After working for he mill for a few years, he decided to try out his entrepreneurial skills and he opened a small auto repair garage with a close friend. At this time Kevin was without medical insurance as funds were very tight. The shop eventually closed as the location was too far out of town, and Kevin went to work as a mechanic for heavy machinery at a small company in Oregon.

One month after starting his new job, Kevin noticed a lump in his neck. His medical insurance had just started, but the coverage was poor. He went in to the hospital and they removed the lump from his neck. After the lump was removed it was promptly tested; at age 29, he was diagnosed with Blastic NK Lymphoma.

Blastic NK Lymphoma is an extremely rare form of cancer. Only 2-3 people are diagnosed with the disease internationally each year. The cancer is extremely aggressive, hides from Chemotherapy, and spreads quickly. He was immediately moved to OHSU to start large doses of Chemotherapy. In addition, Kevin was to be treated by Dr. Nichols. He is one of the only doctors to treat Blastic NK Lymphoma successfully. He had Kevin tested for traces of cancer in his bone marrow, and this test proved positive.

At this point, a bone marrow transplant was deemed necessary to save Kevin’s life. Even if all the cancer outside his bones are killed by the Chemotherapy, the cancer will hide in his marrow, and return stronger until the Chemotherapy treatments can no longer destroy the cells.

Our challenge: Kevin did not have very good medical insurance through the new company he was working for. He has to pay 20% of all the charges he will incur during his treatment. So far, this amount totals more than 30k, and that is just billing up to November. He will be well over the 100k mark once his Chemotherapy is completed.

These numbers are scary, but seem obtainable with hard work, loans, and fund raising efforts; however, these charges were a scratch in the surface of his problems. Kevin’s insurance has a clause that protects the company from being liable for bone marrow transplants for one year from the date of initial coverage. Due to this clause, Kevin will have to pay for the Bone Marrow transplant; on his own. Further, the hospital will not start searching for a donor until Kevin can provide proof of funding for the treatment: Treatment that costs in excess of $500,000.00.

How to Help: I have known Kevin since the day I moved to Washougal and consider him part of our family. He is the person that would never leave a friend stranded. He has helped countless people in his lifetime with his mechanical skills. He is the first person to call when you are broken down on the side of the road, or stuck in the snow. If you have ever broken down in Washougal and Kevin passed by, you would know his name; as he would stop, fix your car, and shake your hand smiling. Kevin is one of the most genuine “nice guys” I have ever met, and I would like to know he will not die due to a “lack of funding.”

The only way Kevin will survive is to come up with the money necessary to start a search for a marrow donor. Keep in mind; this money would be provided by the state if Kevin did not have a job or insurance. The insurance company suggested that Kevin continue Chemo until this November, when the year is up. This is not an option, as Blastic NK Lymphoma is extremely aggressive, and will adapt to the Chemotherapy very quickly.

Kevin’s only chance is to find money via charity. I have created this website to accept donations for the marrow transplant. We hope to raise enough money to get OHSU to start tissue-screening donors. Kevin and his wife Jen are spending countless hours researching sources of funding on the web.

I would like to thank everyone involved with this endeavor, and your efforts are very much appreciated. Collectively we can make a huge difference in Kevin's life; reciprocating the high degree of support Kevin has provided us.

Bryan Emerson
503-572-1200
bemerson@nei.com