My next door neighbor is a great fellow named Bev. He is one of those guys who would do anything for you. He helped us when we built our granny flat and also helped me build my garage. He and his wife Thelma have raised seven kids and hosts a Christmas dinner at a local restaurant for his family (including grandchildren). We've been invited every year since we moved in as he considers us "family as well".
About a month ago Bev was diagnosed with a rare form a lung cancer. This cancer does not respond well to chemo. There is however a drug that can help. The clincher is this drug is not covered by OHIP and costs $3000 per month! Obviously they can't afford it. They do have a form of insurance that will pay 80% of it which will help for the first year. He is certain they will drop him as soon as it's time to renew.
I know this is a longshot, however if there is anyone on here with the means to help him out and would like to, please PM me. Also, if you know of any non profit organizations who could help him out please let me know.
In the meantime his doctor is writing the manufacturer of the drug (a U.S firm) to see if perhaps they can offer him the medication at a reduced rate (or even free).
Here's a couple of photo's of Bev bailing me out when I had no idea what I was doing (I'm not a carpenter by any stretch)..
Building our pond: Me standing while Bev works...
Bev working hard (as usual) with me nowhere to be found..
I think '48 Poncho has a helluva plan fellas!! We might at least be able to get a couple of months for him until hopefully something else kicks in! Feel useless if I don't try to do something! My sister had sarcoma 20 months ago. They broke the fragile bone in her leg that was almost eaten through by the cancer and she was air-lifted to Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. When she went through the chemotherapy, it REALLY bothered her that she lost her hair. Out of everything that was the final humiliation for her; and believe me, her dignity suffered BIGTIME given all she had to go through. I told her I'd shave my head and go through it with her but was told, "Your hair has ALWAYS been your identity Frankie, don't do THAT!" So I told her instead, that I'd grow a pony tail to donate. Despite all the disgusted looks I get from old-timers, I at least know in MY heart that I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING HERE! My sister has had setbacks and twice she's blacked out and hit the ground breaking her nose and then chipping a bone off of her hip on the SAME side all the surgery was performed on. She was lucky that the drugs she had to take did end up being covered as it was touch and go at first as it was a brand new drug that had just come on the market recently. I've said all of this because I was inspired to TRY and do SOMETHING as there's no more of a helpless feeling than just sitting by and WATCHING! My growing a tail is so pathetically simple but makes me feel I've at least done something guys! This is WHY I think it would be nice; heck, even if we could get ONE MONTH for this fella that would be FABULOUS!! I've already got some items I'd be extremely happy to toss into this Garage Sale should it come to fruition. Let's show the world what a bunch of old Canadian Pontiac enthusiasts can do fellas! For all we know, another one of our loved ones could be diagnosed tomorrow with this horrible disease and if not, then maybe just ONE OF US! Give it some thought boys. Good call Todd!!! Just my fifty-cents worth here anyways.
That is a good idea. We need to figure out the logistics of all this. Do we do one item at a time? What about shipping costs? I feel the best way for payment would be to write a cheque directly to Bev and I could deliver them to him. It would be a nice Christmas gift to him. I know I have a lot of stuff in the garage that I could put into the sale.
I have a set of American 64 Pontiac spinner wheel covers, and some Pontiac hub caps and 2 tachometers and a nice set of Acadian seats to donate to the cause I will pay shipping, except for the seats..
