Neal Fitz -update November 2024, new donation goal

UPDATE November 18, 2024

Hi Folks,

Time for a little update and a little more begging. So it’s now been 5 months since I was discharged from rehab. I remain in full remission, having been declared "in complete metabolic response" to the stem cell treatment and chemotherapies. Recovery over the Spring and Summer was rough but I continue to improve on a weekly, if not daily basis. I’ve had a host of non-lymphoma related health issues crop up since my return home. Arthritis, skin cancers … they are annoying but not life threatening. I will have 2 more skin cancers removed in December. Thankfully, they are not melanomas and hence not so serious. Physical therapy has helped the hip arthritis issues.

Fatigue and the need to keep myself away from large crowds has been my biggest enemy. But come December, I will begin to get my childhood vaccines once again so I can begin to get out and about more. All of which makes me look forward to Christmas all the more. I’ll have the “ok” to get out more starting early December!

My biggest problem now remains income. While I am slowly back to work, the hours are still not available in sufficient quantity to allow me to catch up financially. I work from home, thankfully, but I am unable to take employment "on site" anywhere (fatigue). I expect that to change in January when I expect to be preparing tax returns under my boss’s supervision. I'm grateful to Chip Capelli that he has me set up from home.

NEW FINANCIAL GOAL: In the meantime I have pretty much hit the wall financially and anticipate I will need about $10K to get me through to good earning power next spring. We are about to enter the “horrific electric bill” season where our electric bill can approach $1,000 per month. I have 2+ years left in car payments and at $349/month they are getting harder and harder to make. Not to mention insurance and repairs which add up. Add to that the Vet bills (average $400+ per month) and regular everyday expenses and I go through my monthly Social Security in no time flat.

So here I am once again asking if anyone can help in any way. I know many of you have over the last year and a half.

Oh and for those who may be wondering, or assuming … Michael has taken on well beyond his share the entire time of my recovery. No word of a lie there.

Thank-you for considering. I also have Venmo if people would rather use that please drop me a message and I’ll send you my ID.

Thanks and hugs,

Neal