C-A-N-C-E-R is one of the scariest words I know. If I am successful with this fundraiser, I can prevent my beloved, Justin, from having to suffer all of the debilitating effects (and trauma) of full cancer treatment. Your donation has the power to remove the 27 rapidly growing tumors in Justin's lymph node system. They are causing him pain, numbness, tingling, and they affect his mood. Justin is working closely with his doctor to monitor the tumors. It is becoming urgently clear that the surgery must happen as soon as possible. If left unchecked, they could metastasize or become necrotic. If this happens, the effects to Justin's health would be swift and debilitating. His doctors are confident that removing all of the tumors in one or two surgeries, with a radiation treatment where and if needed, can stop the masses from continuing to grow and expanding throughout his body. THIS IS THE GOAL!

The insurance company, however, sees this issue very differently. For FOUR YEARS we have fought with the insurance company, filed numerous appeals, and fought for Justin's right to health. With the doctor's help we were able to get the first two surgeries, which only removed 9 of the tumors. Insurance refuses to treat these tumors UNLESS the tumors fully metastasize or become necrotic, becoming immediately life threatening. Imagine that!

We are at our wits' end. We have enough to pay the bills for now, but nowhere near enough to support this life-saving surgery. So much hinges on the success of this treatment. We dream of getting married. If we marry, and he passes away after treatment, I inherit the overwhelming medical debt. We dream of fostering, adopting, and having children together, but losing him would break the family we worked so hard to build. Justin is afraid to even have children, in fear of passing this on. We own a small company and work hard towards our dream of doing good in the world by starting nonprofit organizations. This hinges on my partner's continued health and well-being. We are both clear that, if the community grants Justin the opportunity to live by supporting the surgery, we will give back tenfold!

I'm calling upon our community to please donate what you can, and share the cause with their communities to save this life. One dollar, five dollars, or one hundred or more. Your donations will go straight to treatment and recovery. This is how it will be broken down:

1. $2,000 per tumor (to remove from the body, transport to a laboratory, do a biopsy, and safely dispose of them) = $54,000 to remove them all.

2. 20,000 to 30,000 for surgery costs, anesthesia, and hospital stay.

3. $2,000 for recovery and physical therapy. At $150 per PT session, I can get him in 10 times. and have a little money for mobility aids, bandages, and miscellaneous expenses.

4. $5,000 to supplement my income and help cover living expenses while giving him time to recover.

A special note to those who know Justin on social media or events: He is fighting hard, even though he doesn't let it show. It's breaking his heart to sell off parts of his hard-earned collections of celebrity autographs and nerdy collectible items. But he's doing what he has to. If you know him as a big proponent for the Disability Community through the Commission of the Blind and Handicapped, or a supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, you have some understanding of his struggle to keep going every day with a smile, without showing weakness (pain). If you know Justin as a historian and anthropologist, you know that he has thoroughly researched every option to improve his situation and is doing the best he can. If you know this goofy, fun-loving, and hard-working man in any capacity, you know that this is a life worth saving. Thank you for supporting our fundraiser.