Hi, my name is Donna, and I’m trying to raise money to help my brother Bill who was just recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

Recently, some have asked me why I try so hard to help my brother.  Well, it’s because of the type of person he is: so let me tell you why he’s so important to me and the rest of the family.

My brother Bill is 8 1/2 years older than me, and he is the only sibling I have.  Growing up together, he was more than just a brother.  At times he was like a father as mine wasn’t around, he was and is my best friend, and has always been a role model.  He is one of the kindest people I know, and always willing to stand up for what he believes is right.  He would be the first to stand up for someone both verbally or physically, no matter the cost to himself.  At the age of 17 he joined the Navy and served his country.  He is also has a great love of nature and the ocean.  From a young age he would take me on hikes or camping.  He would point out all the different plants that were around, like which vines would have water if you needed some, and which flowers and plants were ok to eat.  He taught me how to swim, fish, crab, and how to hunt.  But he also showed the importance of not just doing things for sport.  If you were going to hunt, fish, or go crabbing, it was important to eat whatever you took.  He also taught me how to fight and stand up not only for myself, but also for those that couldn’t stand up for themselves.  My brother is definitely the kind of person that would give you the shirt off his back without a second thought.  He is also very devoted to his family.  His wife and kids have always meant the world to him.  To him, there’s nothing more important than family.

Now as he fighting cancer, the things on his bucket list, revolve around nature and his family.  He wants to have a garden this summer.  He wants to have chickens, and not only for the eggs.  He wants to have them for my daughter who has wanted a self sustaining farm.  He wants to help her get started with the chickens that she can use for eggs, to sell eggs, and to raise chickens that she can also sell.  He wants very much to have a family picnic as soon as the weather warms up.  He would also like to go tuna fishing and striper fishing. The only other thing he wants, is to make sure that is wife of 33 years is taken care of.  With all that he has given to others, I would like to make sure that he is able to do these last few things on his list.  Please continue reading what he has recently been going through with an unexpected diagnosis of stage 4 cancer.

Bill is only 55 and has spent the last 15 plus years working as a contacted IT for the New Haven School system. He has worked tirelessly over the years especially during Covid to set up laptops, internet services, security, among many other things for the school system. Even when he was in ICU, he was still working from his laptop and phone until late November.

A few days after Thanksgiving, Bill went to the emergency room after not feeling well. The doctors found a blockage that had ruptured in his intestines, and immediately sent him for emergency surgery, where they removed his colon and gave him an osteomy bag. That is when they found he had stage 4 colon cancer. He spent several weeks in ICU before being transferred to a regular hospital room.

He has finally been able to leave the hospital and he and his wife have moved in with myself, his niece, and his mother. Though more health issues have arisen, as he also has blood clots in his lungs.

We are asking for help to raise money for the supplies and treatment he requires, some changes to the house to allow him access to the bathroom, which is currently not handicapped accessible.  We would also like to help him with accomplishing the things on his bucket list.