Some of y’all may have seen me post about my friend, Tim Nash.
Tim is a formerly incarcerated person who was held in a cage for two years at the discretion of the state of Alabama, which denied him bond, probation, and work release despite not posing a risk to himself or others. While in prison, he contracted Hep C.
After he was released, Tim was homeless. He moved back to Pittsburgh and found work, but suffered a serious injury to his shoulder (major labrum tear). Thanks to community support, he was able to get surgery to repair his shoulder at the beginning of the year and obtain housing to be able to recover and get back to work.
During the surgery, the doctors discovered a mass. Leiomyosarcoma, a smooth muscle cell cancer. After removing and identifying the tumor, they had Tim do a full scan. It’s metastatic, multiple tumors in his system.
With a sponsorship and a grant (discount), the treatments of Yervoy and Opdivo for Tim’s cancer will still cost $5,000 a session for four treatments, so $20,000. All while Tim is still recovering from his first surgery, doesn’t have a car, and can’t work.
Tim’s already been struggling to afford rent, food, and meds. He’s lost a massive amount of weight. His pain is exceeding what the meds he’s prescribed can handle so he can’t sleep or keep food down. Two nights ago it got so bad he checked into the hospital and they found a blood infection.
He was given IV antibiotics to get the infection under control, and they sent him home yesterday with two more prescriptions to fill. Things keep stacking up and it feels like we can’t catch a break.
Tim needs help, and I can’t do it alone. I need your help to take care of my friend. If you know of any resources in the Pittsburgh, PA area, please reach out and let me know.
I know many of us are struggling right now, for myriad reasons personal and public in nature. I know it’s a lot to ask for help in this space and time. I don’t know what else to do, and time keeps moving up the deadlines.
If you’re safely able to do so, please, help me take care of my friend:
