Please Help Greywing Fight Cancer

Our dear friend Greywing Cooper finds himself bravely battling Stage IV colorectal cancer with liver metastasis at time of diagnosis. Grey’s health has been in steady decline since his diagnosis 15 months ago, despite having endured multiple rounds of chemo and radiation. Grey now finds it extremely difficult to keep the doors open at his business, to earn an income, and to make ends meet while fighting to maintain his health.

Grey is the sole proprietor of his business, Foam and Cushion, in Concord, CA; he has no employees to rely on during this difficult time. When Grey needs to take time off for treatments, doctors visits, and scans, he must close his shop. Grey only qualifies for basic disability benefits that will reduce his income to sub-poverty levels, meaning he would not be able to cover his rent, basic living expenses, and his overwhelming medical bills if he were to close his shop to focus on fighting his cancer. Currently, Grey's only option is to continue to work every day that his treatment schedule allows despite constant pain from his cancer, chemo, and radiation treatments. He is a proud, hard-working, man that would never ask for help. He just can’t keep pace with the business any longer. His work is physically demanding, even for a fit person.

Last month was a difficult month for Grey. He was feeling more fatigued than usual, so much so, that he went to the emergency room. Doctors discovered that he had an infection in his blood. He was admitted to the hospital and they found a bacterial growth on one of his heart valves that required weeks of IV antibiotics. The source of the bacteria was his chemo port, which had to be pulled, thus stopping his cancer-fighting chemo. As he was recovering from that ordeal, while working late one night, an artery in his lower intestine burst because of the growth of the cancer. Luckily, he was transported to the nearest hospital by ambulance where he received multiple blood transfusions that saved his life.

The cancer, chemo, and radiation make his hands and his body ache constantly. He is severely weakened after having lost over 50 pounds in 6 months. With mounting hospital and doctor’s appointments several days per week, it is impossible for Grey to maintain his income from his small business.

Grey is an amazing friend. He is the most eclectic and interesting man that we know. He is a passionate disc golfer, a hazy IPA aficionado, a huge fan of fine artisanal foods, a Sci-Fi enthusiast, a mineral prospector and collector, and a jewelry maker. We’re sure each reader can add to the incomplete list of Grey’s talents already noted. Grey means so much to so many in so many ways.

We want our friend to be comfortable and not burdened by worries of making rent or paying for basic necessities while continuing his cancer treatment. Please find it in your heart to support Greywing. He is fighting this with everything he has. We want our friend to be focused on his fight, not his finances.

With much love and appreciation,

Jeff Fiedler

Andrew Haydon

Jose & Laura Yasul