Hey everyone — my name is Taylar Burgess. I’m 36, a dad to two beautiful toddlers, and on May 5th, I received a diagnosis that changed everything.

After noticing a lesion on my tongue that had been slowly growing, I went to see an ENT specialist. He did a biopsy that day. A few days later, the pathology report came back: squamous cell carcinoma — tongue cancer.

Hearing those words knocked the wind out of me. But I’m choosing to fight, for my kids, for Chelsee, and for myself. One of our little ones has special needs, so our family was already juggling a lot before this news came along.

Right now, we’re uninsured. I’ve been working in IT and building projects on the side, trying to provide for my family the best I can. We’re applying for Medicaid, which should help cover treatment — but there’s a gap between now and when that kicks in, and the bills don’t wait.

We’ve already spent close to $1,000 on the initial visit, biopsy, and lab work. Next up is imaging to determine the stage, then meetings with an oncologist and a treatment plan — likely surgery, and possibly radiation.

This isn’t just about medical bills — it’s about keeping our family standing while I go through this. Medical costs before insurance kicks in. food, and utilities while my ability to work is impacted. Making sure our two toddlers don’t feel the weight of any of this — diapers, and the basics. And getting to appointments across the Dallas area.

Asking for help doesn’t come naturally. I’m the kind of person who fixes other people’s problems — that’s literally been my career. But cancer doesn’t care about pride, and my family needs me to do whatever it takes.

If you can donate, even a few dollars, it means more than you know. If you can’t, sharing this with someone who might be able to help is just as powerful. Every share counts.

Thank you for reading this, and thank you for being part of our fight.