My incredibly funny, caring, tenacious yet easy-going, big-hearted Uncle David has recently been diagnosed with an unthinkable situation. Early on a Saturday morning about 2 months ago David started having seizures. While alone suffering through the seizures he hit his head on the dining room table, fell over onto the space heater and hit every chair that was around. He spilled hot coffee all over his thighs. He ended up with a black eye, a large laceration on the left side of his forehead, scrapes all over his face and body and bruises that were 6 to 8 inches long on all sides of his body. Bleeding profusely and seriously stunned he pulled himself to the bedroom. Here he laid for more than two days unable to move, talk or reach out to anyone for help. Dehydrated and in a dire state he was found Monday afternoon and rushed to the hospital. We thought he had a stroke but found out that it was a brain tumor that turned out to be stage 4 cancer. The cancer started in his lungs and metastasized to his lymph nodes and brain. Once he was stable, they rushed him into surgery to remove the brain tumor. The brain tumor has impaired his language and the right side of his body. Unfortunately, he can no longer read, write or speak. He has been able to learn a few words, but communication is very frustrating for him, Aunt Susan and our family. This inability for him to even communicate with his loved ones is an unimaginable state of being and my heart hurts knowing the pain that this causes him emotionally.

Insurance has paid for some of the medical bills but of course not all, leaving my Uncle David and Aunt Susan with a substantial debt at still the early stages of this journey. David will never work again, and Susan has had to cut down to less than part-time to take care of him. With covid last year, this has depleted much of their savings already. Reality is setting in with little future income in sight and as everyone can imagine with this battle comes lots of financial responsibility. My mom Donna Hanley, David's big sister, and I started this campaign to help alleviate some of that burden, so they can focus on supporting David in this incredibly tough fight. David has completed the radiation for his brain and now he will start treatment for the cancer in his lungs.

The doctors have given David 6 months to 30 months to live. David is a strong, determined fighter and we do believe he will conquer this, and we will continue to believe this and to pray every day for a miracle. Above all, my Aunt Susan has said she wants to make the best of any time with him that she can. If there is anything you can do to help David, it is beyond appreciated by our family. If not, please please share this fundraiser for us and also continue to keep sending any and all positive thoughts for our very loved David.

With love and hope, Rachel Nobrega / Donna Hanley / David and Susan Hanley