Help 36 Year Old Don Beat Stage 4 Colon Cancer

On May 8th, 2023, my best friend, Don Weckesser, Jr. was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer at the age of 36. Despite having no family history, we learned that the cancer has metastasized to his liver and pelvic tissue.

A native New Orleanian, anyone who is lucky enough to know him, knows that no one loves life more than our Don. Whether he is boiling crawfish, on the water, rooting for his beloved Saints, or spending time with family and friends, Don is always bringing laughter, joy, and lending a helping hand to everyone wherever he goes.  When Hurricane Ida tore up the Parish he lives in (Jefferson), he cooked 800 hot meals for those affected by the storm and never batted an eye. Now it is our turn to help Don, as he fights for life and kicks cancer’s butt.

Due to the advanced stage of Don’s cancer he has been accepted to the Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancer at Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. MSK is the first clinic of its kind in the world dedicated solely to the specific needs of people under 50 who have colorectal cancer or other gastrointestinal cancers. Because Don is so young, and his cancer is so aggressive, this is not just the perfect place for him, but the only place, where Don can really get the care he requires to beat this. MSK is one of the only hospitals that utilizes immunotherapy, which has proven to be life saving treatment in patients like Don with this advanced stage of cancer - if he does in fact have the mismatch repair deficiency he could be eligible for the immunotherapy “lottery”.

During his treatment, Don will obviously have to take a leave from his work in the Oil and Gas industry. Unfortunately, that will not stop the bills, and the new expenses of care from coming. We are hoping to raise funds that will be used the following ways:

-Paying housing bills at his home in NOLA.

-Cost of living in NYC while he receives surgery and treatment

-Cost of treatment and private insurance

-Airline costs to help his family and girlfriend of 7 years, fly back and forth to NYC, while continuing to work full time.

Don has the want, the will, and the heart to beat this. He called it “a bump in the road.” He doesn’t know how big his army is and we want to show him that his battle is our battle and we fight together. #DonsKrewe