So, a funny thing happened to me at work recently...I almost died.

The situation is I was feeling so bad at work I asked my client for recommendation to a doctor. They fortunately sent me to an outstanding physician, who took one look at me and immediately arranged for me to be admitted to a hospital. Long story short I spent two months at M D Anderson hospital in Houston, TX. I have been able to come back home to Florida to continue chemotherapy and immunotherapy for at least six months and probably longer. It seems certain that someone was looking out for me as consistently the right people were in the right places at the right times.

I am now adjusting to the new reality of living with a diagnosis of Mantle Cell Lymphoma with a Leukemic variant. This is a condition so rare that less than 6% of the population of the United States has it. The good news is that this should be a treatable and potentially curable disease.

Which brings me to why I have written this.

I have spent most of my life in the jewelry industry. My primary focus during much of that time was helping jewelry store owners solve problems by creating and implementing promotion designed to raise enough capital for them to retire or save their business.

This work involved significant travel and I am the primary breadwinner for my family.

While my life was saved, my wife and I now face significant debt due to this illness and I am presently unable to work. She is my primary caregiver as well as filling the same role for her elderly father and mother (recently deceased). This leaves us with no immediate income other than social security. Staying in Houston for treatment created unexpected financial expenses of over $300 per day for food, lodging and travel alone. Then there are the hospital and doctor bills from both Houston and Florida. Additionally there will be periodic trips back to M D Anderson adding to the existing debt.

In this situation paying these bills has become a significant problem.

I have never sought financial help however this is a completely different situation.

I am reaching out to you today asking that you please donate whatever you can to help me and my family. Anything is appreciated and as we (my wife and I) are able we will find ways to pay this forward by helping others.

Thank you for taking a few moments to read this and for your kindness.