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Kevin, you are a treasure! A city on a hill which cannot be hidden! Through all this I pray for strength, peace and for your total healing.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

We found out today that the mass on my pancreas is cancerous and is in its advanced stages. I was surprisingly calm
as the doctor broke the news to me and my wife handled it surprisingly well too. I think that part of what allowed us to
take it as well as we did is our faith and another may be that it gives us a little more of a definitive platform from which
to launch our prayer efforts.

I'll continue to pursue the best options for treatment as we allow for supernatural intervention at any step along the
way. Those who have prayed for us, please continue to and those who have offered so many kind and comforting words
of encouragement, know that they are all appreciated more than we could tell you.

Thanks to all,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Kevin
I am not too far from you. If I can help please let me know . There is going to be a time when you may need help so please don't hesitate to ask.
john

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

John,
With my mind reeling and shooting in a thousand different directions during the day, I'm beginning to realize
things that I never have before. As difficult as it may be for many of us men, I'm going to have to admit that help
may be something that I'll need to accept from some of the gracious people who are offering at some time in the
future.

I'm a little overwhelmed today as the realities of the situation are starting to set in. We're already strapped with
the costs that have on us for the treatment of my wife's broken back and my four herniated discs that resulted
from the car accident that we had back in January and seems like yesterday. We're just starting to see the first of
what will be countless waves of expenses that will come with this condition and all of the treatment for it.

Appointment co-pays, prescription costs and co-pays, travel expenses to and from hospitals and doctor offices,
not to mention the time that it will all keep me out of my shop are just a part of what we're looking at now, but
we're trusting God for some miracles in that area as well as in my physical condition and body.

My wife has been an absolute roc through it all so far and that has made it much easier for me to this point.
We've had a rough run of things since my shoulder injury and surgery in 2006 that we had never really recovered
from financially....then the accident that cost us our only vehicle that we haven't been able to replace....and now
a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in an advanced and inoperable stage. It's overwhelming to say the least, but
we've determined to take it and deal with it each day as it comes.

Sorry for the rambling post, but I haven't closed my eyes since the endoscopy yesterday morning. A little rest today
should clear my mind and help me to settle down a little.

Thanks again,
Kevin

Kevin,

We've not met, but I've read your update with sadness and concern for a member who clearly has the unanimous respect and love of this community. Blessings to you and your family in this difficult time. I'll also be praying for you.

Corky Long

Kevin,

There are not many inspiring words that I can share. I know times are rough to say the least - but the important thing is to keep your head up through this ordeal and keep doing the things you love. You are fortunate to have your wife who you will find will continue to be your rock. If you communicate your issues (financial) to the doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies, you will find out that they will help you out and find ways to help you out.

Best wishes,

John

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

Kevin,

What you are experiencing right now is the most challenging that life has to offer. From my own experience, it has a way of focusing one's attention on the most important thing rather than the peripheral things. For me it was love, family and relationships. Nothing else mattered. It still doesn't Once we are pushed this far outside ourselves, there is a still place (call it what you will) that is a calm knowing. I pray that you and your wife find the way there. It makes the experience so much easier. You have a great community of supporters and a lot of prayer headed your way.

And by the way, the lack of money while unerving and always pushing us toward our vulnerability, will come. The hospitals, clinics etc. will work with you. Just tell them what you can afford to pay/mo. There's a lot of great people out there.

Many blessings to you both,

Randolph

Kevin,

I think Randolph put it very well. We are all going to be here for you.

I do want to add, and I know that you are a man of deep faith, that during my wife's battle with cancer, our epiphany came through the love and support from our friends and family, through innumerable, deeply humbling, amazing and unpredictable ways. We could not have survived without them and our lives were enriched beyond measure by the experience. During the many dark and frightful days, visits, meals, flowers, calls and so on were the difference between despair and coping. When we celebrated Karen's birthday after chemo ended, we had to invite 300 people to say, "Thank you."

Ask for help, people want to know what they can do.

_________________
"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Please PM me directly for information on help being organized to assist Kevin and his family.

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Hank Mauel

I'm sure I speak for everyone here Kevin when I say we love you and are praying for you.

Philipians 1:6 I don't know if that completion is now or in 60 years, but I believe it's true.

PM sent Hank.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Amen John. Kevin, I know you stand in trust and faith brother. Never hesitate to call, same for you John if anything can do in this.

Isaiah 53:4-5 "Surely He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed."

Kevin,
Never lose hope brother, always stand firm in your faith no matter how bad it may seem. You have the ability to overcome and let no one convince you any differently. We continue to stand with you and on your behalf! I encourage you to exercise the authority given you by the HS and speak daily of life and healing only. Keep your feet planted firmly upon The Rock and your eyes fixed on the prize! As Jairus was told, "do not fear, only believe". This is just as valid for today as it has ever been. Faith has, does, and always shall move mountains!


Bill

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

I stand by my offer. I am not that terribly far. At some point if you need my help , I will do what I can .
john

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

John.....I am not far either. If you need help helping Kevin, let me know.

Jim

It is difficult in this situation to believe that God has created a perfect world, but I believe he did and it is a perfect world. We don't see the full cycles of balance occur. In each difficult time, I pray that we learn what we need to see that this creation is blessed, and we are blessed to participate. You have and will continue to be in my prayers

Robert Renick

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http://shastaguitar.com/
http://www.kalimbakit.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/comfyfootgr ... ature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/robert.renick.7

We had the appointment yesterday with the surgeon who took care of Kevin in the hospital two weeks ago. He had the biopsy results in hand and offered a very similar diagnosis as last week when the preliminary microscopic exam was performed.

The tumor in Kevin's pancreas is definitely cancerous and is very aggressive in its growth, both in size and in the way that it has engulfed the major blood vessels in the area around the pancreas, stomach, esophagus and upper intestine. The chief concern is that it will close some of the arteries restricting the supply of blood to the organs and causing more problems.

In any case, the condition is life threatening and calls for an equally aggressive treatment approach. The appointment yesterday was late in the afternoon, so schedules couldn't be established for those upcoming treatments with the other offices already closed. We'll hear today of when the first radiation and chemotherapy treatments will take place....something that has both Kevin and I horrifies since we've read so much about both and have seen their effects in the bodies of family and friends who have gone through it.

The surgeon explained that the tumor is not a candidate for resection or whipple surgery that is common to pancreatic issues like these, but the hope, from a medical standpoint is that the tumor will respond to the radiation and chemotherapy by shrinking to a point where it may be able to be surgically removed....or to a point where it is no longer a problem or threat to the surrounding organs and blood vessels.

We're still trusting God for a divine touch and some divine intervention as we pray for healing to come. We've seen miracles in the lives of friends and family and know beyond a shadow of doubt that they are real and possible in even the most hopeless situations. We'll continue to pursue the best possible medical treatment, but will also watch and expect for God to step in at any time.

Thanks for all your prayers and support again,
Paula Gallagher

thanks for updating us. We are all hoping for the best . Our thoughts and Prayers go out for your family.

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Our thoughts and prayers continue.

Joe

Thanks for the followup Paula. We continue to pray and stand in faith for a miracle with you. Please keep us all informed as Kevin has touched the lives of many in here as well as elsewhere. I encourage you to continue to stand firm and don't let faith and hope depart from your lips but continue to speak it with strong resolve. And give fear no place in your lives!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Hello All,
Thanks again for all the encouragement. We're at the place now where things are going to
get interesting and enlightening when it comes to medical professionals and the insurance that
we practically go broke paying for to cover their services. We want to make arrangements for
a second opinion from someone who is considered to be leading in the field of pancreatic
cancer issues.

We've spoken with people at Fox Chase in Philadelphia, but would also like to get someone at
Sloane Kettering in NYC to have a look at my records and images and biopsy outcome. The thing
that we're finding now is that we're stepping outside of the participating network of providers
and will have to field bills from them that are going to get expensive quickly.

So, not only are we believing for a miracle in the spiritual, but also in the natural as we make
decisions on what care we can and cannot afford or what doctors we can and cannot afford to
get opinions from.

Thanks for the support and comfort an thanks in advance for all that you'll continue to offer.

All the best,
Paula Gallagher

We just received a prompt return call from the folks at Fox Chase in Philly. They have all of my test and imaging in hand and believe that I am, in fact a candidate for surgery. This would be a great improvement over the prognosis given by my guy in the Lehigh Valley.

All we need to do is to be able to have transportation to and from Philadelphia every day for the treatment surrounding it all.

We're encouraged by this news and want to move as quickly as we can to give the docs the best possible floor to work off of.

Thanks for everything and keep those prayers coming,
Paula Gallagher

Kevin & Paula, I sure hope for the day in the US when no one will ever say those words again.

We had "very good" insurance coverage when my wife went through breast cancer treatments and 2 brain surgeries. Still, there were a number of things that were "out of network" or not covered. My attitude was to seek the finest medical care, period. Financial irresponsibility just didn't come into the equation. I didn't care if we lost the house and we had to eat ketchup soup and rice for the rest of our lives.

There was a period of about a year where I fought with the insurance company (after the fact), challenging every coverage denial. I read every stinking word of their coverage handbook, documented everything, wrote letters, followed it up with many many 1 and 2 hour phone calls, asked for supervisors every time I hit a wall, wrote to challenge what the supervisors said if it denied coverage on any facet of treatment. Slowly I whittled away the claims, and got the providers to pay for tens of thousands of dollars worth of charges that had been initially denied. This is key! If the providers accept the money for a bill from the insurance company, then they (usually) stop coming after you, even if the amount they got is considerably lower than their bill. For example, if we had a bill for $1000, the provider wanted $1000 from us - any less and they threatened collections. But the insurance company might get away with paying them $650 for that same bill, and the rest was written off. Another thing I did was to send a small check to the providers, maybe $100, against the bills that were in dispute, which kept them from being able to throw it to a collection agency. You don't want to deal with collection agencies - those people have ice water in their veins and and a black hole where their heart should be.


But, Kevin and Paula, all of the above is for LATER! Right now, get the treatment. The best you can find, not the best you can afford. Right now, focus ALL of your energy on treatment, recovery, and survival. Nothing else matters.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Kevin and Paula, my thoughts go out to you as you deal with these health issues. My family has been touched (walloped!) by Pancreatic cancer twice in the last three years; my brother and my mother-in-law.

I won't burden you with the details, but I will offer what I really wish someone had told me earlier. The toxins from the cancer get into the brain and start affecting how you think and feel about things, and it also affects your behaviour and how you treat the people around you. Pancreatic cancer is such a fast cancer, the effects on the mind are also very sudden. I was on the receiving end when my brother was affected. I got hit hard.

Knowing this going in can help you and the people around you.

I'd be happy to share more of my experiences if wanted, but don't feel this is the appropriate place to present unrequested commentary.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Kevin and Paula,

Regarding the transportation to and from Philli everyday -
wouldn't it be better to pick up an affordable apartment nearby Philly so you can commute in for the treatments - either on the subway or buses ?

Best wishes
John

_________________
It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

I have a buddy who was a professional touring musician, and when his wife got pancreatic cancer, they found a place to stay on the Baltimore harbor, near John's Hopkins, where she underwent the Whipple procedure. (8-10 hours long, by knife, less if done with the Davinci robot.) You can watch this procedure online. VERY complex looking. It's a blessing if you are a candidate for surgery. Kajaun wasn't initially, but after much prayer, she became operable. Simple infection is a very serious risk that can snowball.

I think looking to stay near that hospital is a good idea. Trusting that God's already got those arrangements made for you. Be healed and whole.

Looking forward to getting face to face with you bro.