Retired NYPD cop drains savings to help son fight rare brain cancer
(NewsNation) — Retired NYPD Lt. Eric Dym is no stranger to battles, but now he and his family face their toughest fight yet — his 7-year-old son's rare cancer.
His son, Derek, was diagnosed a year ago with diffuse midline glioma (DMG), a rare brain cancer that affects approximately 300 children annually.
Dym said his family has paid $5,000 for a 30-day supply of prescription medication and faced potential costs of $40,000 for another 30-day prescription.
Despite having what he thought was comprehensive insurance coverage, Dym told NewsNation on Sunday he's facing crushing medical bills.
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'Being employed by the NYPD in retirement, I have full medical, full dental, I have prescription, and you figure it would be the best,' Dym said. 'But unfortunately, you find out where the rubber meets the road.'
The family has exhausted their 401(k)s and maxed out credit cards to cover expenses that insurance wouldn't.
'The deductibles, the co-pays, just the expenses that are associated with this type of disease are exhausting,' Dym said.
The diagnosis forced the family to abandon plans for a backpacking tour through Asia. They now live in an RV near Los Angeles Children's Hospital.
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Derek is currently receiving in-home hospice care. His father describes the cancer as 'not curable at this time.'
Despite the financial strain, Dym refuses to give up.
A GoFundMe campaign was created to help with the medical expenses, with a goal of $600,000.
Dym, who retired from the NYPD as a lieutenant in September 2022, said there's 'no measure' to what a parent will do for their child.
'If that means sleeping on the street, we'll do it,' he said. 'Whatever it takes.'
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