Hello friends,

My name is Chris and I’m reaching out on Gloria’s behalf. Her very recent (Summer/Fall 2025) throat and neck cancer diagnosis and resulting immediate major surgery including removing part of her tongue and 29 neck lymph nodes happened quickly after the stage 2 diagnosis the month before. This was preceded by breast cancer in 2023 and skin cancer, both of which she beat. But this last diagnosis has turned her world upside down.

Because of the aggressive six-month plus treatment for this cancer (radiation started in September, just finished late October) she was forced to put her business on hold and move forward without any of the income it provided. Frankly, she is between a rock and a hard place. Any money generously donated will be for her next critical financial need. It may be medical, emergency, home funding or other critical needs. Gloria needs help to get through this new path. Can you help her? Any size donation is truly appreciated. If you prefer another way to reach out or donate, please let me know. Thank you very much!

This is what Gloria posted about both the health and financial challenges:

Chris did great filling you in on the medical POV. As I write this I have just passed the mid-point, halfway done with radiation! But the side effects are cumulative, and coming on strong. The swallowing challenges after surgery are back meaning it is very difficult to swallow food and even liquids. The pain from the raw areas and sores on the mouth and throat is difficult—I have started the meds for that and they do help. Most things now taste like cardboard, I have no saliva, extreme dry mouth, and it is painful to open my mouth for a toothbrush, spoon or fork, even with the meds, mouthwashes, sprays, lozenges, etc. Some things are bizarre like chocolate burns and ice cream hurts. The burned neck skin is par for the course, and I’m trying every topical option I can. I’m told that these side effects may continue even to the point where I cannot swallow (eat or drink) and I would need a gastric feeding tube. I’m doing everything I can to not get another feeding tube—I had one in the hospital and don’t want it back. So its soup and smoothies, and even those dreaded protein drinks are on the menu.

So that was the health POV. Now for the financial POV.

Many people, but not all, know I run a federal contracting consulting business, and have done so for the last 28 years. I have lived through seven administrations, and did what I needed to do to carry on paying my employees and doing the work we promised for our wonderful clients. Most small businesses have good and bad years; we were no different. I think it is said the rule of thumb is seven good years and three bad years, not necessarily in consecutive order. But the vision was always strong: Help our clients succeed and we would succeed.

Four years ago, I realized that what we had to offer was rock-solid. It was proven by our clients winning billions of dollars in federal contracts providing what both the Dept of Defense and the civilian agencies needed to function. But I needed some help to grow the business and create something what could help small businesses all over the US see results and support the government at the same time.

So I hired good people who knew more than I did, and took out a loan that used my home as collateral. I saw it as a calculated risk: we offer proven services, that market is steady, and the future seemed bright. We invested that money in getting better at what we did, built the CRM and marketing to power it, and started a powerful proprietary project management process to stay profitable as we provided services and products to our clients. As we predictably ran through that loan, we received a second loan to help us finish up on the business improvements, and it also held my home as a second lien.

We all know what has been happening the last few years, starting with the presidential nomination timeline to the present. Please know, we did OK during the first Trump presidency, so I expected that we would do OK during this one, as we had during Biden and back to Obama, Bush and Clinton. I made difficult business decisions every step of the way, and only when needed recently, we let team members go. We cut costs, we did everything a business could do to survive and hopefully thrive once again.

That’s where I was in May—consolidating to be able to serve our clients, stay in business and operate as lean as possible. It was doable, and we were doing it with a small but very dedicated team. Loans and financial responsibilities were being met.

Then this cancer hit me out of nowhere. I was the person bringing in the business, so when they told me I will not be able to work, or possibly even talk during the 6+ months of surgery, recuperation, radiation, and that recuperation, I had no options but to make the toughest decision of all, finish up all in-progress client work, eventually let the core team go, and put the 28 year old business on hold until I get through this debilitating cancer treatment.

But the banks don’t go on pause. They need to be paid. All creditors need to be paid. When you have no business income, that becomes a stressor like no other. I took everything into consideration in risking my home on the two loans. But what I did not anticipate was this throat and neck cancer coming out of nowhere. Heck, I beat breast cancer—I can do this too! Right?!? Bankruptcy may be an option, but that will definitely take the house because of the two business liens. So I am doing everything I can to not take that “easy” but devasting way out.

Which is why I am listening to my friends and counselors, to use the GoFundMe to help me with uncovered medical expenses, but also to not lose the house, and help me with other expenses and otherwise during this challenging time.

If you are still with me, thank you for reading through it all. This situation is embarrassing to me, after all, we are not supposed to show our weaknesses, ever. But here I am, kimono open.

And I am totally humbled by you–especially the kind comments and incredible generosity of friends, clients, family, the many people I have met in business, professionally, those in the music and dancing community, school friends and colleagues, and my literal neighborhood community, and those of you I hope to meet.

Now you know why I’ve been very very quiet, and why there is a GoFundMe. I’ll get through the radiation, with or without the feeding tube. Then recuperate. Hoping that by year’s end I’ll be the new, improved me, ready to roll in 2026! Thank you so much for your love, support and consideration.