Jeff Fails Recovery Fund
Donation protected
On July 3rd, 2015 Jeff Fails went to the hospital because of severe pain in his right leg. After being seen in a local hospital he was rushed by ambulance to the Cancer hospital in St. Louis – July 4th - he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Life as Jeff and Laurie knew it suddenly changed to one of hospitals, being away from their children and home. The unknown has become their constant companion and their new normal. For the past year their life has been lived out of suitcases and in hospitals.
I recently asked Laurie to tell me what the past year has been like. "You have to leave your life as you know it behind. Literally -take each day as it comes. My memory is not good... this year is sort of a blur in my head. We were going to Cape Girardeau for blood work and blood products two to three times a week when we weren’t in St Louis” she said.
“You push the reality out so far that you can’t touch it cause if you let yourself recognize where you are - you will crumble. The life of a caregiver; I have watched him go from a strong hardworking man, to almost a vegetable and back. I’ve held him while he cried and laughed with him at other times. I clearly remember the moment his hair turned loose in the shower and he looked like Sasquatch... he also had heart problems. They thought one of the chemo's gave him a heart attack... as he had cardiac enzymes. That was terrible. His overall actions are good. He has chemo brain, and we laugh at his lack of memory. At other times it’s frustrating. Like when he lost our tax papers....still haven’t found them. He is strong willed, loving, kind and caring. It breaks my heart to watch the changes that he has gone through”.
THE BEGINNING – Laurie’s Story:
I remember as a teen that I prayed for God to send me the one I was to marry. About a month later Jeff moved to my town from New Mexico and started attending the church I went to. He has told me that the first time he saw me he said to himself,” I'm going to marry her”. I was too young at the time to date, but two years later when I was finally old enough- he asked me out. After dating for a while he asked me to marry him. We were engaged for two years and got married a month after I graduated high school. We have a good, strong marriage and have been married for 28 years!
Jeff is a family guy. He loves to do things with our family. Our daughter, the youngest, Riah, says he is a wonderful, goofy, kind, thoughtful, weird dad and the only one she would ever want. He has been right by our kids’ sides and held them through a life of Epilepsy with Christian (the oldest), heart defects with Riah (the youngest) and stomach abnormalities with Chance (the middle one).
Laurie thinks back to Jeff’s strength and love - the time when he carried Riah to the operating room and put her to sleep before her open heart surgery at two years old while she (Laurie) crumbled in the hallway; times of difficulty and understanding of Christian who has had epileptic seizures since he was two and still needs help as an adult; and times of rushing Chance to the hospital when his stomach pain was too much to bear. Jeff has done everything possible within his means to be by each of their sides through everything.
….. And now they stand by his side.
WHO WAS AND IS JEFF
Jeff was a very active, physically fit, spiritual man. He always worked hard to provide and be there for his wife, children, family and friends. He is the type of person who would do anything for everyone - for the church, for family, for friends and for others in need. He has an easy going personality that instantly makes you feel as if you’ve known him all your life – even when you’ve just met him.
Before Jeff became ill he owned his own business and his assistant continues to keep the business going while Jeff is sick. Unfortunately, with his illness the income from the business for Jeff has pretty much come to an end several months ago. Jeff is still so dedicated though that he has overseen work while lying in the hospital bed in St. Louis, receiving treatment, in order to help his assistant out.
Just as Jeff would do anything he could for others it is very hard for him to be sick and let others do for him. There are times that he cries feeling like he is not doing his duty of taking care of his family. Jeff continues to remain grateful to God for the time and moments he has had to live as God has directed.
Jeff is a very private and independent person, but in order to help provide for his family he has allowed me to share his story with you in hopes that you will be able to help them with a donation.
TREATMENTS
Initially, once Jeff was diagnosed he started receiving chemo treatments. The first round of chemo lasted 24 hours for seven days. There were times during his treatments that Laurie was sick and she wasn’t allowed to be with him. Laurie would then have to stay at accommodations the hospital arranged or a motel close to the hospital. Often times they were free or inexpensive which they were grateful for. Often times the stays would last a month or more. They live about 200 miles from St. Louis.
In addition to treatments, Jeff was hospitalized several times due to fevers. Any sickness he contracts could be fatal, so they had to go for hospital stays several times just because of a fever. Once, his pic line (permanent IV), got a bacteria in it - they had to remove it and do all blood work thru his arm. It was difficult as they could not get his veins to cooperate. Being a human pincushion doesn’t begin to describe what he went through. All the sickness, lack of strength, inability to walk across the room at times began taking a toll on him emotionally and physically. Even his teeth need attention - the treatments have been harsh on them.
Jeff was very fortunate that a donor was found for an Allogeneic stem cell transplant. This is pretty much his last chance at a successful treatment. In order to be ready for the transplant he recieved four different types of chemo as all HIS stem cells had to be wiped out before the transplant. There is also a procedure the donor goes through. The donor takes shots to over produce cells and has to give blood which takes hours and hours to give because it goes thru a machine that separates the stem cells from the blood. Jeff received the transplant like you would a blood transfusion. It is actually an amazing process.
Jeff also participates in studies to help others in the future. These studies are looking for Myloblasts (Leukemia cells). Because of these studies he receives more bone marrow biopsies than normal.
TODAY AND THE FUTURE
It’s been a few months since the transplant and Jeff and Laurie are currently back home. Jeff has another round of chemo scheduled in September and they anticipate another stay while he is receiving it.
Jeff still has no hair, eyelashes or eyebrows. They don’t have the money to pay their bills, much less have gas to go to appointments in St Louis. After the transplant they had to live in St. Louis for almost two months so the hospital could keep a close eye on him. Because of Jeff’s disability pay, which is only minimal for a family of four, their food stamps were reduced to zero. Even though they have cut way back on food there is still gas and food expenses for trips to St. Louis. In order to meet Jeff’s needs for medication, trips to appointments and treatments they basically have to choose which bills to pay and which ones to call and say, “we are sorry, but we can’t pay you”.
If you can support Jeff in his continued treatment and recovery – they would greatly appreciate it. Even the smallest amounts can help. You can donate by clicking the button at the top that says “Donate” or if you want to send it directly to them, please contact them through this page for a mailing address.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am Laurie and Jeff’s Aunt De. I have watched and followed their struggles and would love to see them blessed with some relief. Your generosity and prayers are welcomed from the bottom of my heart and theirs!
Life as Jeff and Laurie knew it suddenly changed to one of hospitals, being away from their children and home. The unknown has become their constant companion and their new normal. For the past year their life has been lived out of suitcases and in hospitals.
I recently asked Laurie to tell me what the past year has been like. "You have to leave your life as you know it behind. Literally -take each day as it comes. My memory is not good... this year is sort of a blur in my head. We were going to Cape Girardeau for blood work and blood products two to three times a week when we weren’t in St Louis” she said.
“You push the reality out so far that you can’t touch it cause if you let yourself recognize where you are - you will crumble. The life of a caregiver; I have watched him go from a strong hardworking man, to almost a vegetable and back. I’ve held him while he cried and laughed with him at other times. I clearly remember the moment his hair turned loose in the shower and he looked like Sasquatch... he also had heart problems. They thought one of the chemo's gave him a heart attack... as he had cardiac enzymes. That was terrible. His overall actions are good. He has chemo brain, and we laugh at his lack of memory. At other times it’s frustrating. Like when he lost our tax papers....still haven’t found them. He is strong willed, loving, kind and caring. It breaks my heart to watch the changes that he has gone through”.
THE BEGINNING – Laurie’s Story:
I remember as a teen that I prayed for God to send me the one I was to marry. About a month later Jeff moved to my town from New Mexico and started attending the church I went to. He has told me that the first time he saw me he said to himself,” I'm going to marry her”. I was too young at the time to date, but two years later when I was finally old enough- he asked me out. After dating for a while he asked me to marry him. We were engaged for two years and got married a month after I graduated high school. We have a good, strong marriage and have been married for 28 years!
Jeff is a family guy. He loves to do things with our family. Our daughter, the youngest, Riah, says he is a wonderful, goofy, kind, thoughtful, weird dad and the only one she would ever want. He has been right by our kids’ sides and held them through a life of Epilepsy with Christian (the oldest), heart defects with Riah (the youngest) and stomach abnormalities with Chance (the middle one).
Laurie thinks back to Jeff’s strength and love - the time when he carried Riah to the operating room and put her to sleep before her open heart surgery at two years old while she (Laurie) crumbled in the hallway; times of difficulty and understanding of Christian who has had epileptic seizures since he was two and still needs help as an adult; and times of rushing Chance to the hospital when his stomach pain was too much to bear. Jeff has done everything possible within his means to be by each of their sides through everything.
….. And now they stand by his side.
WHO WAS AND IS JEFF
Jeff was a very active, physically fit, spiritual man. He always worked hard to provide and be there for his wife, children, family and friends. He is the type of person who would do anything for everyone - for the church, for family, for friends and for others in need. He has an easy going personality that instantly makes you feel as if you’ve known him all your life – even when you’ve just met him.
Before Jeff became ill he owned his own business and his assistant continues to keep the business going while Jeff is sick. Unfortunately, with his illness the income from the business for Jeff has pretty much come to an end several months ago. Jeff is still so dedicated though that he has overseen work while lying in the hospital bed in St. Louis, receiving treatment, in order to help his assistant out.
Just as Jeff would do anything he could for others it is very hard for him to be sick and let others do for him. There are times that he cries feeling like he is not doing his duty of taking care of his family. Jeff continues to remain grateful to God for the time and moments he has had to live as God has directed.
Jeff is a very private and independent person, but in order to help provide for his family he has allowed me to share his story with you in hopes that you will be able to help them with a donation.
TREATMENTS
Initially, once Jeff was diagnosed he started receiving chemo treatments. The first round of chemo lasted 24 hours for seven days. There were times during his treatments that Laurie was sick and she wasn’t allowed to be with him. Laurie would then have to stay at accommodations the hospital arranged or a motel close to the hospital. Often times they were free or inexpensive which they were grateful for. Often times the stays would last a month or more. They live about 200 miles from St. Louis.
In addition to treatments, Jeff was hospitalized several times due to fevers. Any sickness he contracts could be fatal, so they had to go for hospital stays several times just because of a fever. Once, his pic line (permanent IV), got a bacteria in it - they had to remove it and do all blood work thru his arm. It was difficult as they could not get his veins to cooperate. Being a human pincushion doesn’t begin to describe what he went through. All the sickness, lack of strength, inability to walk across the room at times began taking a toll on him emotionally and physically. Even his teeth need attention - the treatments have been harsh on them.
Jeff was very fortunate that a donor was found for an Allogeneic stem cell transplant. This is pretty much his last chance at a successful treatment. In order to be ready for the transplant he recieved four different types of chemo as all HIS stem cells had to be wiped out before the transplant. There is also a procedure the donor goes through. The donor takes shots to over produce cells and has to give blood which takes hours and hours to give because it goes thru a machine that separates the stem cells from the blood. Jeff received the transplant like you would a blood transfusion. It is actually an amazing process.
Jeff also participates in studies to help others in the future. These studies are looking for Myloblasts (Leukemia cells). Because of these studies he receives more bone marrow biopsies than normal.
TODAY AND THE FUTURE
It’s been a few months since the transplant and Jeff and Laurie are currently back home. Jeff has another round of chemo scheduled in September and they anticipate another stay while he is receiving it.
Jeff still has no hair, eyelashes or eyebrows. They don’t have the money to pay their bills, much less have gas to go to appointments in St Louis. After the transplant they had to live in St. Louis for almost two months so the hospital could keep a close eye on him. Because of Jeff’s disability pay, which is only minimal for a family of four, their food stamps were reduced to zero. Even though they have cut way back on food there is still gas and food expenses for trips to St. Louis. In order to meet Jeff’s needs for medication, trips to appointments and treatments they basically have to choose which bills to pay and which ones to call and say, “we are sorry, but we can’t pay you”.
If you can support Jeff in his continued treatment and recovery – they would greatly appreciate it. Even the smallest amounts can help. You can donate by clicking the button at the top that says “Donate” or if you want to send it directly to them, please contact them through this page for a mailing address.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am Laurie and Jeff’s Aunt De. I have watched and followed their struggles and would love to see them blessed with some relief. Your generosity and prayers are welcomed from the bottom of my heart and theirs!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jeff Laurie Fails
Organizer
Neelyville, MO
Laurie Fails
Beneficiary