Help a Desert Storm Vet Battling Stage 4 Cancer

This is my dad, Mortel. Since 2016 my father has been visiting the Veterans Affairs Hospital for stomach pain and discomfort. His doctors had several scans done and in all that time they claimed that they did not see anything.

In October 2023, my mother convinced him to go to the emergency room at a different hospital. They did scans and immediately saw a large mass in his stomach. Indicating that based on the size, it had been growing there for years.

Many Gulf War/ Desert Storm veterans have been diagnosed with various types of cancer directly linked to their exposure to the burn pits. The level of negligence and lack of care from the VA doctors is just astounding.

November 2023, my father collapsed in pain unable to walk. He was rushed to the ER. More scans showed that the cancer had spread to the bones along his spinal column causing fracturing. Since then we were informed that they found more tumors on his vocal cords, lungs, kidneys, and liver.

My dad is a true “jack of all trades”. Aside from being a former Marine (Gulf War/ Desert Storm veteran), and a former police officer in the District of Columbia and in Baltimore Housing, he currently serves as a Reservist in The Maryland National Guard . By trade, He is an HVAC/Plumber/ Pipefitter with the Local 486. He also works on cars in his spare time. It has been so difficult to watch as he has been unable to do things he loves.

So far he has gone through two rounds of radiation and is on his third round of chemo with little improvement. He’s fighting but he’s exhausted. We’re trying to get him to the Hope4Cancer Treatment Center in Mexico, but it costs $26,000 plus travel expenses. Please donate if you can. If not, then please share. Every bit helps.