Hi, my name is Paul Hiers and I am 43 years old. I was diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer in May of 2024. I went through chemotherapy and radiation from June to August of 2024. I had an Ivor Lewis procedure done on October 11, 2024, which is where they removed my esophagus and replaced it with my stomach. I have had a total of 8 surgeries so far on my esophagus. I have also had a continual leak in my esophagus, which has resulted in me being in and out of the hospital 13 times for a total of 15 weeks altogether. So, during this time, I have not worked.

I am currently being told I need to go to a specialist in Atlanta to have another surgery on my esophagus. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated as I navigate this challenging time.