How sad and tragic is THIS in America? Booth at fiesta to raise money for cancer treatment

[The Straight Story]

Booth at fiesta to raise money for cancer treatment

Kyle Lohrenz and his wife, Sofia Gomez Lohrenz, finish each other's sentences. They hold hands unabashedly and smile as they gaze into each other's eyes.

Their deep love for each other has been a great support during a trying time.

Kyle has Hodgkin's lymphoma. He discovered he suffered from the cancer of the lymphatic system on Dec. 30, 2008. "I had a cough and it wouldn't go away," he said. "I had a hard time swallowing and I got night sweats."

After an X-ray and a CAT scan, doctors found a mass in his chest. He began treatment, and his tumor shrunk 90 percent. Things were looking good for the 26-year-old.

But at a doctor's appointment on June 24, Kyle got some bad news. His cancer had become resistant to chemotherapy, and the tumor had begun to grow again.

Traditional treatments would no longer work on Kyle. Billings Clinic oncologist Dr. James Burke suggested a more drastic measure - a trip to Seattle for an autologous stem cell transplant. The procedure involves the removal of Kyle's stem cells while he undergoes high-dosage chemotherapy. After five or six days, his stem cells will be returned to him.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_b65e66b0-7e34-11de-a66b-001cc4c03286.html

You have to raise money at a booth here in the US to save your life?

Unless of course you are a politician or wealthy. Screw everyone else.