I grew up in a small Ohio town, the son of a steel mill worker. My parents taught me about hard work, honor, and community. When I turned 18 in 1968, I felt the call to serve. I joined the U.S. Air Force without hesitation — because that’s what we did for our country.

Prostate Cancer: The New Battlefront

Last winter, I started feeling exhausted in a way I couldn’t shake. I thought it was just age catching up with me — but it turned out to be something far worse.

The diagnosis: aggressive, advanced prostate cancer.

Those words hit harder than any firefight overseas.

Instead of the roar of aircraft, I now hear hospital monitors. White walls have replaced the chaos of war zones. The treatments — scans, biopsies, chemotherapy, radiation — leave me drained and uncertain.

I’ve fought my whole life, but this battle is different. My body is failing me in ways I can’t control. And while I fight to survive, I’m also fighting to keep my home.

I told my daughter once, “I can fight anything — but losing the house I built scares me more than cancer.”

The Financial Battleground

Here’s what we’re up against:

$63,000 still owed on the mortgage — my sanctuary, my safe place.

Mounting treatment costs — co-pays, medications, and scans that insurance won’t fully cover.

Everyday essentials — utilities, food, and medicine — slipping further out of reach while treatments keep me out of work.

It hurts to ask for help, but I have no choice. Every dollar means stability, peace, and another day in the home I built with love.

$25 helps with gas and groceries

$100 covers a radiation co-pay

$500 makes a full mortgage payment

Each gift keeps me grounded in the place where I raised my family — surrounded by memories, not fear. This house isn’t just wood and brick — it’s my dignity.

Why Your Help Matters Now

Time is running short. Cancer doesn’t wait — and neither does the mortgage company.

No veteran should have to choose between life-saving treatment and keeping a roof over his head. I fought for my country — now I’m fighting for my home and my life.

Everything is transparent on GoFundMe:

Medical bills, receipts, and updates are shared openly.

My eldest daughter keeps donors updated on my progress.

Every dollar is tracked, and every message of support is read with gratitude.

A Soldier’s Thanks

I’m Dan — a Vietnam veteran facing prostate cancer and fighting to keep the house I built. Your gift — whether it’s a dollar, a share, or a prayer — helps me stand another day against this enemy. Thank you for honoring my service, helping me stay in my home, and giving me hope through this fight.

From the bottom of my heart:

Thank you — and please, donate today.