Oneball Patient Teste-monials
– Oneballer, 37
“In September 2016, I reached out to Wellspring Calgary for support. I was a 37-year-old man living in Sylvan Lake, AB and had just been diagnosed with testicular cancer (pT2, pNx) with possible metastasis in July 2015. I underwent a right inguinal radical orchiectomy and inguinal hernia repair followed by three cycles of chemotherapy. At my six month follow up CT scan, it appeared that the cancer had not spread. After my surgery and chemotherapy, I had ongoing debilitating pain at the surgical site, extreme enough to prevent me from standing up straight, and I experienced severe fatigue, brain fog, low energy and sexual dysfunction.
I applied for Long Term Disability benefits and fell into significant financial debt; my LTD payments were cut off at one point due to insufficient medical information being submitted by my physician. Previous to being diagnosed I had purchased a home and was unable to sell it without going into further debt and the mortgage payment was less than what I would be paying to rent. I walked away from my vehicle lease and had to rely upon public transportation.
When I reached out for help I had cut back in every way possible and was still not able to cover my basic expenses. I had also not filed my taxes as I owed the government $13,000 and was terrified they would garnish my bank account if I filed for the 2015 tax year. I stopped taking my pain medications as I could not afford to have the prescriptions filled, and could barely afford groceries at this point. After accessing all other avenues of funding, including CPP-Disability, which was denied, I was able to access the Oneball Patient Financial Assistance Fund with special authorization from the Oneball Board. Through the fund I was able to have my prescriptions filled for 60 days in December 2016 in the amount of $69.86.”
“In April 2017, I was referred to Wellspring Calgary through the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. I was only 36 and just been diagnosed with testicular cancer stage IIC. I underwent a left radical orchiectomy and was to begin chemotherapy in May 2017. I hadn’t yet begun receiving Short Term Disability benefits as there had been a significant delay with the insurance company. Me and my wife had just had a baby 10 months prior and she was on Regular Employment Insurance due to a lay off. Through the Oneball Patient Financial Assistance Fund, the $470 cost of cryopreservation and cryostorage (1-year) was paid directly to the Diagnostic Semen Laboratory, along with a grocery store gift card for $300. The Fund assisted my family in a time when we were struggling significantly.”
– Oneballer, 36
– Oneballer, 28
“In October 2017, I was referred to Wellspring Calgary. I was in Canada on a study permit and did not have the funds for cryopreservation or cryostorage after being diagnosed with testicular cancer at a walk-in clinic (with no family physician) and pre-orchidectomy. I was unable to apply for Alberta Works income support as I had $2000 in his bank account which made me ineligible (the amount would have to be below the Barriers to Full Employment Category which is $1462). This was the only assistance I could access. Through the Fund $470.00 was paid directly to the Diagnostic Semen Laboratory for cryopreservation and cryostorage (1-year).”
In November 2017, a 23-year old man was referred to Wellspring Calgary who had been diagnosed with metastatic embryonal carcinoma. He had a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection on September 11, 2017 and then underwent chemotherapy. There were complications with his PICC line and he was admitted to hospital twice post-surgery. This young man also had a developmental disability (Down Syndrome) and was considered to be non- verbal.
His mother, his main caregiver was unable to work due to needing to take care of her son – she was receiving Employment Insurance Regular benefits and they were struggling financially as this was a 45% decrease to her already low income, even with her son receiving AISH benefits they were falling into debt. Wellspring Calgary was provided with special authorization from the Oneball Board to assist the family for three applications worth of funding – $4500 in total – as they needed assistance in paying rent, utilities and food costs (Enmax $1200, Rent $2800, Safeway gift cards $500).
– Oneball
– Oneballer, 21
“In February 2018, I was a 21-year old man who sought out Wellspring for support after being diagnosed testicular cancer (PT1 pNX). I was looking for financial support to offset the costs associated to my cryopreservation and cryostorage (1-year) of $470. Special authorization was sought from the Oneball Board to provide me with $470.00 worth of grocery store gift cards which was granted.”
“In March 2018 I came into Wellspring after I was referred from the Holy Cross site. I was diagnosed with Stage 1, non-seminomatous germ cell tumor and underwent a radical orchiectomy followed by chemotherapy. I wasn’t working and had no benefits coming in from my employer insurance or the government (Short Term Disability pending). Through the Oneball Fund I was provided with a grocery gift card for $492.00 to reimburse me for the cryopreservation and cryostorage fees for 2018-2019.”
– Oneballer, 27
– Oneball
On August 27, 2018, the remaining $3228.14 of the Oneball Patient Assistance Fund was used for a young man aged 25 with Stage IV metastatic cancer (cancer had spread to his liver, lungs and brain) where the original diagnosis was Stage III nonseminomatous germ cell tumor with likely choriocarcinoma component. The young man and his wife were living in his parent’s basement as they could not afford to support themselves. The young man resides in Edmonton, AB and Oneball provided special authorization to assist him through the Fund. The $3228.14 was used to pay for immunotherapy medications that were the last resort when chemotherapy could no longer be tolerated. These medications for four cycles cost the patient out of pocket $30,947.80. Through the Oneball Patient Assistance Fund a small portion of this was able to be paid for.