A benefit for Ben Sears of Sheffield will take place April 25.

Ben Sears found out in 2003 that he had Hepatitis C. A biopsy was done on his liver and it was found to be already in the bridging stages that are the final steps before cirrhosis.

Around the same time as the birth of his and his wife’s third child, Sears started treatment for Hepatitis C. This involved taking seven different pills a day and one shot a week.

“It was torture,” he said reflecting back on that time. “The medication, especially the shot, would make me sick and leave a big red hot patch on my stomach.”

Sears found himself tired Wednesday morning and needing a break as he told his story.

“My liver and my kidneys failed out of nowhere starting last November. I could hardly eat anything and noticed I was losing weight even when I would eat. I kept going back to the doctors telling them my side hurt and thinking that I may have a blockage in the digestive tract.”

After an ultrasound and MRI, doctors found a large tumor in the liver, blocking most of the blood flow in the liver. The fluid buildup is called ascites and the process of draining that fluid is called paracentesis. They removed nine liters of fluid in about a week and then another seven liters soon after.

His stomach was burning so bad, he went to the emergency room and was transferred to Hamot Hospital in Erie, where he spent about two weeks, although he remembers only about one of those weeks.

“I was hallucinating,” Sears recalls.

After another MRI, he was told he had liver cancer called liver carcinoma, for which there is no cure. The best they can do is try to shrink the tumors but wouldn’t start treatment because Ben had no health insurance.

“My wife and I went round and round with the county assistance office just to be told I don’t qualify. I did file for disability, but who knows how long that will take?”

Sears has lost 50 pounds since this battle began. Friends have organized a benefit at the Sheffield Lions Den on April 25 from noon until 5 p.m. There will be a spaghetti dinner, a raffle for a truckload of groceries, 50-50 tickets and a Chinese auction.

“Really, we need help with our bills, taxes, and groceries, he said. “I drove truck for 20 years and I’m just not making the money I used to. I can’t work and struggle to get up and down stairs.”

Sears has been married for 24 years and has been with his wife for 32 years. The couple has four children.

To assist with donations, call Jo’an Lindell at 814-230-4707, Daisy Bennett at 817-730-6665 or Jody Arnold at 814-779-5783.

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