Clay's Cancer Treatment

QUICK SUMMARY:

Our dear Clayton has been diagnosed, for a second time, with colon cancer. He beat it before and he’s fighting hard to beat it again. In order to succeed, he needs our help! He has already sold his prize mare (horse) to help cover the costs of chemotherapy, but it’s not nearly enough to complete his life-saving regimen. Please help us support this incredible human as he musters all his optimism, strength, energy, and grit to kick cancer to the curb.

FULL STORY:

For anyone who knows Clayton, you’re aware that life hasn’t dealt him the best health-hand. Despite his meticulous attention to overall physical health and wellbeing (running marathons, ultimate hiking, and competing in cutting horse competitions), he’s been faced with some significant challenges over the years. From developing Crohn’s Disease as a young adult, along with Rheumatoid Arthritis, CPTII Deficiency, Lupus, and a previous bout with Colon Cancer in 2019, Clayton has approached each health challenge with optimism, resolve, and a good bit of humor. He likes to joke that if the automobile Lemon-Law buy back program could be applied to humans, he would definitely qualify.

Unfortunately, Clay is adding another health obstacle to his Yahtzee lineup. On December 13, 2021, Clayton was admitted to the emergency room with a Crohn’s disease flare up. Colonoscopy biopsies a week later revealed the Colon Cancer was back. Despite this deflating news, Clayton dug deep to assemble an amazing team of oncology doctors and specialists (a gargantuan and exhausting task) and started treatment on Monday, January 31.

While his 2019 cancer treatment involved a colorectal surgery and a handful of chemotherapy treatments, his current chemotherapy treatment plan is much more aggressive. The chemo is in pill form, which contains two different types of chemotherapy. Clayton takes 3 pills twice a day for 5 days, rests for 2 days, repeats taking the 3 pills twice daily for another 5 days, and then rests for two weeks. This is considered 1 round. Currently, his oncology team estimates he will need at least 4 rounds of this chemotherapy treatment and may possibly extend to 6 rounds.

Clayton’s out-of-pocket expense for the 4 rounds of chemotherapy is estimated at $40,000 after insurance and discounts from the pharmaceutical company’s copay assistance program. Between his personal funds and having already made the heart-wrenching decision to sell his beloved cutting horse, Ginger, a significant balance of $20,000 remains. As friends and family, we hope to rally and help alleviate the additional financial stress so he can focus solely on his health and recovery.

Clayton exemplifies true grit and determination. One of his favorite quotes is “What we lost in the fire; we’ll find in the ashes”. Through his optimism and unyielding demeanor, Clayton has persevered after each diagnosis not only in pushing his physical limitations but also striving to improve the lives of countless others. He has raised significant, critical funding toward treatments and ultimately a cure for Crohn’s Disease as well as patient programs and advocacy. He’s traveled the Asia-Pacific region helping to provide clean drinking water and hygiene programs to underdeveloped areas, assisted in building and expanding international schools for orphans in Cambodia, supported the establishment and care of an all-girls music school in Afghanistan, served as an advocate for indigenous peoples, specifically his Cherokee heritage, and influenced legislation in his home state on behalf of children of incarcerated parents. Seriously folks, this is a man who has earned our support by not only being an inspiring role model but also by being the most wonderful son, brother, nephew, cousin, and FRIEND.

In October of 2021 Clay posted on Facebook - “We are as great or as little as the object of our hope. We are as great or little as the object of our love.” Let us show our hope for his beautiful and cancer-free future by contributing what we can. Many thanks. WADO.