Fundraiser for Richard Christian Hamilton
Donation protected
Not long ago I was fortunate enough to meet a young man, Richard Christian Hamilton. Christian is the only son of Richard and Shannon Hamilton, my friends who own Deep South Taco. I'm fond of and impressed by Christian; he is a smart, honest, and hardworking young man.
Last year, Christian, now 20, was attending Florida Southern College, hoping to graduate in 2022, when he was diagnosed with cancer. He was there on the Buckner Scholarship for Leadership, and maintaining a 3.85 GPA. After graduation, he planned on moving on to either law school or medical school. Those plans have now been placed on hold.
On Friday September 25, 2020, Christian underwent a six hour surgical procedure at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, whereby an incision was made down the middle of his torso, and his bowels were lifted outside his body so 32 lymph nodes could be removed. This was done in an effort to stop the spread of cancer. The doctors believe the surgery was a success, but the road to recovery is a long one. After Christian's wounds--both inside and out--heal enough for him to be discharged (he was able to sip broth for the first time three days after surgery), he will be returning to Roswell for five weeks of chemotherapy. If all goes well, he may be able to begin the process of recovering and resume some of the activities he enjoyed. Still, his life will never be the same. Last year, Christian had another procedure to remove a testicle.
Before his illness and before college, Christian was an Eagle Scout and, for the final eight months, a Troop Leader responsible for organizing meeting, trips, and community service events. He not only organized a soup kitchen with Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, but his efforts left them with the ability to continue operations in perpetuity by providing supplies, contacts, and funds--he raised over $15,000. Christian's work embodied the proverb, "Give a man a fish, and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and feed him for a lifetime." In 2015, Christian served as an intern to with Dr. Kenneth Snyder, Vice President of Physician Quality at Kaleida Health and a Neurosurgeon at Gates Vascular. There, he learned the basics of medical equipment and research by observing surgeries and conducting simulations. He shadowed Dr. Snyder during a brain surgery procedure and performed a mock surgery on a simulation mannequin to gain a better understanding of surgical procedure methods. He conducted research on improving Neurosurgical procedures and prepared and delivered a presentation to the head neurosurgeon. This summer, before Covid, Christian was scheduled to intern with several federal appellate court judges and law firms. That had to be rescheduled do to the pandemic.
Before his diagnosis, Christian was a healthy young male with a bright and ambitious future. He was a competitive swimmer and athlete and took great care of his body. He doesn't smoke and doesn't consume alcohol. However, cancer does not discriminate, and this is Christian's metaphorical cross to bear.
Assuming Christian beats cancer and regains his health, he will in all likelihood struggle with having children in the future. Christian was proactive in this department but is uncertain of what the future holds in this regard. The surgery will also present Christian with significant physical limitations. Competitive athletics are most certainly a thing of the past. Still, Christian has maintained a positive outlook and his sense of humor and insists on viewing the glass as half full.
Christian is hoping to return to school in 2021, with the goal of transferring to Cornell University so he can be closer to his family. In the meantime, he will be resting, healing, and recuperating. Obviously, Christian's medical needs have presented him with a significant financial burden. Luckily, he has health insurance that, after the deductibles, will cover the cost of treatment. However, Christian will be unable to work, volunteer (as he frequently does), or attend school anytime in the near future. I ventured to start this gofundme in an effort to raise modest funds for this young man who has lived a life of giving and of charity. Certainly, Christian would never ask this of anyone, but I thought the gesture of asking friends in my community to chip in what they can might go a long way in giving Christian one less thing to worry about on his journey back to good health and a prosperous future.
Thank you in advance to everyone who took the time to read Christian's story and consider lending a hand. God Bless!
Last year, Christian, now 20, was attending Florida Southern College, hoping to graduate in 2022, when he was diagnosed with cancer. He was there on the Buckner Scholarship for Leadership, and maintaining a 3.85 GPA. After graduation, he planned on moving on to either law school or medical school. Those plans have now been placed on hold.
On Friday September 25, 2020, Christian underwent a six hour surgical procedure at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, whereby an incision was made down the middle of his torso, and his bowels were lifted outside his body so 32 lymph nodes could be removed. This was done in an effort to stop the spread of cancer. The doctors believe the surgery was a success, but the road to recovery is a long one. After Christian's wounds--both inside and out--heal enough for him to be discharged (he was able to sip broth for the first time three days after surgery), he will be returning to Roswell for five weeks of chemotherapy. If all goes well, he may be able to begin the process of recovering and resume some of the activities he enjoyed. Still, his life will never be the same. Last year, Christian had another procedure to remove a testicle.
Before his illness and before college, Christian was an Eagle Scout and, for the final eight months, a Troop Leader responsible for organizing meeting, trips, and community service events. He not only organized a soup kitchen with Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, but his efforts left them with the ability to continue operations in perpetuity by providing supplies, contacts, and funds--he raised over $15,000. Christian's work embodied the proverb, "Give a man a fish, and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and feed him for a lifetime." In 2015, Christian served as an intern to with Dr. Kenneth Snyder, Vice President of Physician Quality at Kaleida Health and a Neurosurgeon at Gates Vascular. There, he learned the basics of medical equipment and research by observing surgeries and conducting simulations. He shadowed Dr. Snyder during a brain surgery procedure and performed a mock surgery on a simulation mannequin to gain a better understanding of surgical procedure methods. He conducted research on improving Neurosurgical procedures and prepared and delivered a presentation to the head neurosurgeon. This summer, before Covid, Christian was scheduled to intern with several federal appellate court judges and law firms. That had to be rescheduled do to the pandemic.
Before his diagnosis, Christian was a healthy young male with a bright and ambitious future. He was a competitive swimmer and athlete and took great care of his body. He doesn't smoke and doesn't consume alcohol. However, cancer does not discriminate, and this is Christian's metaphorical cross to bear.
Assuming Christian beats cancer and regains his health, he will in all likelihood struggle with having children in the future. Christian was proactive in this department but is uncertain of what the future holds in this regard. The surgery will also present Christian with significant physical limitations. Competitive athletics are most certainly a thing of the past. Still, Christian has maintained a positive outlook and his sense of humor and insists on viewing the glass as half full.
Christian is hoping to return to school in 2021, with the goal of transferring to Cornell University so he can be closer to his family. In the meantime, he will be resting, healing, and recuperating. Obviously, Christian's medical needs have presented him with a significant financial burden. Luckily, he has health insurance that, after the deductibles, will cover the cost of treatment. However, Christian will be unable to work, volunteer (as he frequently does), or attend school anytime in the near future. I ventured to start this gofundme in an effort to raise modest funds for this young man who has lived a life of giving and of charity. Certainly, Christian would never ask this of anyone, but I thought the gesture of asking friends in my community to chip in what they can might go a long way in giving Christian one less thing to worry about on his journey back to good health and a prosperous future.
Thank you in advance to everyone who took the time to read Christian's story and consider lending a hand. God Bless!
Fundraising team (2)
Kevin Muscoreil
Organizer
Buffalo, NY
Richard Hamilton
Beneficiary
Richard Hamilton
Team member
