In June 2012, twenty-year-old Joshua Lipana was diagnosed with T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and a 5-inch-by-2-inch tumor in his chest. After seven months of intensive chemotherapy, CT scans showed remarkable improvements and indicated that Joshua's lymphoma was in remission, and the tumor had been reduced to scar tissue. Two months later, however, in March, 2013, a bone marrow biopsy showed that the lymphoma had relapsed. Joshua is now in a hospital in the Philippines, with pneumonia, preparing for more chemotherapy.





Physically and spiritually, Joshua is better prepared now to fight the lymphoma than he was when it first surfaced. As he wrote in a recent email, "I'm now in a much better position to beat this thing, since I don't have a 5-inch tumor and a liter of fluid in my lungs." In addition to being physically stronger, he is psychologically more prepared because he knows the hell that is coming (many sessions of chemo), and he knows that he can get through it. But, to beat this thing, Joshua needs financial help.





When we initiated this funding campaign in July, 2012, we set the goal at $25,000. We knew that Joshua's medical expenses ultimately would be much greater than that, but we wanted to set a goal that seemed achievable and that would substantially defray his expenses. We've almost reached that original goal, and the funds we've raised to date have helped Joshua to pay his prior medical expenses. (A huge "Thank you!" to everyone who has donated so far.) But, with this relapse, Joshua's new expenses are mounting rapidly and will continue to do so for some time. To cover the costs and beat this wretched disease, Joshua needs a great deal more financial help. So we have raised the goal to $50,000.





Please help this heroic young man defeat this killer. Joshua's goal is to get back to living"”which, for him, means fighting for your and my rights (see http://bit.ly/YJz9Lr for an indication). Viewed in this light, our donations are investments.





If you've not yet made a contribution to help Joshua, please consider making one today. If you've already made a donation and can afford to make another, please do. Donations of any size help.





Thank you for your consideration.





Sincerely,

Craig Biddle