Help Dan Overcome His Cancer Journey

Hello everyone,

Dan here. Today is really heavy for me and my situation. As many of you know, I've been fighting Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Well, in May of last year, it metastasized in my throat, specifically my larynx and vocal cords.

In November, it paralyzed my vocal cords so that I could barely breathe. One minute I am being examined by the doctor and the next, I am in the ER being admitted and prepped for an emergency tracheostomy.

The biopsies came back with stage 3 cancer in my vocal cords and possibly stage 4 into my lymph nodes.

In March of this year, after some serious conversations with the best Head and Neck cancer team at U of M Ann Arbor, I had a total Laryngectomy.

Thankfully, the cancer didn't get into my lymph nodes. But I lost my larynx and vocal cords.

Up to November, I was working part-time doing some consulting with a local safety equipment and Bauer compressor distributor. I am very thankful to them for keeping me around and involved for as long as they did. But alas, that has come to an end.

Since initially having my 1st surgery and up to now, I've been doing okay using my savings and what I get from SS.

But now, with co-pays coming in and the expenses of getting to my radiation treatments 5 days a week two (2) hours each direction and some emergency car care, go figure... I've pretty much depleted my savings.

A lot of you have been super supportive with me and giving encouragement to keep fighting this fight. Which I am determined to do for as long as I can.

But as I said, this is a heavy decision for me to ask for more help to make ends meet. I honestly don't know what my situation will be in the coming future work-wise. I don't see anyone with the same situation as me out in the workforce. That is to say having gone through a total Laryngectomy.

There is still a long road for me to travel. But in the meantime, I am trying to find help and ways to pay my expenses and bills.

I want to make sure everyone that has been morally supportive knows that you have humbled me deeply.

Now, I am beyond what I can put into words any more than what I've said, having to go this way and start this GoFundMe page.

I definitely thank you for at least reading this and letting me express my gratitude.

Most sincerely,

Dan