Todd Tackles Cancer
Donation protected
Somebody once said, life is what happens while you’re making other plans. Our sweet friend and coworker (and all-around good guy!), Todd Fisk, is quick to agree with that. Todd had a lot of plans this spring, but cancer had plans of its own. Instead of landing a new job (he had been working at 60% level of effort and his contract officially ended in May) or moving out of their one-bedroom apartment and getting ready for their second child to arrive in December, all plans screeched to a halt and the Fisk family went into survival mode. 
THE DIAGNOSIS
Todd had been feeling dizzy, fatigued, and just not like himself. Chalking the symptoms up to stress, he pushed himself until landing in the emergency room on May 1st. It was there that growths on his spine were discovered, and he was immediately admitted to the hospital. May 7th, Todd had surgery to remove two tumors on his spinal cord; a biopsy revealed that he had Grade 3 Anaplastic Ependymoma . He also has spots of the cancer on his brain. As you can imagine, the news was devastating — particularly for a father of a 2-year-old with a baby on the way.
But Todd is an optimist and a fighter, and has met this situation with strength, humor, and determination. With the love of his wife and the support of family and friends, Todd has his sights set on recovery and putting cancer in his rear-view mirror. (Go, Todd!)
THE TREATMENT
Todd spent a few weeks in in-patient rehab to help him with post-surgery recovery (starting as basic as learning to walk again, this was spinal cord surgery after all). He spent the first few weeks of June concentrating on continued healing from surgery and building his strength up for treatment, because radiation takes a toll on a body. He has been getting in-home physical therapy (PT) 3 times a week and both his doctors and his therapist have been pleased with his progress.
June 24th Todd began his two month course of radiation treatments that will focus on both his spinal cord and his brain. It won’t be easy, and there will be side effects — but Todd’s got this, and is totally prepared to kick cancer’s butt. Naturally, there will be a recovery time after the radiation (as well as a chance the doctors may want to do chemo after radiation) before Todd can start back on the road to normal, begin his job hunt, and get his family back on their feet. That’s where we come in!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Cancer is never cheap, but when it happens in the perfect storm of loss of full-time employment in a one-income family like it has for Todd and his family, it takes financial stress to a whole different level. And who needs additional stress when one of you is fighting cancer and the other is pregnant?! Nobody.
When you donate, you will be helping the Fisk Family with:
· Medical bills and insurance copays (varied & ongoing)
· Monthly COBRA Insurance for family ($2,100/mo)
· Rent and household expenses ($3,800/mo; DC is expensive — we know!)
· Transportation costs to/from treatment (varied & ongoing)
If you can help, please donate today. Perhaps you know Todd and his family personally, or maybe you don’t. Perhaps you have lost a loved one to cancer and you want to donate in their honor? Maybe you are a cancer survivor yourself and you want to commemorate your own fight. Whatever the reason or amount, your donation will mean so much to Todd and his family
Rather send a snail mail donation? Mail to:
Todd Fisk
3707 Woodley Rd NW
Apt 34
Washington, DC 20016
USA
And of course, you can help by sending ALL the good vibes and prayers you can muster!
THANK YOU for reading this campaign, for donating, and for sharing with others. Together we can help ease the stress and financial burden, so Todd can focus on treatment, recovery, his family, and getting strong to welcome their new baby come December!
With gratitude, The Fighting Fisk Team
THE DIAGNOSISTodd had been feeling dizzy, fatigued, and just not like himself. Chalking the symptoms up to stress, he pushed himself until landing in the emergency room on May 1st. It was there that growths on his spine were discovered, and he was immediately admitted to the hospital. May 7th, Todd had surgery to remove two tumors on his spinal cord; a biopsy revealed that he had Grade 3 Anaplastic Ependymoma . He also has spots of the cancer on his brain. As you can imagine, the news was devastating — particularly for a father of a 2-year-old with a baby on the way.
But Todd is an optimist and a fighter, and has met this situation with strength, humor, and determination. With the love of his wife and the support of family and friends, Todd has his sights set on recovery and putting cancer in his rear-view mirror. (Go, Todd!)
THE TREATMENT
Todd spent a few weeks in in-patient rehab to help him with post-surgery recovery (starting as basic as learning to walk again, this was spinal cord surgery after all). He spent the first few weeks of June concentrating on continued healing from surgery and building his strength up for treatment, because radiation takes a toll on a body. He has been getting in-home physical therapy (PT) 3 times a week and both his doctors and his therapist have been pleased with his progress.
June 24th Todd began his two month course of radiation treatments that will focus on both his spinal cord and his brain. It won’t be easy, and there will be side effects — but Todd’s got this, and is totally prepared to kick cancer’s butt. Naturally, there will be a recovery time after the radiation (as well as a chance the doctors may want to do chemo after radiation) before Todd can start back on the road to normal, begin his job hunt, and get his family back on their feet. That’s where we come in!
HOW YOU CAN HELPCancer is never cheap, but when it happens in the perfect storm of loss of full-time employment in a one-income family like it has for Todd and his family, it takes financial stress to a whole different level. And who needs additional stress when one of you is fighting cancer and the other is pregnant?! Nobody.
When you donate, you will be helping the Fisk Family with:
· Medical bills and insurance copays (varied & ongoing)
· Monthly COBRA Insurance for family ($2,100/mo)
· Rent and household expenses ($3,800/mo; DC is expensive — we know!)
· Transportation costs to/from treatment (varied & ongoing)
If you can help, please donate today. Perhaps you know Todd and his family personally, or maybe you don’t. Perhaps you have lost a loved one to cancer and you want to donate in their honor? Maybe you are a cancer survivor yourself and you want to commemorate your own fight. Whatever the reason or amount, your donation will mean so much to Todd and his family
Rather send a snail mail donation? Mail to:
Todd Fisk
3707 Woodley Rd NW
Apt 34
Washington, DC 20016
USA
And of course, you can help by sending ALL the good vibes and prayers you can muster!
THANK YOU for reading this campaign, for donating, and for sharing with others. Together we can help ease the stress and financial burden, so Todd can focus on treatment, recovery, his family, and getting strong to welcome their new baby come December!
With gratitude, The Fighting Fisk Team
Fundraising team: The Fighting Fisk Team (2)
Bethe Almeras
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC
Todd Fisk
Beneficiary
Putri Kusdarman
Team member