Exclusive's Children's Cancer Fund

Hello Everyone,

I was diagnosed with Stage IV Stomach Cancer on April 19th, 2017. The cancer also metastasized to my Esophagus and Lymph Nodes leading to my Liver. Prior to my diagnosis, I saw several doctors over the years who said the pains are gastritis and acid reflux related and prescribed me Prevacid.  I don’t recall ever having issues with acid reflux but I would have pain in my stomach which a nurse at a walk in tested me for H Pylori.  My GI successfully eradicated the H Pylori in 2015 and some of the issues subsided but I still took a Prevacid whenever I had pain and then would slowly stop taking it.  Summer of 2016, I experienced extreme pain and went for scans as well as extensive bloodwork which all came back normal as well as the scans showed no signs of cancer.  I started to see a Nutritionist in Jan 2017 to see if I would benefit from a diet change which was basically going gluten free since I was already eating healthy. I lost a few pounds from the change but then came Mid-February where the excessive weight loss started and I knew then that I was not going to get the news at 41 years old and a father of a 10 & 8-Year-old wanted to hear. On March 30th, 2017 I had an Endoscopy were a malignant tumor was taking up 2/3 of my stomach and blocking 90% of the passageway to it.  Why the difficulty eating the weeks leading up to this test. I have led a very active and healthy lifestyle and was just a case of bad luck I’m told.  I have accepted this challenge and know that I will conquer Cancer.  I am fortunate enough to be receiving my treatment at MD Anderson in Houston and heading back soon since I am finishing up my final round of Chemo this week.  Still two more phases of my plan to go.  On my initial visit to MD Anderson in April and spending 10 days there for testing and staging, I was in shock by the amount of patients who were all there due to Cancer.  What hit me most was seeing the children who are affected by this, whether it was themselves or a family member. I am fortunate enough to have decent Health insurance thru my company and the financial means for my own care unlike others I have spoken with on this journey. 

I am not looking to raise funds for myself but for the children I saw at MD Anderson and as well as other hospitals around our country.  My goal is to raise 100k, but I hope we raise a lot more so these kids can conquer cancer like I will and enjoy all the ups and downs life throws at them for years to come. I want the funds to be used solely on making their treatment that much more comfortable for them as they battle Cancer and to work with the Hospital administration to what needs to be filled as well as modernizing the children’s wing.  At the age of 41, I never thought I would be writing a letter like this and would appreciate any donation you can give.  Again all donations will be going to the Children’s Center at MD Anderson in Houston.  

Thank you so much,

Adam Ashley Klein