Most know me as Rooster the Jeep or Rooster Tacoma on Soicial media. My name is Christian and I have a huge update to my medical condition. Please read the whole thing. Previous story below.

Hello friends, family, and kind-hearted supporters,

I never imagined I would be in this position, reaching out for help. But today, my wife, Betsy, and I find ourselves in an overwhelming battle—one that we cannot fight alone.

About just over a month ago, I went in for some more tests because of stomach problems and was rushed to the hospital. They found I had a ruptured intestine because of diverticulitis. I was rushed into surgery to have a colostomy done. Well, it failed after the first surgery, so while recovering in the hospital, they had to redo it. After that was completed, an issue came up while laying in the hospital bed that resulted in them pulling a bunch of blood clots from my lungs. All this while still battling cancer. Well, after all that and the multiple surgeries into my abdomen, I became bedridden for weeks, unable to get much done in physical therapy because of weakness and the trauma to my stomach. I am still battling this, and it’s going to be a very long road to recovery.

We really need your support more than ever.

I have not been able to work for a while to help support us because of cancer. But I found an easy part-time job, and this hit us just 2 weeks after starting, and I had to resign.

My wife is a 10-month educator and has been trying to carry all the responsibilities of the cancer and now this. But over the summer, she has no check but a little money from a part-time job. Until school starts back up, things are getting really tight for us. We have cut expenses everywhere we can’t go without utilities, car payments, a roof over our head, communication, food, and supplies for me that insurance won’t cover. With my wife making very little money over the summer break and the fact we burnt through any money we had from my cancer and me not having a way to financially help, dead ends on disability, and financial assistance or services, because most require income bases must be $24k a year or under, we don’t qualify for anything, and my wife’s income exceeds that. “Her income is my income” even though I am unemployed.

We have family who have and still are helping a little bit, but let’s face it, most are struggling with their own finances due to price hikes and the cost of living.

We need some relief. We have sold most of what we can to pay bills up to now. But things are getting very stressful because we had to use all our extensions and deferred payments over the past year to just get by because of my kidney removal and newly discovered cancer diagnosis. Please read the story below to see what happened then.

I am not one to ask for help. My wife and I were always the ones to offer and organize charity benefits for others, but we can’t do this alone, and we need help. We need additional help in any way. If you can help in any way, please do. Donate, share, or email me with resources that will not say sorry we can’t help.

We thank and appreciate you all for your help and support.

Christian and Betsy

My Cancer Journey

Before July 2024, I began experiencing health issues, starting with blood in my urine. I brushed it off, thinking it was a UTI or a cyst. But deep down, I feared the worst. My wife, Betsy, insisted I see a doctor, and after tests, my worst fears were confirmed—I had kidney cancer. The tumor in my left kidney was too large to remove immediately, so I underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy to shrink it before surgery.

In July 2024, I had my left kidney removed at UVA in Virginia. My doctors reassured me that the cancer was gone and had not spread beyond my kidney. I was relieved and eager to get back to my life.

I returned to work after a month and a half, hopeful that I could move forward. But just three months later, I started experiencing symptoms again. My heart sank as I feared the cancer had returned. After visiting my oncologist and undergoing further testing, I received devastating news—cancer had reappeared, this time in my bladder, liver, and even my 11th rib.

I was terrified. But I told myself, “I beat cancer once. I can beat it again.”

Unfortunately, this time, surgery was not an option. Instead, my doctors recommended immunotherapy to slow the spread. My wife and I sat down with my oncologist and asked the hardest question: Can I beat this? The answer shattered our world. The doctor told us I have two to three years at best—if the treatment works.

Losing My Job & Financial Hardships

A month after receiving my new diagnosis, I had to face another painful reality—I could no longer continue working. I informed my job of my condition, and while they initially seemed supportive, things quickly changed. My hours were cut, my commissions disappeared, and my paycheck dwindled to almost nothing. Customers were directed away from me because I couldn’t work full-time.

I finally had to walk away, thinking disability due to some work credit issues.

I have been desperately searching for part-time work, but every job opportunity seems to disappear the moment I disclose that I have cancer and will need to miss days for treatment. I want to work. I want to provide for my wife and myself. But time and again, I receive rejection emails, or I’m told they’ve “decided to move in a different direction.” It’s been heartbreaking to feel like I’m being turned away simply because of my illness.

Now, we are struggling to keep up with bills. Betsy, my wife, is a dedicated school teacher and a lifelong Girl Scout troop leader. We have always been the ones giving back to our community—volunteering, raising funds for others, and offering help whenever we could. But now, we are the ones in need.

Why We Need Your Help

The financial strain has been unbearable. Between medical bills, insurance co-pays, prescriptions, travel costs for treatment, and everyday expenses, we are barely staying afloat. Stress is the last thing I need while fighting cancer, yet every day is filled with worry—about bills, medical debt, and how we will make ends meet.

I need to go to Hope Cancer Treatment Center, where I can receive better treatment that could extend my life. While insurance covers some medical costs, travel, lodging, and other essential expenses are not covered. We’ve cut every expense we can, but it’s still not enough.

Every contribution—big or small—means the world to us. If you can’t donate, sharing this campaign with others would be just as meaningful.

We never thought we would be in this position, but we are humbly asking for help. We want to focus on this fight, on spending as much time together as possible, and on finding hope in every moment we have left.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support.

With love and gratitude,

Christian & Betsy