Calling on love

For years, my goofy flatmate Ray and I have lived on the same property, sharing expenses and making ends meet. With my own health issues effecting finances, in good times life has always been a struggle, however we were able to keep scraping by. Over the past few months, it is now Ray’s health that has taken a turn for the worst and we are now unsure where to turn.

Ray has been struggling with Myeloma (blood cancer) and we have depleted our individual savings and work leave, to keep making ends meet through his necessary time off work / docked pay and extra medical expenses travelling to and from appointments.

Last month, Ray’s condition deteriorated further with Ray being admitted into hospital with heart failure in addition to the Myeloma. This is his third hospitalisation this year. After multiple tests and further time off work to undergo the tests, medical staff were able to track the cause back to a rare condition called Amyloidosis - a condition that causes an over production of the protein Amyloid, which has deposited in his kidneys, lungs, heart and intestines.

Although advised to take time off and focus on his health, Ray is forced to battle through, but the Amyloid deposits on his heart leading to the heart failure, have also caused massive fluid retention in his legs, making it hard for him to keep working.

His current treatment plan is chemotherapy to tackle the Myeloma causing the overproduction of Amyloids, the main complication, which will reduce the strain on his heart and other organ systems. This treatment will however take time to do the good it needs to, to help get Ray back on his feet. The hospital has also predicted that as most people with Ray’s condition also contract Neutropenia Fever, it is likely he will need more admissions into hospital, resulting in more time off work.

As much as we have been trying to keep our faith in God and maintain positivity. We just feel overwhelmed and anxious about the future, stuck in the hospital cycle and would dearly love to get Ray back on his feet. We are struggling to catch our breath and meet essential bills and are worried that with our depleted individual savings, exhausted leave and the extended time off work / docked pay, we will end up with nowhere to live.

Please, if you can give a little to ease one burden from our lives, it will be much appreciated. Even $1.00 and sharing Ray’s page, can make a difference.

*Have added the hospital discharge notes showing the diagnosis myeloma, with the Amyloids, to the photo album for total transparency.