Hi friends,

Some of you may or may not know John (Stuts) Stuzynski, my best friend. He is an incredible Dad, Friend, Son, Coach and Leader and he is going through one of the worst things that anyone would want to experience (even for someone as "glass half full" as he is in everything he does). 

WHY HIM?!

He could use the support of anyone reading about this devastating event…Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer.

As I write this, I am filled with so many thoughts and emotions about Stuts. 

 

The purpose of this GoFundMe campaign is to take care of his family and leverage the community and village that he has been an integral part of his entire life. 

They will be going through enough and the goal is to not have them worry about finances, whether it be current or future expenses (medical, schooling for their kids, etc).  The cancer thrives on stress, so the hope is that we can join together to bring enough support and love to give him and his family a chance to fight and prevail through this difficult time.

A bit of background on how this all transpired.

On 3/3/2020, he was hospitalized for extreme stomach pains and nausea that would not subside.

Part of the protocol was to take a cat scan, mri and xray (along with blood tests).  While they were waiting for the results, the ER doctor broke the news to them that the pain he was experiencing was due to a Pancreatic mass and a lesion on his liver. They speculated that it was cancer, but the local Washington township hospital did not have the means to treat him properly. The next morning, they transported him to a specialized cancer facility where he could receive the care that he needed.
 
3/4/2020: Stuts was then immediately admitted to the cancer specialists at Jefferson University Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center Hospital in Philly.

3/5/2020:  A biopsy and further testing of the tumor marker were completed.


3/13/2020:  On this day, the results confirmed the unfathomable and unimaginable life shattering prognosis that Stuts has Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer since it had metastasized to his liver.  This immediately sent shockwaves into Susan, his wife, and his children, when he called them all to the hospital to deliver the news, the best way that he thought he could.
He informed them that the future is now in the cancer's control, that he needed each and every one of them to bond and support each other as this incredible, caring, generous, life-long Dad begins his long, hard fight to beat it back.

Starting next week (3/23) he will be going forward with an extremely aggressive chemotherapy plan which requires bi-weekly treatments in the hospital with a traveling nurse to his home.  
He, even now, is in continuous pain that needs to be treated with a strong pain management regimen. 

As a result, he won’t be able to work a normal job while this is all going on. His family is left with having to pay for Cobra Health Insurance, which everyone knows, is full cost, and lacking...

This further impacts their ability to cover the bills, which will be exorbitant to say the least.  

The individual treatments are not fully covered.

The doctor confirmed this in incurable and he will be on chemotherapy indefinitely at this time.

I almost feel bad for the cancer, as it has no idea who it is dealing with... 
Stuts never quits, and has a resiliency that is almost inhuman.
As you all can probably attest, his friendships are unlike any other you will ever experience.

I named this campaign to "Our best friend..." because if you know him, you will want to be his best friend. I have the luck and honor of being his best friend since kindergarten. At that time, we were both trying to find our way. I could not speak English (my parents only spoke Italian), and Stuts, well, he wore coke bottles for glasses! We were basically drawn to each other due to our differences.  I have no idea how we even worked that out! 

He is my brother, his family is my own, and I will do whatever is needed to help, ease the pain, and fight this with him.

He and Susan have 4 great kids, all super smart who will make an impact in whatever they choose to do.  
Johhny, Cooper, Spencer and Samantha are all in our thoughts as well.


Stuts will be on this page, updating and leaving messages as he has time as well. 
We will do our best to get the word out and keep you all informed on his condition. 

Additionally, there will be events planned (though with the Corona virus, they may need to be "virtual").

Give what you can, leave behind a message to him, keep him in your thoughts.

We all have Stuts Stories!  Even if you only met him once, you will remember him for a lifetime!  I have never met anyone who has come close to making personal impressions as strong as he has done. 

I have so many that it’s really hard to pick.  I will start with my earliest example:

Stuts Story #1:
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It's probably 3rd or 4th grade and I was at his home in Edison, playing outside in the dirt or something...

For whatever reason, I told him I didn't like our teacher, and he agreed that he didn't like her either.  Normal kid stuff....
I had trouble getting my homework done and rarely would complete it in time (I am now paying the price since my kid is the same!)
SO I just blamed the teacher for all my issues, like any other kid would....

Well....  next day comes, I'm in class with said teacher, and she asked where my homework was... as normal, I didn't have it...
...  She then comes over and says maybe it's in my desk (remember those desks?  they were basically big drawers with one end open)
She then proceeded to dump the contents of my desk onto my lap...

As papers, books, pencils, erasers and other crumbled up bits lay all around me, I began to think how this came to be...my best friend decided to get on her good side and rat me out!!!  

Somehow, he sweet talked me into not strangling him and we went onto the next adventure. 


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He doesn't deserve this, nobody does.  All we can do is try to help as best we can, be it money, or just leaving him a thought of better times.  

Having the financial side of this out of the way will at least allow him, and the family, to focus on healing and fighting.

Though it may be tempting to call him directly, he may not be able to answer as he will be overwhelmed at this time.

Instead, choose to text him or post here and spread the word on social media.
(STUTS is not out there, though he likes to use his son's account to see what everyone is doing and stay informed...)

Take the time to leave a comment, pictures, and perhaps your own "Stuts Story" behind.  He will surely appreciate it!

Positivity is what will get them through this, and maybe even get rid of the cancer!

We love you Stuts.  If anyone ever had the will and fight in them to deal with this, you do. 
We are all with you and are here for you and your family.

Note, no contribution is too small, every bit helps.

Stuts would like to thank you all from the bottom of his heart! He promises to fight and keep you all informed.

Thanks everyone, for anything you can do to help.

Anthony

T-shirt fundraiser link below:
https://www.customink.com/fundraising/our-best-friend-has-cancer