My name is Stephany Cunningham, and my husband's name is Gary Cunningham. We live in Munford, Alabama. Gary was diagnosed with Proximal Sigmoid Colon Cancer (annular shaped tumor with a 90% blockage between his Sigmoid Colon and Descending Colon) on August 27, 2025 after having some abdominal pain that lasted for about 2-3 months and prompted a doctors visit. His only option to be cancer free is to have a surgery called a Laparoscopic Sigmoid Colectomy which will remove a portion of his colon and resection it to connect it back together. They took a polyp during the colonoscopy and it already showed signs of cancer so the decision was made to remove the entire Sigmoid Colon and some extra. We have IBX Insurance through our employer, but it doesn't cover this surgery (surgery code# 44204) and our out of pocket deductible is $4k per person. He has seen a gastroenterologist, a general surgeon, RMC hospital and The Tyler Center in Anniston for CT scans and the Colonoscopy testing (Biopsy and Polyp removal), and will require a hospital stay at St. Vincent's/UAB in Pell City, AL if he is able to have the surgery on Tuesday for observation as this surgery is invasive and comes with risks. Gary is out of work on FMLA and not getting paid at this time (We have also been his mother's sole caretaker as she also currently has Stage II colorectal cancer and is undergoing immunotherapy until further notice). We have not yet been billed from the gastroenterologist for his hospital procedures he has had to diagnose the cancer. I'm asking for assistance in paying for his surgery so he can be cancer free, on the road to recovery, and to be able to live a long healthy life. Gary is the type of man who would give you the shirt off his back. He's a wonderful father/stepfather, and he is an extremely hard worker and provider for his family.

Update 1-Gary was able to have the surgery on Tuesday September 2, 2025 and is now at home recovering. I assume we will be billed from the hospital for their services as well as the other doctors who were able to help us on this journey. As if things weren't stressful enough, we were notified on Wednesday that our jobs would also be coming to an end by November due to a contract cancellation by our customer. Any donations are greatly appreciated during this time as he is not getting paid while out of work recovering.

Update 2- We saw the surgeon for the follow up and removal of his JP Drain and half of his staples. The doctor went over specifics from the testing of the removed colon. He removed 26 lymph nodes during the surgery, and 1 showed signs of cancer. All other margins of his colon were clear of cancer. We were referred to an Oncologist for further options, but were told chemo was the only one.

We saw the Oncologist on the 17th. They did a Signatera test and sent it off for testing. They requested him to start two very strong forms of chemo that would leave him with literally nothing, all without having a positive result. We will be waiting 4 weeks for true results. All other bloodwork, vitals, and testing were perfect.

Update 3- Later in the evening on 09/17, Gary started hurting in his side and upper back after walking to the mailbox for his daily walk. It started as a dull ache, but quickly turned into a pain so severe that he couldn't sit still. He had an appointment on the 18th for the removal of the other half of staples and final check up, so I figured we could call and ask the surgeons office if the sudden pain was anything to worry about or if it was a possible complication. I got up for work and he told me he had been up all night pacing the house and was hurting really bad in his side. I was going to stay home, but he told me to go on to work and he would be fine. Against my better judgement, I went. I called the surgeons office while I was at work and explained that he was hurting pretty bad, and started asking questions. They weren't concerned about it and hurriedly let me go. He called me at 1:00 PM crying out in pain. I left work. When I got home, he was on his hands and knees trying to stretch out to get the pain to stop somehow. I got him in the car and we went straight to the surgeons office. They didn't seem too concerned at all after watching him practically crawl across the parking lot and told him it was his gallbladder having an attack due to greasy foods, and they would set up a CT Scan and see if my insurance would cover it. Gary hasn't fully returned to his normal diet yet because we were afraid of greasy foods and fats so I knew this wasn't the case at all. I also knew the insurance request would take days or even weeks, and we didn't have the time to wait. We got home and he started hurting really bad again and crawling in our floor begging me to help him make it stop or for God to let him die. I trusted what I had already felt all day and I took him to the ER.

We explained to the ER what surgery he had, when, who did it, what his symptoms were, and they took us straight back. They did a CT scan/X-Rays and found that Gary had a Pulmonary Embolism in the right lung, Pneumonia in the right lung, and a surgical site infection near the belly button, and possible air inside the abdomen. I'm so glad I took him because his doctor would've literally let him die by a misdiagnosis. I know my husband and know when something is off. He will be out of work a little bit longer, but I'd rather him be alive and healthy. He is on a blood thinner, antibiotic, and something for pain and we will be looking for a new doctor to see for further follow ups.