Jeff's Medical Assistance Fund

This is a photo of my good buddy Jeff and myself.  His cancer has returned and I'd like to help him with his expenses so he can focus on getting his strength back before he starts another round of radiation treatments 

Jeff's the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back. He's been a loyal friend to me, and it's my goal to help him now - in his hour of need. 

A year ago, Jeff had his colon removed. Since then he's endured immense hardship as he fought to get his strength back. In true survivor fashion he came out swinging and always maintained a positve attitude. By May of this year, he was living in a communal  home and making great money as an expert welder.  Things were looking up. 

Then he started having stomach pains. Over Memorial Day weekend he was rushed to the hospital, where he stayed for six weeks. It was there, they discovered his cancer had returned. He couldn't keep food down and lost 25 pounds. In the interim, his job got put on hold and the room he'd been renting got rented to someone else. 

In the midst of this, his insurance stopped paying for hospital lodging.

Here's why this upsets me.  Right now he's skin and bones.  He can barely walk, and he's trying to gain back enough strength just so he can start radiation treatment. He should still be at the hospital, but his insurance felt otherwise.

Seeing as he had nowhere to go - the hospital brought him to the rescue mission where he was thrown in  a room with 40 other guys. He was too weak to defend himself, and scared to sleep out of fear his things would get stolen.  Like a madman,  I spent the next 24 hours trying to find him a safe place to be transfered. In true "Murphy's Law" fashion, my own house had just been gutted down to the wall studs, and was a construction zone with no running water - totally open to the elements. The feeling of powerlessness at not being able to help my friend was very upsetting. I originally started this campaign to try and raise money to rent Jeff a room. 

Thanks to people sharing this "GoFundMe" campaign on Facebook, a wonderful friend of mine opened up her home to him - so for now he has a safe place to stay while he starts his journey back to health. I will be forever grateful to her for her kindess. 

This fundraiser will now be focused on covering his basic expenses -  groceries, perscriptions, transportation (he's too weak to drive) and whatever else he needs to get through each day. He hasn't worked in seven weeks and it will be awhile before he can work again. His only "job" right now is to get back enough strength so his body can endure a second round of radiation.

He's a very proud man and has always supported himself, so it's hard for him to accept help, but I know he's very grateful to you all for the outpouring of support you've shown him. I am too. Your kindness over the past few days has brought me to tears more than once. 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. I do hope you find it in your heart to help. Much love, Daniel