Can a guy catch a break?

I'll make this as short and sweet as I can, and you know that is a near-impossible task for those who know me. One of my best friends, Ryan, has been a liver transplant recipient for over 20 years. Despite lifelong health battles and almost daily bouts of not feeling his best, he has remained one of the most excellent guys you could hope to know, who would do

anything for a friend and mostly anything for a stranger.

 

He found out in the last decade that he was in Stage 3 kidney failure due to his daily anti-rejection meds... that didn't stop him from living his best life. Whether it was showing up for work every day to his job, fixing up his house (or helping other people fix up theirs), taking care of his ailing mother, going to see his favorite band Phish, golfing, or hanging with his husky, Piper, he did it with a smile.

 

When COVID hit, it was super scary; being immune-compromised and exposed to sick people at work was not an option. He had no choice but to take a leave of absence and, under the guidance of his medical team, was advised not to return to work until a cure or effective vaccine was discovered- his job of 20+ years terminated him. After four vaccines, and two years, he finally had some antibodies and was able to return to the working field. He started a new job this past March 2022 and was SO happy to be productive, back out in the world, and make a living again.

 

In the middle of May 2022, he went to a dermatologist appointment for a bothersome ingrown hair on his cheek- it turns out it was squamous cell skin cancer. So he went in for MOHS surgery the week before Memorial Day weekend- after four passes, leaving a hole in his cheek the size of an egg, the whole team working on him came into the room. He was told the cancer had spread thruout the side of his face, his facial nerves, and could have very possibly made its way to his lymph nodes. They said it was aggressive and had been there for a while, and he needed to go in for surgery as soon as possible. So he went in for surgery at Penn this past Friday, May 27, where he was cut from his ear, jawline, and shoulder. He is currently recuperating at home, waiting for pathology results to come back and also to see if the cancer has spread.

 

The new job he started in March? They fired him today for missing too many days in the 90 day probationary period, which was up tomorrow, June 1, when his medical benefits would have kicked in, his PTO etc. Can a guy catch a break? You can't make this stuff up. Undoubtedly, he will need help paying for not only medical bills, but also everyday bills. I am hoping to help make his life a little easier. Please donate if you can, share if you are able and keep your fingers crossed for my buddy.