The family and friends of a young gay man who is undergoing treatments for brain cancer is seeking community support to help him pay his growing medical bills.
Paul Takach, 22, of Bristol, was recently diagnosed with a stage-three brain tumor.
The customer-service associate is on an indefinite medical leave of absence from his two jobs. He is insured through one of his employers but he said it is a basic plan and his out-of-pocket expenses have already amounted to more than $10,000.
To meet that burden, his supporters are hosting a beef and beer from 2-6 p.m. June 13 at Stadium Bar & Grill, 4145 Woerner Ave. in Levittown. Tickets are $30, and guests will be able to enjoy open bar, food, a DJ, a 50/50 drawing, raffles and more. All proceeds will help Takach pay bills associated with his diagnosis.
Takach learned of the tumor in February after he was in a car accident.
“There was ice on the highway and I slipped and struck a pole. But I didn’t remember the accident at all, which is why they did a CT scan,” he said.
The scan revealed a lesion on the brain. He went for further testing and was diagnosed with a stage-three tumor in the speech area of his brain.
“When they first came out and told me, my reaction was, ‘Oh my God, why is this happening to me?’ They asked if I had had any symptoms, and I really hadn’t. I didn’t have any inkling that I could have had a tumor or anything at all,” he said.
Takach had surgery to remove the tumor on March 24.
Now he’s on a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation.
He said he thankfully hasn’t had adverse side effects from the therapy other than fatigue, although doctors cautioned that, since he’s only been receiving the treatments for a few weeks, they could still develop.
Takach travels to the hospital five mornings a week for his radiation therapy. Shortly after his surgery, he had a seizure, so he’s not legally able to drive for several more months. He is staying with his grandparents in Fairless Hills to be closer to the hospital, and his grandfather drives him to his appointments.
The chemo comes in capsule form, which he takes every day, along with a medication to minimize the side effects. The chemo meds alone, Takach said, cost about $10,000, and he’s had to have hospital staff intervene to persuade his insurance company to cover at least part of the cost.
Takach’s mother, who is friends with the owner at Stadium, conceived of the fundraiser idea.
He said the support from his loved ones has been integral in helping him cope with the diagnosis.
“My family and friends have been so important,” Takach said. “So many people have messaged me on Facebook, came and visited, offered to take me out to lunch, just in general spent time with me so I’m not alone sleeping or mulling over everything. That’s been the biggest help.”
Tickets will be available at the door or can be reserved in advance by contacting Joyce Takach at 267-536-6096 or [email protected]. Donations can also be made at any Citizens Bank branch.