Mr. Bean Kicks Cancer
Donation protected
On February 29, Gus Bean was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Since that day he has fought through multiple rounds of chemo and is now preparing for the hardest part of his journey-a stem cell transplant. He will start his shots and prep for his stem cell transplant on October 23 and complete the stem cell transfer on October 30. If you've ever met Gus you know he knows no stranger. He can become friends with anyone! Gus has had an amazing journey to get to where he is now. Gus went to live with the Bean family as a foster child at age 12 and was adopted at the age of 16. His dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and battled the cancer for thirteen years. Gus met Melody when they were both students at Evangel University and have been married for 42 years. They had two daughters and moved to Overland Park, KS when Gus got a job managing a local McDonalds.
They've stayed in Kansas and are involved in their church, local community theater groups, and scouting organizations.
After a few job changes, Gus had a career in construction and remodeling and he loves to fix things, especially for his kids. The Beans always had a heart for adoption and knew they wanted to adopt someday. In 2000, they adopted Michael and Kayla. They have been involved in local foster/adopt groups since their adoption.
When Michael was younger, Gus coached baseball and the two were active in a local Boy Scout troop and got to go on many memorable camping trips together. Even after Michael aged out of scouts, Gus continued volunteering because he was able to help pull the equipment with his truck and he loves camping. But most of all, it was his heart for being a positive role model for kids that kept him involved and the scouting troop recognized Gus's volunteer work with a special honor. He also made local news a few years ago when he kindly replaced a teen's special Eagle Scout coin. https://fox4kc.com/news/kind-stranger-replaces-eagle-scouts-cherished-lost-coin/
Gus loves to go fishing, camping and being outdoors. If you were to ask his grandkids what GuGu's favorite thing to do is, they would say fishing, going to Bass Pro, and eating donuts with them!
Gus's transplant is a bit more complicated than others due to the presence of amyloidosis, a rare disease that occurs when an abnormal protein builds up in your organs and interferes with normal function. Due to this, his stem cell transplant requires a hospital stay to monitor his heart and how well he is handling the transplant. After the transplant, he is required to be in insolation and on a strict germ free plan with monitoring what he eats, carefully washing anything around him, and keeping him safe with no immune system. He has to stay completely isolated in his room for 30 days and then after a checkup, he can come out into rest of the house, but isolated at home for another 70 days.
You know how social Gus is! This is going to be the hardest part of his recovery process.
We are asking for funds to help cover hospital and doctor bills, medicine and mileage for numerous doctor visits as well as any unexpected costs that may arise from being in isolation.
Thank you for all of your outpouring of love and support for our parents these past few months. We greatly appreciate and it's wonderful to see how many people love our Dad as much as we do.
Sarah, Andrea, Kayla and Michael Bean
You know how social Gus is! This is going to be the hardest part of his recovery process.
We are asking for funds to help cover hospital and doctor bills, medicine and mileage for numerous doctor visits as well as any unexpected costs that may arise from being in isolation.
Thank you for all of your outpouring of love and support for our parents these past few months. We greatly appreciate and it's wonderful to see how many people love our Dad as much as we do.
Sarah, Andrea, Kayla and Michael Bean
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarah Bean Thompson
Organizer
Overland Park, KS
Melody Bean
Beneficiary