I'm looking for some help from our community.
My father has been battling Pancreatic Cancer for a year now. The type he has is the most aggressive form of cancer known to medicine, and has only a 15% one year survival rate, and a 5% 5-year survival rate. Last week was the first anniversary of his diagnosis, which in and of itself is amazing. 85% of the people diagnosed the day he was, are dead now. Amazingly, his tumor appears to be dead and he's very much alive.
However, they need to do a 5-week round of ultra-heavy chemo+radiation to ensure that every last cancer cell is dead. Getting to this point and getting through the 5 week protocol is a HUGE deal. People who make it to this protocol and get through the "5 weeks of sheer hell" as his doctor calls it, have about a 65% chance of remission. REMISSION. From Pancreatic Cancer. It's nearly unheard-of.
The protocol is a 24/7 chemo pump and daily radiation. He has to travel from home in Everett, to Virginia Mason on First Hill for 5-10 minutes of radiation therapy, and back home to Everett, every single weekday for 5 weeks. My mom has vacation time the last two weeks, so that's covered. American Cancer Society committed to helping with rides, but only one volunteer called, and she can do one day a week. The Access/DART transportation system needs a 2-hour pickup window, turning a 1.5 hour round trip into potentially 5-6 hours. For someone as sick as he will be with this treatment, it's not even close to reasonable.
We desperately need help getting him to/from treatment for the next 3 weeks. Tomorrow (Monday 7/12) is covered. Tuesdays and Thursdays are covered. We need help Wednesdays and Fridays for sure, and possibly Mondays. If anyone is willing to volunteer, even for a one-way ride, we'd be incredibly grateful.
Please email me at aimgrrrl at gmail dot com and I'll put you in touch with my mom.
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