Hello,
My name is Rita Phillips, I am writing this note to introduce, my husband Claude and myself. We have been married 37 years and are still happily married to this day. In June of 2001 Claude was diagnosed with multiple-myloma, which is a bone cancer, and leukemia. The doctor gave him three year to live. Claude took an initial fifteen chemotherapy treatments, but had to stop when his white blood cell count got so low that he was given a transfusion of ten units of blood. After the transfusion the doctors started treating him with the pill form of chemotherapy. During this time we were in church and Claude went every time even though his feet were swelled so large he had to wear house shoes that were split down the top so that he could get them on, but God gave him the strength to keep going and with the use of the wonderful doctors, pulled him through. The cancer was in remission until when it created unusual growths on his spine and at the base of his neck. Claude has undergone twenty radiation treatments due to these growths. His doctor said the leukemia cells in his blood were so high, that on the 25 of February they are going to try a drug called Ritmen, it will take 8 hours for the first treatment because he has to be monitored closely as the drug goes in case his body rejects it. We don’t know yet how many treatments he will have to have. Each treatment it will cost 5000,00 dollars after Humana pays their maximum we will have to come up with $1000.00. The doctors want to do two treatments a week so that is $2000.00 we will have to come up with out of pocket. Since we have Humana insurance we can not get any Medicaid, we are in the process of trying to secure help through Medicare but we don’t know if they will help or how much. We are both on Disability income of $1250.00 a month combined. The following is a list of meds Claude is currently on:

PYRIDOSITGMINE-60MG 3X DAY FOR EYES
LISINOPRIL-20MG FOR BLOODPRESSURE
HYDROCHLORTHIAZIDE -25MG 1 A DAY BLOODPRESSURE
LYRICA-75MG 1TWICE DAY USED FOR BONE PAIN
OXYCODONE-5MG 1 FOUR TIMES DAY FOR PAIN
PROCHLORPERAZINE 1 EVERY SIX HOURS FOR NAUSEA
PREDNISONE-5MG 1 EVERY OTHER DAY FOR NERVE IN EYES
KOLOR-CON-10MG 2x A DAY POTASSIUM
ALLOPURINOL-300MG WILL USED WITH RITUXAN
OMEPRAZOLE-20MG 2 A DAY FOR ULCERS
NYSTATIN-15MG USED FOR THROAT PAIN FROM RADATION
TIMOLOLMALEATE 1 DROP EACH EYE EVERY TWELEVE HOURS

Our current expenses are a mortgage of $46,000.00, which has a monthly payment of $464.00. Our grocery, and utility payments are $400 monthly and the 83-mile round trip to the doctor appointments cost about $180.00 a month. We do not have a car payment as our son gives us his tuck to drive. First and most importantly we ask for your prayers, we know all too well that God can accomplish more than anything else. If you would like to help us financially we would be very thankful for it, anything you can do will be very appreciated. Thank you for reading my letter, your prayers and any help you can provide.

Claude And Rita Phillips
1111 Baltimore Branch Rd
Hot Springs NC 28743
E-mail: snowangel522562003@yahoo.com