Brother, father and friend, Joel Meyers was recently diagnosed with Stage 2 colon cancer.  The good news is that it hasn't metastasized or spread to the lymph nodes and the doctor says it is treatable and curable. The bad news is that Joel will have to undergo weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatment then surgery to remove the tumor. In addition, he is uninsured and he lives in an RV in a remote area.

Joel, who is self-employed as a house painter, had little work during the winter months and when spring came, the coronavirus pandemic came with it, everything was suspended, so he has no jobs to do. He's been living off of his savings and those have pretty much dried up.

Joel's treatment will start shortly after his discharge from the hospital, in approximately a week. He will do his treatment in Colorado Springs, but he lives outside of Calhan,  which is located about 40 miles away, a drive of over 45 minutes round trip 5 days a week for up to 6 weeks.

We are trying to locate housing accommodations for him closer to the Springs so he doesn't have to travel so far during his chemo and radiation treatments. He will also need money to buy food and supplies.

A friend of Joel's has already generously offered to cover the cost of two weeks at an Extended Stay Hotel. So we are looking for funds to cover the cost of additional days, as well as for food and transportation.

Or, if anyone has housing available in or nearer to Colorado Springs to donate that Joel could stay in, it would greatly help and we can pay a small amount to cover costs.

Even small donations are welcome. $2 can buy a 5-pound bag of potatoes. $5 can buy a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread to provide a couple of days of breakfast meals. We know other people are also hurting financially during this crisis so any donations, no matter how small, are appreciated and will be treasured as if they were gold.

Those who know Joel know that he's a hard-working, no-nonsense kind of guy and he has said he plans to fight this cancer until it's gone. However, the last week has been difficult as he's been hospitalized, alone with no visitors allowed, even his two children, Makayla and Tyler,  who live in Colorado Springs, aren't permitted to see him. And the coming weeks will continue to be a challenge. Joel will be immunocompromised and will have to limit his exposure to outsiders so he doesn't contract COVID-19. His sisters, who live in Arizona and California, are unable to travel to see him due to COVID-19, but we are trying our best to help him from a distance.   

Joel, known by his friends and family for his wit and wicked sense of humor, has been struggling to keep a positive outlook. He has a strong faith and belief that God will guide him through this trial, but he can also use "a little help from my friends" to keep his spirits up.

Joel has two new twin grandsons and he wants to be around to see them grow up. Help from his friends will go a long way to lifting his spirits and energizing him to face the journey he has ahead of him.



With gratitude from Team Joel

His sisters Alexis, Penny, and Viki 

His kids Tyler and Makayla

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