#JeffStrong Help Jeff Buxton Fight Cancer

Jeff is in the middle of Round Two against colon cancer - and he's in it to win it. He needs our help now. The fight has gotten harder and expenses are mounting. Many of us would volunteer to undergo a chemo treatment for him - if it would help. But we can't. We CAN help offset the cost of being out of work, the expense of treatment, and the stress of supporting a family while he continues the fight to KNOCK OUT cancer for good.

Just under two years ago, Jeff started feeling sick. His appetite diminished, he had stomach pains and other (eh-hem) digestive troubles. After an endoscopy that seemed normal, he pushed for further testing. By September, Dr. Reiders discovered and removed a very large tumor during a colonoscopy that Jeff insisted that he have. Shortly after learning it was stage 3 colon cancer, he underwent a colon resection followed by six months of aggressive chemotherapy. Last April, Dr. Weiss (his oncologist) gave us great news. Jeff's scans were coming back good and he could stop treatments. For about eight months, Jeff and his family worked toward being "back to normal," with Jeff eventually recovering enough from chemo side effects to return to work.

Then, after a routine scan in February, a shadow was spotted on his liver. Dr. Weiss ordered more tests and eventually a biopsy that revealed that the colon cancer had returned and metastasized to his liver. On Jeff's birthday this year, March 15th, he underwent another surgery to remove the tumor on his liver. Unfortunately, when the doctor went in, he discovered that his tumor was entangled in the arteries connected to his bile duct. It was too dangerous to remove. Now, Jeff and the team have shifted their strategy. He's undergoing very aggressive chemo for six more months so the tumor either disappears or shrinks enough to remove safely.

Jeff's body and spirit have been through a bruising year and a half. His kids, Zach (17), Connor (14), and Julianna (11), and wife, Christina have been an incredible support. He loves them all dearly and wishes for this cancer to be in the rearview mirror so he can flip the switch and be THEIR support. Jeff has at least three more months of chemo to go in this Round. He's learned that you've got to take this one breath at a time, one day at a time, one round at a time. This has been a practice of patience, faith, and hope. For all of us.

As you recall, we didn't organize a fundraising effort for Jeff during Round One. Now, in Round Two, the fight has intensified. Jeff hasn't been able to work since mid-winter. Your financial support would really mean a lot to him and his family. Please give what you can, raise what you can, and, as always pray as you can. Together we can help show Jeff that we are with him! For him, we will also be #JeffStrong.

If you prefer to give by check, you can write it out to "Jeff Buxton Cancer Fund" and mail it to my parents, Rick and Barb Buxton at P.O. Box 71, Orwell, VT 05760. They will deposit it into a special account we've created for Jeff and his family at the Orwell Bank. Thank you!