologist specialist (Dr. Jon Nam) in which after some tests and procedures, his finding indicated that I had a cyst on my pancreas which would need further testing to determine if it was cancerous. He recommended I should look into a hospital that specializes in cancer.
Having never been with any serious illness or hospitalizations in my 59 years, I would say, I am going to tell you, I was a bit in denial. I did not follow up with my doctor at this time. Meanwhile, stupidly I just kept sucking up the pain and losing weight fast in these months, now weighing 190.
Come late June 30, 2019, I experienced what I thought was my stomach wanting to explode. After many hours of level 10 pain pleads from my wife Myrna to go to the hospital, I could not stand the pain anymore and I was taken to Einstein Hospital Emergency Room at Montgomery PA.
After many hours of tests being performed and pain medicine, they informed us that I needed to be transferred to the main Einstein hospital at Philadelphia (about 30 miles from my home) to have this cyst removed as it had grown from 6 to now 10 centimeters and not looking good. With this news of needing to be hospitalized for some undetermined days, Myrna had to make choices of how she was going to be with me and where she would be staying to be closer to me in this hospital.
We are, fortunate, to have one of our daughters, Vilmaris who lives very near this hospital in Philadelphia and told us, Myrna was welcome to stay at her house the time needed. This was of great help and alleviated the many stress since this hospital was more than 30 miles from our home.
At Einstein hospital, Philadelphia, a team of doctors were assigned to my care lead by Dr. Zaki (Director of the Transplant of major organs) to review the best course of action. Dr.Zaki decided to extract fluid from this mass.
He ordered an endoscopic procedure which would extract fluid through the stomach walls into the tumor. This fluid was sent to a laboratory to determine if it was cancerous. Since it would take 2 weeks for the results to come back On July 4th, 2019, I was sent home as my pain was manageable (thanks to the good pain medication taken at the hospital). Meanwhile, Dr. Zaki scheduled the surgery for August 2, 2019, to remove the tumor.
For the next 2 weeks, I started experiencing mid-level pain but I continue going to my job and while at night I would take some pain medicine until June 18 when I couldn't tolerate the pain any longer and once again had to go to the ER at Einstein of Montgomery.
As expected, I was transferred again to Einstein hospital in Philadelphia. Dr.Zaki moved up my surgery date to July 26, 2019. Within this week, I had another endoscopy procedure and more tests.
Come July 26, at 7:30 am I was sent down to the pre-operation room. WIth Myrna at my side, I was a bit calm but wanting to get this over quickly. Before I knew it, I was in la-la land. At around 2:00 pm, Dr. Zaki came to Myrna and told her happily it was a 6-hour successful surgery. Meanwhile, I was in Intensive Care, knocked out, to be truthful, all I really remember is pressing that medicine button and going back to La-la Land to sleep. On July 29th I got moved out of the Intensive Care Unit and into a regular room.
On July 30th, Dr. Zaki gave me and my wife, the big upsetting news (deep inside we knew) that I had "The Big PC", Pancreatic Cancer word. I asked a few questions to the doctor while my wife just looked at me. He was short and to the point. He left and we felt the pain over us and hugged tightly as I told her "It's going to be alright my love". My faith in God is helping me through this day and night as I have to be strong for both. I have full faith in "His" healing power and “He will guide us throughout this process as I will be at my wife side as we both combat "the Big PC".
Finally, I was discharged from the hospital and was able to do many times on my own now going to my wonderful home with my family. Very happy but still in pain, I have a few good medicines to ease it while in the healing process with the help of my wonderful wife Myrna and homecare nurses that come to the house and checks my wound.
Now, came the big day, August 8 my appointment with the Oncologist, Dr. Gilani. During this visit, she explains to Myrna and me that I will have to go through 12 cycles of Chemotherapy for the next 6 months (possibly until February 2020). As of now, my pancreatic cancer is at stage 2B as there are no other known areas that have been infected.
This is when I really got shocked as it hit me hard and into my heart. This is just the beginning and unsure when in it really will end (perhaps really never as it will always be in my mind).
Where I stand now (Mid-August 2019):
I have been cleared to work (my last work date was on June 17, 2019) and started working on August 11, 2019. It felt so great getting back to work as I love my job. I am currently weighing at 172 lbs from 220 lbs a year ago!
On August 23, I will be fitted with an infusion port that will be inserted into my chest as the means to allow the medication into a vein along with any blood extraction needed. The following week, the chemo treatment will commence (August 30).
I hope it does not ill me that much and will allow me to continue feeling normal so that I can work since each day that I can not go to work will be an unpay day for me unless I use any of my remaining "2020 vacation days" (not much left).
Here are some of the procedures that were done:
Two trips to the ER for pain management with procedures (ultrasounds, CT-scans), and tests performed to determine the cause of pain. Two ambulances transport to the main hospital,
Ultrasounds, CT-scans, and two special endoscopies that passed a needle through the stomach into the pancreas tumor and extract fluid and tissues for analysis.
Along with many blood-related tests and the many medications were given while on my 20 days stay at the hospital.
60+% of my pancreas was removed due to the large 10 cm tumor. My spleen was also removed.
Since the tumor was touching my stomach, some extract of this was necessary which reduced it ( Dr. Zaki called it "The poor man stomach by pass"). This has changed the amount of food that I can eat in one meal to about less than half the amount I use to eat and many times this can be very painful while waiting until the food is digeste if I eat too much in one sitting.
Insulin medication was added. At this stage, we are unsure how much insulin my remaining pancreas is providing to my body, but will need to continue this medication along with a low carb diet.
Recommended treatment to follow:
12 cycles of Chemotherapy (each cycle lasts 2 weeks) starting August 30, 2019, for the next 6 months (February 2020).
.
There may be radiations in this time frame but as of yet, there is none scheduled (fingers crossed).
Taking all my medications, eating well, drinking water and with your support and prayers.
How these funds will help me:
My hospital and medical bills will be in the thousands of dollars, This along with my ongoing medical and chemotherapy treatment expenses for the coming months. I also expect additional follow up treatments and medicine.
With the generosity and support of everyone, I would be able to concentrate and focus 100% in positive thoughts and ensuring I get better without having to think about these expenses.
I do not have a short-term or long -term disability program thru my company as it is not an option offered. My only means of support in paying these medical bills will be based on the days I am able to work (I used up all my sick and vacation days in 2019). We, like many families, live closely paycheck to paycheck, where a bad situation can cause a domino effect where the loss of our home can occur.
This part of asking you for a small financial help is hard for me and with this plead, if you can to help us please do. We thank you from our heart for your support in our rough days ahead.
If you are unable, we completely understand and would ask you to please keep in touch with me via a comment here, email, text or a good old phone call to chat for a few minutes. We will remain friends and family always.
I have full trust in my treating doctors, I also have my faith along with my strong family support and everyone's prayer, I will be here for the long run.
Thanking you in advance from my heart for any support from you. Myrna blesses you all as well.
Organizer
Felix Cartagena
Organizer
Bridgeport, PA