2019 Steve Burdge Family Fund
Donation protected
Imagine being sick all the time. For seven years. Imagine being confined to your home most days, and often spending all day in one chair because you are too ill to move. Imagine having an immune system so compromised that you get pneumonia 3 to 4 times every year. Imagine having a digestive tract so completely destroyed by multiple surgeries that you 80% of your nutrition must be delivered intravenously. Imagine having a liver so weakened from cancer treatment that you require an external liver drain 6 times a year.
On top of all that, imagine having to worry about how you are going to support your family.
For many of us, this scenario seems unthinkable. For my friend Steve Burdge, this is how he has lived his life since the age of 30.
That’s why for the last few years, I have asked for donations on behalf of Steve and his family. Every year at this time, the Burdge family's need for assistance is urgent.
For seven years, Steve has essentially been fighting for his life. In 2012, Steve was diagnosed with a form of pancreatic cancer that has a 7% five-year survival rate. In that respect, Steve has beaten the odds. For those of you who know Steve and his incredible determination, the fact that he has survived this long is not a surprise.
But Steve’s illness has left him unable to work to fully support his family financially. I want to be very clear that this is not a case of Steve being unprepared. He had good health insurance, he has life insurance, and he had disability insurance coverage when he became ill. However, disability insurance only provides for 65% of the income he earned when he was healthy. The Burdge family, as you can imagine, has cut their lifestyle back significantly, yet medical expenses are a constant issue and will remain so for as long as Steve lives.
The Burdge family’s total expenses exceed Steve’s disability insurance income, his wife Susan’s income, and his extended family’s contributions by about $17K annually.
Steve has many friends from his days playing football, from his former colleagues at Mattress Firm, from his church, and from the work he has done supporting pancreatic cancer research. Every year, many of those friends are able to bridge the financial gap with donations. If you are a friend of Steve’s—or a friend of mine—and you have the ability to help, please know that your donation to the Burdge family will be greatly appreciated. The money will not be spent frivolously. It will help keep the lights on in the Burdge household, help the Burdge kids to be able to participate in activities in school, and help defray the costs of additional medical care which are prone to pop up at any moment.
Despite the realities of Steve’s illness and how he must live, he fights through the panic attacks and depression that are associated with his condition in order to maintain a positive outlook. Everyone that knows Steve, knows that he was born full of passion and hustle. While his illness has taken a toll on the hustle, the passion is still there. He still pushes himself to get to Steven’s football games or Megan’s volleyball tournaments. He gets to church on Sunday and has even taught a small group study there.
And Steve is not even the hero of this story. Susan Burdge is. Not only is she Steve’s de facto full-time primary caregiver, she has been a true rock for the Burdge chidren.
Imagine how much better off Steve and Susan would be if they could focus on their family and their fight and not be consumed every single month with worry about finance. Even the smallest of donations can make a meaningful difference to help the Burdge family have a sense of normalcy.
If you have the health and financial means to give, please consider doing so. There are few ways that you can spend your money that will have as big an impact as a donation to the Burdge cause.
Sincerely,
Sam Woods
On top of all that, imagine having to worry about how you are going to support your family.
For many of us, this scenario seems unthinkable. For my friend Steve Burdge, this is how he has lived his life since the age of 30.
That’s why for the last few years, I have asked for donations on behalf of Steve and his family. Every year at this time, the Burdge family's need for assistance is urgent.
For seven years, Steve has essentially been fighting for his life. In 2012, Steve was diagnosed with a form of pancreatic cancer that has a 7% five-year survival rate. In that respect, Steve has beaten the odds. For those of you who know Steve and his incredible determination, the fact that he has survived this long is not a surprise.
But Steve’s illness has left him unable to work to fully support his family financially. I want to be very clear that this is not a case of Steve being unprepared. He had good health insurance, he has life insurance, and he had disability insurance coverage when he became ill. However, disability insurance only provides for 65% of the income he earned when he was healthy. The Burdge family, as you can imagine, has cut their lifestyle back significantly, yet medical expenses are a constant issue and will remain so for as long as Steve lives.
The Burdge family’s total expenses exceed Steve’s disability insurance income, his wife Susan’s income, and his extended family’s contributions by about $17K annually.
Steve has many friends from his days playing football, from his former colleagues at Mattress Firm, from his church, and from the work he has done supporting pancreatic cancer research. Every year, many of those friends are able to bridge the financial gap with donations. If you are a friend of Steve’s—or a friend of mine—and you have the ability to help, please know that your donation to the Burdge family will be greatly appreciated. The money will not be spent frivolously. It will help keep the lights on in the Burdge household, help the Burdge kids to be able to participate in activities in school, and help defray the costs of additional medical care which are prone to pop up at any moment.
Despite the realities of Steve’s illness and how he must live, he fights through the panic attacks and depression that are associated with his condition in order to maintain a positive outlook. Everyone that knows Steve, knows that he was born full of passion and hustle. While his illness has taken a toll on the hustle, the passion is still there. He still pushes himself to get to Steven’s football games or Megan’s volleyball tournaments. He gets to church on Sunday and has even taught a small group study there.
And Steve is not even the hero of this story. Susan Burdge is. Not only is she Steve’s de facto full-time primary caregiver, she has been a true rock for the Burdge chidren.
Imagine how much better off Steve and Susan would be if they could focus on their family and their fight and not be consumed every single month with worry about finance. Even the smallest of donations can make a meaningful difference to help the Burdge family have a sense of normalcy.
If you have the health and financial means to give, please consider doing so. There are few ways that you can spend your money that will have as big an impact as a donation to the Burdge cause.
Sincerely,
Sam Woods
Organizer and beneficiary
Sam Woods
Organizer
Susan Burdge
Beneficiary
