Hi there friends, my name is Kathy Crake (Murray). You may recognize the name from the La Jolla High School class of 1979 and a La Jolla native.

I am trying to help raise emergency medical and personal funds to help Geoff Meads, in a time of great personal crisis.

Geoff received a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, just days ago. He was told that he had anywhere from 2- 6 months to live... But then that drastic prognosis was reduced to 45 days, if nothing was done to help him.

Geoff was taken in, almost immediately, to the Moore Cancer Center at UCSD. (Last night on 12/14/23). He is now awaiting surgery to have a kidney removed, part of his liver, and part of the colo-rectal area. I really hope that he forgives me for using such specifics regarding his health emergency; but I want everyone to know how dire this situation is. Post surgery, Geoff is looking at chemo, in his future. He will have a degree of pain and suffering ahead of him... but he his brave and he is a fighter.

His words to me were that he would like to do a "Farewell Tour" to see his kids and his many grandchildren. At this time, no one knows if he will be well enough to travel again.

It sure would be helpful, if we could band together and raise some funds to pay daily expenses & for his family to, hopefully, visit him. Many of them are just starting out with their own young families. Geoff and his late wife, made it their life's mission to Foster many children- and give them a good home life where they received ongoing love and care. It's a testament to the way he and his wife gave and gave because he has many family members who love him. And they are very saddened by what he has just been hit with -the knowledge of his own demise in some sort of strange quantifiable way.

He has been living a simple life and is in need of financial assistance to get through this next very difficult phase ahead.

WE are also his family...The people who grew up next to Geoff, and this community. If you know Geoff, or the Meads family, or you can relate to the ravages of cancer and how it can seriously tax a family on every level, and something tugs at your heart when you read my words, please help us in any way that you can.

Let's see to it that Geoff gets his wish to be surrounded by family, children, and grandchildren.

He is their patriarch and he is facing down a wicked beast in cancer.

This is personally important to me because Geoff is my friend- and we were there for one another recently when both of our moms were in hospice. We have experienced the death of a loved one, not so long ago. But we were witnesses. And now he is right in the thick of it. Facing down his own mortality and it is a very tough pill to swallow.

Cancer sucks! I am a survivor but not everyone is so lucky. We all have lost too many people we love to cancer. Geoff is prepared to fight the good fight in order to buy himself time. He wants to see his family. Please help us to achieve this goal IF you feel led to pitch in.

Thank you so much for reading this and considering what you may be able to contribute.

Geoff also asks for your prayers to be sent up, on his behalf. And in his words, "It's all love and peace".

With most sincere good intentions,

Kathy Crake Murray

***Update on Sunday

Such good news!

Jeff has survived a 7-hour surgery today and is resting now. (Thank God for pain meds!)