Brian Underhill Cancer Treatment

I'm Krista, Brian's niece, and just found out last night that he was diagnosed with colon cancer. My mom and I decided to jump in head first with this GoFundMe thing, so here it goes.  :-)

I think when stuff like this comes along, none of us know what to do or say or how we can help.  This is the only thing we could think of.  Unfortunately, two other people I love have recently been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and I have seen what GoFundMe can do to help, empowering all of us to give something, no matter how small, to help alleviate some of the financial burden of cancer treatment.  It was comforting to know that maybe we could do something, even if it was just a little.

Those of you that know Brian and Shannon don't need a big long story about why they're so wonderful and why they need our help right now.  You already know.  They have blessed your life with their presence in some way over the years.    

For those that don't know them, you're missing out.  ;-)  But here's a little extra info.

In November 2016, Brian had emergency open heart surgery for an aortic aneurysm. They they had to replace several inches of his ascending aorta as well as his aortic valve.  It took him months to recover, and he still has certain complications from that.  Needless to say, the experience was emotionally and financially taxing for them, so to have this cancerous monster come along just a short year later is almost unbelievable and hasn't sunk in quite yet.

They have been serving in the American Sign Language congregation and expending themselves greatly to reach everyone with the Bible's message of hope for the future.  He has not been able to work secularly since the surgery and increasing medical bills are only going to put Shannon under a greater burden than she already carries. They are not the kind of people to easily ask for help or want sympathy, so that's why we're doing this.

Currently they owe thousands in medical bills just from the tests he has had done to diagnose the cancer, and I can only imagine the costs they will face moving forward.  They will only know if it has spread to his intestines or lymph nodes after they do the initial surgery to remove what they could see in the scans and it will most likely include more extensive reconstructive surgery.  Any amount we donate will help them to focus on their spirituality, getting the best treatment possible, recovery, and spending as much time together as they can.  

Brian is like a father to me. He walked me down the isle.  He taught me to play guitar.  He helped make Jehovah, the Creator of the universe, real to me, painting a picture in my mind of the new world and what we have to look forward to. (Brian....I know you remember the night I'm talking about :-) Best night EVER!)  Why we were meant to live forever on earth and not have to deal with sickness and death.  That hope means more to our family now than it ever has.  

Just a note: The family is very overwhelmed right now. We love and appreciate all of your notes, texts, facebook messages, comments, etc.  Please understand we may not have enough time or emotional energy to respond right away, but we will be in touch and updating as soon as we're able. 

Please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers; his sister (my mom), Diana, their daughter, Larissa, Shannon's dad, Steve, and the rest of our extended physical and spiritual family.

Thank you all so much for everything you've done and will do for them.
Krista (& family) 

"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:3,4

"For I do not want to make it easy for others, but difficult for you; but that by means of an equalizing, your surplus at the present time might offset their need, so that their surplus might also offset your deficiency, that there may be an equalizing. Just as it is written: “The person with much did not have too much, and the person with little did not have too little.”  -2 Corinthians 8:13-15