August 22nd was the beginning of the most unimaginable circumstances for this family of 8(sometimes more, as they foster).

They had just gotten home from a weeks long family vacation and never expected what was to come.

During their weekly family dinner Ray started experiencing some pain in his abdomen. It got progressively worse by the minute. Cara took him to the ER and after what seemed like an eternity (due to the influx of COVID patients) they found out he had a perforation in his bowels. What the cause was, was unknown at this time. During this visit they also found out he had COVID. Fortunately, he was fully Vaccinated and showed no signs or symptoms. Unfortunately, due to the positive COVID test they were sent home to wait out what would have otherwise been an emergency surgery. The next morning Ray began hallucinating and Cara had to call an Ambulance. After Ray was stable, we was again sent home to wait out covid. After 3 weeks of excruciating pain Ray was scheduled for a colonoscopy and this is where the Dr. revealed to them that this was indeed a large cancerous tumor. The Dr. was unable to complete the procedure as it blocked him from doing so. The next morning Ray was in surgery to have a partial colectomy. Surgery went well, the tumor removed was the size of a softball! Time to recover and get back to life, right?......wrong. They found out the cancer had moved to his liver....staging him at a Stage 4 Metastatic colon cancer. After a PET scan they were told the tumor is too large to remove right now, and that no Dr. here is capable of doing it. This means, Mayo clinic is in their future.

In the meantime Ray will be starting chemotherapy in November and continue treatment through January in hopes to shrink the tumor enough for a Dr. to feel comfortable to complete a resection of the liver.

Ray is the primary bread winner for this family of 8. He has been unable to work for the majority of 6 weeks already. The $6500.00 Deductible has already been met, and they fully anticipate it to be met after January as well.

Ray is 48 years Young. His boys have already lost 1 parent. Cara's girls love Ray as a dad. Cara wanted me to say that the world should know of Rays kindness and generosity. Even 1 day after the cancer diagnosis Ray was helping an older gentlemen push a cart. The world needs more people like him. He is ready to fight this battle with whatever it takes, but not having to worry about additional expenses will put this families mind at ease and allow them to be able to just focus on fighting.

If a monetary donation is not right for you, please just keep them in your prayers. God is good and capable of miracles. Pray for strength for them all, wisdom for the medical professionals, as well as peace for the family.