“There is a mass in your stomach, Jake.” Words you can’t feel the impact of until they’re told to you and your loved ones. Almost as if the world stops, but you can’t, because the road ahead is a wild one that requires full on faith and dedication.

To be specific, Jake has Stage 3 adenocarcinoma Siewert Type 2 of the esophagogastric junction - aka Stage 3 esophageal/stomach cancer.

This news rocked our world in February, and he’s been juking, jiving and fighting ever since. Now on the other side of month’s worth of intense 48-hour chemo treatments, he’s gearing up for surgery. At this time, his family has acknowledged the need to cast the support net wider into the river of community. A humbling and vulnerable thing for them to share, and though, may no one ever feel like they have to navigate life alone.

Our goal is to raise $10,000 to help cover the cost of the upcoming surgery set to remove half of his esophagus, the top third of his stomach, and surrounding lymph nodes. Funds raised will additionally support future tests and either more chemo, or immunotherapy, pending post-surgery scans. Also, any funds not utilized for Jake’s cancer treatment and recovery will be donated to the National Cancer Institute and/or American Cancer Society to further the research of Stomach Cancer.

If money is not in your comfort zone, please know that prayers work, they are felt, they have carried him this far, and the family is grateful for them, always. No act of kindness is too small.

If you feel compelled to share Jake’s story, please do.

Much love,

The Bird Family