Help Dan, a Veteran & Firefighter, Fight Cancer

Good afternoon, West Michigan. Today I'd like to introduce you to a family that holds a very special place in my heart. My name is Brandy Thomas, and with Dan and Mary Nelson's permission, I'm creating this GoFundMe page to help Dan in a time of medical expenses.

Dan is a US Navy Veteran and a Retired Firefighter of thirty-one years. He has served our nation diligently and the city of Walker and Grand Rapids as a firefighter. Dan has worked with the racing community in his past years while being a firefighter out at Berlin Raceway. Dan retired in 2017 and decided to join a non-profit, Operation Black Sheep, as a volunteer in 2018 and then became a board member. Our non-profit is located in the city of Muskegon. He helped rebuild Detroit Diesel motors for the PBR Patrol River Boat Mark II PBR7331. This boat was used during the Vietnam War. Dan is a team member that takes Vietnam Veterans, Service members, and their families out for a ride on Muskegon Lake.

We received news five weeks ago that Dan was sick and admitted into the hospital for further testing. Dan was diagnosed with Stage 4 Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. Dan had been losing weight due to being on the drug Mounjaro, which he was taking to lower his A1C. Due to weight loss being a side effect of the treatment, we were unaware and not alarmed as he lost weight. By the time he was symptomatic and ill, Dan was diagnosed with cancer that had already metastasized to his pancreas and liver. Chemo is the only treatment option and chance of survival. There are three different chemo treatments that he will receive: Cisplatin, Gemcitabine, and Durvalumab. The team inserted the port two weeks ago, and he received one chemo treatment. He will be receiving weekly chemo treatments and closely monitored.

Dan's insurance has minimal coverage and needs help with medication costs and co-pays at this point. The medications are very expensive. So please, if you can donate anything, this would help a man who has helped so many communities.