Scott Kowalske: Playing With Pain -- One Year Later

Update: A Card Player reader has teamed up with poker professional Brett “Gank” Jungblut to set up an online charity poker tournament for the Scott Kowalske Fund on PokerStars. Along with Jungblut, fellow World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner Scott “BigRiskky” Clements has also registered to play in the event.

The tournament will take place on Sunday, July 27, at 9 p.m. Eastern time. The event can be found under the “PRIVATE” tab in the PokerStars lobby. The tournament is listed as the “Scott Kowalske Fund” and the password for the event is: scottw. The buy-in is $22.00, and half of all the prize money will be donated to the Scott Kowalske Fund.

I first met Scott Kowalske at the World Series of Poker in 2007. He loves to play poker, like all of us, and like many, he uses the game to escape the daily grind and enjoy some entertainment on the felt. The pain and frustration that Scott escapes by playing the game he loves is of such a large magnitude that it is hard to define. Scott has been infected with chronic wasting disease for seven years, and during that time, it has destroyed his life as it destroys his body — his life now hangs in the balance.

You can read more about the debilitating effects of chronic wasting disease and the treatment that can save Scott's life in a CardPlayer article from July '07.

But that is just the first part of the story. Over the last year, Scott has fought through further deterioration of his health, as well as setbacks to his financial prospects for finding the money he needs to save his life. The pain he has had to suffer through is terrible, but the frustration he has felt after coming so close to finding the money for a cure, and then all of a sudden having it pulled away, is cruel and unusual. Scott continues to hold out hope when others would have given up, and he continues to dream that he will find a cure and achieve the most fundamental human desire — to survive.

"I've had a good attitude … but this December I've had really bad thoughts, and I've never had them before; I've always been like, somebody is going to help me, somebody will be there for me," said Scott. "I don't want to give up, because everybody says to hang on, but this is it, I can't fight anymore, I really can't. It's gotten to where my body is so tired from fighting this disease, and it's so damn bad, that I get up in the morning with tears because of the pain."

When Scott's story first appeared on CardPlayer.com one year ago, he still had a few of his fingers left, but that is no longer the case. He now has just one finger on his right hand that extends to the proximal interphalangeal joint (the second knuckle on the finger) and no fingers on his left hand that extend past the metacarpophalangeal joint (the first knuckle on the finger). If those final amounts of his withered hands disappear, he can no longer function — and the clock is ticking. More importantly, the disease has increased its internal attack on his organs, and this is why doctors have told Scott he needs to find help, now.

"It's hitting my organs now; it's really eating me from the inside," said Scott.

He also said that doctors told him his liver is functioning at 30 percent, while his kidneys are functioning at 18 percent. If the functioning levels of his kidneys drop much lower, they will need dialysis treatment, and when that happens, well, that was where Scott's voice trailed off on the other end of the phone.

The levels of testosterone, Vitamin C, and Iron in his body continue to plummet, and he needs injections almost daily to sustain his levels at a non-life-threatening level.

"All of this treatment, three bottles of infusions Monday through Friday … it's just rough, it's like a job. I go in at eight in the morning and I don't leave until 5 or 6 o'clock at night," said Scott.

Blue Cross has provided Scott with much of the treatment he now receives, which includes sessions in a hyperbaric chamber that is filled with 100 percent oxygen. "Without Blue Cross, it would have been over a while ago. They've gone out of their way for me; they've been great. They've been really good for me," said Scott.

Throughout the last year, a number of people have come to Scott's aid. They include Clay Sikes from Hinesville, Georgia, who has donated money to Scott numerous times during the year after seeing his story. He has donated thousands to help Scott with his personal and medical expenses, and he has never met Scott — not once. Another person who has helped Scott is a friend he has had for many years that has settled in the Las Vegas area. That friend chooses to remain nameless, but it is because of that friend that Scott found himself halfway to his goal of raising the final $30,000 he needs for life-saving treatment.

Scott found himself in the San Diego area at various points of the past year to receive medical treatment, and that led him to play poker at the Ocean's 11 Casino in Oceanside, California. He did it to pass the time and cope with his pain between treatments. It was there that he met Bob Moyer and Suzanne Carter, who reached out to Scott after he made a personal connection with many employees and customers in the poker room.

The staff at Ocean's 11 Casino knew they wanted to help Scott by hosting a charity poker tournament, but they also knew they did not have the floor space to host it there. Moyer reached out to the Harrah's Rincon property a few miles away and offered his dealers and tournament staff to work the tournament if they would agree to host the event. Sikes then pledged a sponsorship check from his company, The Sikes Group, to cover the operating costs of the tournament. The staff at Harrah's Rincon got on board, and the approval process that would be needed to allow the event to take place began. The Rincon Band of Mission Indians that own the property approved the tournament and a date was set for June 1, 2008. The charity no-limit hold'em tournament was going to feature a $175 buy-in, with all of the proceeds going to the treatment that would save Scott's life. That was when disaster struck. The final approval for the tournament was sent to Harrah's corporate staff, but no word was ever sent back, and the charity tournament died as a piece of paper sitting on someone's desk.

This renewed all of Scott's fear and anxiety that he might not make it out of his battle alive, and some bad thoughts began to set in once again.

"You can only hang on for so long … I don't want to go, because I want to be here for them [his parents], I want to fight because I've fought so long for them. So, when I wake up and hear my mom crying, it just kills me," said Scott.

He continues to hold his head up and keep hope alive, but his time is growing short. Scott still needs $12,000 after Moyer and Carter promised $1,000 each when the tournament fell through. "I'm asking now, I'm begging, if you have the means to help, I'm begging for the help now. I've never begged for anything in my life, but that's what it comes down to … I just don't want to die," said Scott, his voice as anxious as it had ever been. He continued, "People keep telling me it's not a lot of money. Well, you know, it's a lot of money when you don't have it. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it is."

Scott's last statement is correct; $12,000 is a lot of money, especially in the current economic downturn that has affected the United States in multiple ways. But $12,000 isn't that much money in the poker world. Thousands of players won that much and more over the course of this summer, and $12,000 is just $2,000 more than the amount players commit to a major tournament buy-in every week on the tournament trail. That is why many people who know Scott, and see him struggle while his character soars, hold out hope that the money will come.

It is true that $12,000 is a lot of money in the real world, but it is not a lot of money in the poker world.

Those who wish to help Scott can donate to the Scott Kowalske Fund at the Fifth Third Bank in Traverse City, Michigan.

Scott Kowalske Fund
Fifth Third Bank
630 W. 14th Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
231-922-4334

You may also e-mail or call Scott directly.

E-mail: scottkowalske@charter.net
Home: 231-933-8494
Cell: 231-499-4941

15 Comments

 

RAYKEN
1 year ago

Scott I wish I had the money for ya brother but I'm in dire straights myself. I'm not that much of a religious person but I do believe in God and I will say a prayer for ya brother. I hope all goes well !!! Jerry

 

 

oceanbob
1 year ago

I had the pleasure of meeting Scott. This man loves poker and loves life. While speaking to Scott and hearing his story it breaks your heart. Scott is reaching out for people to help save his life. As we spoke I knew that Scott was literally dying in front of me. If you read his story you see that he is enduring pain on a daily basis that we can't even imagine. Scott is a survivor and it was an honor to be able to help in any way I could. Now it's up to us to provide financial help so Scott can receive his stem cell transplant. I am sending my check for $1000.00 today and I challenge those of you that can afford it to send Scott whatever you can.

Bob Moyer

 

 

Mallrat
1 year ago

You can set up a charity tournament on Pokerstars and advertise it on this site and on the major poker forums like pocketfives and twoplustwo. the players im sure would be willing to donate at least 50% of their winnings to this cause and I think its much more easy to put together than a live charity tournament. this is a heartbreaking story, that I hope eventually has a happy ending

 

 

stephen74
1 year ago

Two plus two is not going to be receptive to this. I talked to Mason Malmuth about asking for help after we were affected by floods here in Iowa and they are not willing to host calls for help for people because of the potential for fraud. I'm guessing that pocketfives is going to take the same position, unless you're friendly with someone in the organization itself.

 

 

Mallrat
1 year ago

there is already a thread about it on pocket fives. it may need to be bumped

 

 

pokerpro1078
1 year ago

i was in a nearly fatal car wreck needed hip replacement and my foot almost needed to be amputated ..i built up a bankroll prior to tghe accident playing mid leval stakes at foxwoods casino ..since the accident had to bl,ow through my savings while awaitng disability to get my life back ..i feel so selfish because i was always down on myself and life situation when it can always be worse ..this article really got me thinkingg about life.i dont now if its because its a fellow poker player or what it is but coulnt help but to cry reading this .scott keep up the good fight i will pray for you evry day and have a mass at my church in your name so we all can pray for you .thanks for the insperation hope someday i can be as strong a person as you are

 

 

cinamon
1 year ago

this is scott kowalske thanks pokerpro for your support i would have done the same but my hometown casino barred me because i have such a rare disease so there is nowhere close for me to play.i have had 2 peple help for a total of $1200.00.you always hear about people that win alot of money at the world series or these people that play golf for 10,000.00 a hole,hopefully one of these people will have some compassion and help.thi is probably my last chance to ask for help its down to the wire now so if anyone can help PLEASE do thanks for the emails scott k.

 

 

claysikes
1 year ago

We at The Sikes Group pledge another $1000.00 in hopes that it inspire others to do what they can. There are many folks who cannot afford to do a thousand dollars; but many who can afford a lesser amount...$50.00, $100.00, $200.00 - any amount will help this man who desperately needs our help! It is sad that many of the game's biggest money winners have not responded (at all)!
Clay Sikes
Hinesville, Georgia

 

 

flyboy330
1 year ago

Hey, what's up, everyone? When I play poker, I'm always smiling, having fun, doing the best I can so that I enjoy the experience of playing poker. Some players have asked me, "Why do I have the mentality that I do with regards to poker?". It's because I know that I've been giving a great opportunity through two hard working parents that went from nothing and turned themselves into successful business owners.

The other response I give people is that as poker players, I don't think people realize how privileged we are to use "money" (and it is money) as part of the game we play. Kids from third world countries would be happy to have even a fraction of what we play with if we are low limit players. Hell, if we are even a high limit player, that would take care of them for a long time coming.

The point of this post is after reading this article about Scott K., sometimes, we have to push our differences aside to help humanity out for the better good. I've never met scott k before, but all I know is I don't like to see people suffer. I just recently lost my job, but after reading this post, it has inspired me to help people as much as I can. In light of reading this post, I will do my best to post on forums that I post for about the situation and will do my best to give as much as I can even in light of my situation. Hang in there, and I know that money will come through for you.

-Neal M.

 

 

propokerschool
1 year ago

HELP Save the Life of Fellow Poker Player Scott Kowalske Poker Tournament

Please Help Save Scott Kowalske Life. He was recently profiled in a Cardplayer.com article titled Scott Kowalske: Playing With The Pain - One Year Later. Scott has a very rare, very painful disease called Chronic Wasting Disease. There is a charity poker tournament to be held on July 27th at 9:00pm Eastern time on Pokerstars to try and help raise funds for Scott's treatment. Without it, he will die from this illness. Scott is a part of the poker community and as nice a guy as you could ask for. I am asking if anyone who reads this would please consider playing in this tournament and supporting such a deserving cause. The buy in is only $22.00 and it can be found under the Pokerstars Private tourny tab (password scottw) , you must donate at least half of whatever you cash to the Scott Kowalske Fund. If you find that his story speaks to you, but you cannot play the event, please consider spreading the word.

Pokerstars July 27th at 9:00pm ET

 

 

mayesie
1 year ago

There’s a tournament going this Sunday (6pm Pacific) at Pokerstars to raise money to help pay for a stem cell transplant.

Here are the details (from pocketfives):

There's a tournament for Scott Kowalske on Pokerstars. July 27th at 9:00pm eastern time. Tourney is in the Private section. $22.00 buy in. Password is: scottw

1/2 of all the prize pool to be donated so this guy can live to play poker another day hopefully.... There's going to be a new article on Cardplayer.com talking about it this Wednesday according to my source.

I think Scott Clements [Bigriskky] and Brett Jungblut [Gank] are playing and who knows who else will show up....Pass the word brothers and sisters and help save this guy's life.

 

 

L2K4FC
1 year ago

This tournament is going to be a lot of Fun for a good cause. There have been a few naysayers out there trying to shoot it down because they don't believe Scott or they think it is some type of scam. Those very few people in addition to being Wrong about Scott are missing the spirit of what this tournament is about. I've met a lot of people while trying to help get this going. They have put forth not only their time, energy, and money but their reputations as well. I want to thank all those who have helped and I look forward to playing with a great group of cool people in this tournament!!!

 

 

MUPokerPlayer
1 year ago

I wanted to alert people as to why many people are skeptical with regards to Mr. Kowalske's condition and need for stem cell treatment.

Please consult this site for a discussion:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthread.php?t=256422

 

 

L2K4FC
1 year ago

Thank you for posting the link sir. Any attention we can draw to Scott's cause is certainly welcome. BTW, I left a response for your post in the "Tournament For Scott Kowalske On Pokerstars" thread at propokerschool.com. Looking forward to any comments or suggestions when you get a chance.

 

 

maxima191
1 year ago

I sent this guy an email last year-Heard nothing at all still wish him luck but won't be sending any emails again.

 

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