Joe Frank Medical & Recovery Fund

November 20, 2017:

I started this Go Fund Me campaign nearly two years ago, shortly after Joe had a routine procedure which tore the inside wall of his colon. He was hospitalized, treated and monitored. After release, he was told: "You can eat whatever you'd like." Within 24 hours, he was experiencing a blockage. We didn't know this at the time. It was New Year's Eve. Later that night, we went to the ER. Joe was admitted presenting a number of symptoms which promptly landed him in the ICU. "You are very, very, very, very sick," the ER doctor had said.

For the next month in the hospital, Joe was assaulted by a number of tests, examinations and prognoses until finally settling on the fact that, due to the blockage (eat whatever you wish), his heart and other organs worked overtime in order to compensate. In addition, there were unrelated symptoms (pancreatic cancer possibility) -- I cannot remember it all, frankly. Most of it is outlined in the early updates here.

Joe was discharged at the end of January 2016. His recovery lasted until the Fall of that year. In the background: May of 2014: Joe had undergone surgery for colon cancer. The tumor was successfully removed; however, new problems arose as a result. He'd been struggling to manage the effects of that when slammed with the events at the end of 2015.

There have always been - and almost weekly - setbacks since I started this GFM campaign. Many of them minor inconveniences, and others frightening, but resolved. 

But on July 13, 2017, Joe found blood in his stool. He was admitted to the hospital where another tumor in his colon was found. Surgery was imperative. But Joe was physically not fit for the anticipated recovery. He needed to build his reserves - exercise, eat 90mg of protein daily. This was the start of a very long period of time before he went in for surgery on October 13, 2017.

Neither Joe nor I have been able to fully return to work since July. During his recovery in 2016, there was precious little time to focus on work. Even though Joe wrote every day and still has scripts for a few radio programs nearly completed. It seemed every other day, we needed to go to a doctor appointment, have blood drawn, physical therapy visits, medication reactions and adjustments. And on it went.

Update 55:

Last July, I rebooted this campaign, there have been far too many events that I have not shared.

I live in a constant prayer for Joe's recovery. I'd love to see him home again, writing. It is what gives him the most joy.

Here's the story posted back in 2016:

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In mid-December 2015, my husband, Joe Frank, became ill. This is one in a long list of medical issues he has faced since he was born,  beginning with  corrective surgeries for clubbed feet between the ages of 3 and 5. He's survived cancer three times - the first time, he was given three months to live when he was just in his early 20s. Since then, he's had numerous hospitalizations and surgeries for a host of issues. Ten years ago,  he suffered  from kidney failure and was on dialysis for a year-and-a-half until he received a kidney donated by his cousin. In addition, for years, he's been enduring and managing pain caused by severe scoliosis of his spine.

I cannot express how much I admire Joe's courage and will to live. He has heard bad news on many occasions yet possessed the strength, courage and had the good fortune to beat the odds.

I long for that outcome now.

Forgive me for not providing details about what has taken place in the last month. I am in a condition of overwhelm.   I've watched Joe face a myriad of diagnoses in the last month  which has included sepsis, heart attack and pancreatic cancer.

At midnight on New Year's Eve, we were in the ER at Cedars-Sinai hospital with a dear friend and one of Joe's doctors (who left a party to be with Joe.)  It was surreal to see the high-spirited celebrations on television bringing in the new year while in an emergency room hospital setting. 

Until last month, Joe worked daily: posting on Facebook, recording material for his next radio program, and preparing notes for future projects. It is my deep hope and longing that he will return to that work. It gives him meaning and profound pleasure. I think some of his latest programs are among his best work.

I dearly wish to see him come home with all of these medical issues resolved soon so that he can begin recuperating.

When he does come home, however, he will be on IV medications which are not covered by insurance. The last time he returned from the hospital for a treatment of IV fluids, our out-of-pocket costs were $1500.00.  That was for just five 5 days' worth of medication. This time, he will receive an IV cocktail for a month at minimum.

*update 3/12: Joe was on TPN for 6 weeks. What we thought would be $350 a day is in reality nearly $1,000 per day.  (Total = approximately $42,000 which includes the "equipment" - IV pump, saline and heparin syringes, gloves, etc.) The catheter remains in place in case he needs to go back on TPN. The equipment, however, continues to be delivered weekly to keep the line flushes - that is about $1,000 per week.  Hopefully, the catheter will be removed soon since Joe is beginning to gain weight again.)

We will need to hire someone to attend to him full-time since he is physically compromised.  We don't yet know how long that will last or exactly how much that will cost.  We understand that it will take a minimum of 6 weeks and conceivably several months before he gets his physical strength and mobility back.  (Today, 1/13, my research shows it could be a breathtaking $200,000 if we have to hire someone  full-time for a long period.  Again Joe is committed to becoming strong again as soon as possible)

*update 3/16: After a few physical therapists have come and gone, we finally found Doug. He is fantastic. He's helped Joe to walk much sooner than anyone expected. Doug comes  here twice a week. Because of  the outstanding progress, we only needed to hire someone part-time  - and for assistance for just two months. That totaled only $1500.00 (plus equipment .)

Ongoing: Out-of-pocket cost for Joe's usual medications and insurance payments is $10,000 to $12,000 per year. He's had medications added to his daily regimen and he now takes 24 pills a day.  We haven't yet received the paperwork from Medicare RX or Medicare Part B (some meds are partially covered by Part B), listing the final out-of-pocket.

Joe's income is based on his work for Unfictional . There was a time when he could produce up to four shows a year, which barely managed to pay the bills. But now our financial security is threatened. Joe is eager to get back to work, but requires sufficient time and care to do so.

Each month over the past 2 years, we are short by about $2,000 to pay bills. (This is no exaggeration.) We live by a strict budget, continuing to draw on savings to get by.  Faced with what we know we need to do in order to help Joe get well, we would easily run through those savings quickly.

I cannot express how much it would mean for me personally to have Joe fully recover and resume his daily activities. I miss him every moment that I am home trying to "take care of business." I spend every night at the hospital and in the worst way wish I could give him some of my good health to help him through this.

We sincerely appreciate whatever support you can provide.

Update Jan 30: We are just beginning to receive Medicare notices for how much out of pocket we can expect to pay. But the only notice we've seen so far reflects just the doctors' appointments and tests for the week before the hospitalization - that is close to $2,000.

In the hospital, Joe was seen daily for a month by his primary doctor, an infectious disease doctor, three GI doctors, a hospitalist, an oncologist, and a cardiologist. Every day he had blood drawn and tested. He had a slew of other tests that I couldn't keep track of. 

He also now has two new medications that are close to $1,000 per month for both. *Update 3/15: I've been working with Medicare Part B and Joe's Medicare Supplemental. Joe is eligible for a price reduction since these medications are imperative for his survival.

*For more about who Joe Frank is, and details (see the "News" page) that led to this hospitalization see his web site here.