Assistance for medical care and bills

PLEASE SHARE, ALL SHARES ARE A GREAT WAY TO DONATE

UPDATE 9/3/22:

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A VEHICLE TO PURCHASE, PLEASE SHARE THIS FUNDRAISER TO SPREAD THE WORD.

David asked me to to update you all with his sincere gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation to each and everyone of you! David is most thankful for your prayers during this time and is excited to inform you all that they are being answered! David is happy to announce that for the first time is 3 months he has been able to put on a pair of sneakers and is feeling much better! David is continuing his cancer treatments and will also be undergoing vascular surgery to put in 3 stents hopefully in the next few weeks.

At this time David is currently looking for a vehicle, a large sedan, small pickup or minivan that will be big enough to handle the mobility scooter that he currently uses to assist him in getting around. PLEASE send any leads of a vehicle to [email redacted]

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

GERKE STRONG!!!

Update: 9/1/22

David asked me to express his deep gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation to each and everyone of you for all the love, prayers and your kind generosities during this time! David and the family are extremely thankful and are feeling the love sent!

May you be blessed in your forever journey!

Thank you!

GERKE STRONG

UPDATE!

On Tuesday the 23 rd David had a mild heart attack and is in the hospital. His team of Dr.’s have decided to put stents in 3 arteries at this point because they feel he has been through so much over the last few months they weren’t sure if could handle open heart surgery for his 3 arteries. Please continue to share this fundraiser for David and please keep him in your prayers!

Hi, my name is Renae Gerke-Libruk, cousin to David and on his behalf took the liberty to start this fundraiser. If there is one thing I have learned in life is that showing vulnerability is a true sign of strength and asking for help during those times is true courage and bravery.

Back in September of 2021, with his wife nagging, kudos to her; David went to his Dr. with a problem with minor swelling of both feet and frequent urinating. David went through an abundance of tests that he and his Dr. wanted. Those tests, including bloodwork, continued for a few months, sending him to his Urologist's office.

In December 2021, David was diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 prostate cancer. The aggressiveness was determined using the Gleasen scale, 0 - 10 being the worst; he showed to be a 9 for this. David continued to seek treatment and even more severe tests of CT, Bone Scan and a PET Scan that showed his cancer spread to his lymph nodes.

For continued treatment, David was referred to a Radiation and Medical Oncologist. David and his new team Dr.s decided in January 2022 on an Extreme Intensive Hormone Therapy that would weaken his immunity as the 1 st phase of his treatment plan. This treatment was an everyday trip to the Oncologist from January to July. Starting in July, David entered into the second phase of his treatment with Radiation, which was an everyday trip to St. Peters.

Due to David's weakened immunity system, in mid-July, he became susceptible. He became ill with a rare bacteria called Listeria that turned into sepsis that almost claimed his life at AMC; the aggressive medical care, countless prayers and by the grace of God, David responded to his treatment and started coming back to us. As his wife sat by his side, she was given notice that she had lost her job; the same day. David was released after an extended hospital stay with IV antibiotics and was counseled to teach to self-administer for at least three weeks via a port.

Now, if this wasn't bad enough for David and his family to endure, David was home and feeling better; he went to CVS for his medication and became light-headed and lost consciousness for a brief moment on his way home, causing him to sideswipe a telephone pole and total his car.

.

Right now, David needs support during his disability to help him get a worthy car to continue his regular cancer treatments and help cover the astronomical mounting medical bills. Any donations will go towards this and, as we know, the high cost of gas to get him back and forth to his treatments.

We understand that times are tough for so many and will appreciate your kindness.

#americancancersociety

We will be so blessed and thankful for your generosity!

Gerke Strong!