I really didn’t want it to come to this. I tried to keep my little problem private except for family and a few close friends. Anyway, on July 20, 2017 I finally went to the Shadyside Urgent Care as I had been experiencing pain in my abdomen for several weeks. I lived with it and presumed it would get better. Urgent care immediately sent me to the Shadyside Hospital emergency room. There was a blockage in my colon and I was already partially septic. I went for emergency surgery. During surgery it was found that I had cancerous masses in my colon that had metastasized to my liver; stage 4 colon cancer. I don’t really remember all of the medical terms for this.

Six months later and I have been through 12 chemotherapy treatments. I am happy to say that I am now about to start maintenance chemotherapy as I have made positive progress through my previous treatments. However, I still have a ways to go; I just don’t know exactly what lies ahead.

It’s been a whirlwind of change for me. Now I am left with a myriad of bills from my hospital stay, ongoing chemotherapy, and prescriptions, and of course there are co-pays. I had no idea what to put as a goal. It really doesn’t matter to me if I don’t come close, anything would help.

In lieu of donations just have a beer with me sometime when I am allowed to drink.

Finally, to quote Frank Reynolds "Well, I don't know how many years on this Earth I got left. I'm gonna get real weird with it."

Cheers!