Stage 4 Colon Cancer Strikes Young Father of 4
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Stage 4 Colon Cancer Strikes 35-Year-Old Husband and Father of Four
David is a warm, engaging man—and an incredible husband and father. His heart is huge and he is always the first to offer a helping hand. Almost seven years ago, David found his perfect match, Caitlin. He told her on their epic first date in 2013 that he was going to marry her. She was less sure—but David’s love changed her forever and they were married in September 2016. Caitlin welcomed David’s three children from a previous relationship and soon they were snuggled together into her small apartment.
In August of 2018, this beautiful family was blessed again with the birth of a precious and beautiful baby girl. In February of this year, David left his job to start his own business. Ever hopeful and never afraid of hard work, he thought his life was on track. Then in September, he developed an upper respiratory illness that just wouldn’t go away. His physician diagnosed bronchitis and ordered blood work that appeared normal. David has a high pain threshold and never complains but on the morning of October 21, 2019, he woke Caitlin and described enormous pain that he thought was a hernia. The emergency room doctors first diagnosed gallstones… but then they noticed lesions on his liver… and then the tests started.
On October 30, David received the dreaded diagnosis: Stage 4 colon cancer. This devastating news shook all our lives. The cancer was extraordinarily aggressive and had already spread to his liver and lung. There was no time for second opinions and on November 1, they placed his portacath and immediately started his chemo.
We're still in disbelief. How does a seemingly healthy man without a history of smoking, drinking, obesity, cancer, or other related illnesses, get colon cancer—at age 35?!
David knows that this is the fight of his life and is staying strong, positive, and hopeful. The early chemo reduced his pain and he’s regaining a bit of the thirty pounds he recently lost. Unfortunately, he is too weak to work.
Please donate what you can (even small amounts are meaningful) to help David’s family run their household and pay for medical bills. Being self-employed, David has no benefits and lots of financial obligations. Caitlin is working full-time as a caseworker for developmentally disabled adults. David, Caitlin, Thalia (15), Damian (12), Dante (11), and Amaya (15 months) have a long, demanding road ahead…
We are forever grateful for your gift, whatever the size and of course, we’ll share updates as we have them.
Last updated: December 1, 2019
Location: Forest Park, Illinois
David is a warm, engaging man—and an incredible husband and father. His heart is huge and he is always the first to offer a helping hand. Almost seven years ago, David found his perfect match, Caitlin. He told her on their epic first date in 2013 that he was going to marry her. She was less sure—but David’s love changed her forever and they were married in September 2016. Caitlin welcomed David’s three children from a previous relationship and soon they were snuggled together into her small apartment.
In August of 2018, this beautiful family was blessed again with the birth of a precious and beautiful baby girl. In February of this year, David left his job to start his own business. Ever hopeful and never afraid of hard work, he thought his life was on track. Then in September, he developed an upper respiratory illness that just wouldn’t go away. His physician diagnosed bronchitis and ordered blood work that appeared normal. David has a high pain threshold and never complains but on the morning of October 21, 2019, he woke Caitlin and described enormous pain that he thought was a hernia. The emergency room doctors first diagnosed gallstones… but then they noticed lesions on his liver… and then the tests started.
On October 30, David received the dreaded diagnosis: Stage 4 colon cancer. This devastating news shook all our lives. The cancer was extraordinarily aggressive and had already spread to his liver and lung. There was no time for second opinions and on November 1, they placed his portacath and immediately started his chemo.
We're still in disbelief. How does a seemingly healthy man without a history of smoking, drinking, obesity, cancer, or other related illnesses, get colon cancer—at age 35?!
David knows that this is the fight of his life and is staying strong, positive, and hopeful. The early chemo reduced his pain and he’s regaining a bit of the thirty pounds he recently lost. Unfortunately, he is too weak to work.
Please donate what you can (even small amounts are meaningful) to help David’s family run their household and pay for medical bills. Being self-employed, David has no benefits and lots of financial obligations. Caitlin is working full-time as a caseworker for developmentally disabled adults. David, Caitlin, Thalia (15), Damian (12), Dante (11), and Amaya (15 months) have a long, demanding road ahead…
We are forever grateful for your gift, whatever the size and of course, we’ll share updates as we have them.
Last updated: December 1, 2019
Location: Forest Park, Illinois
Organizer and beneficiary
Whitney Clarke Grabowski
Organizer
Berkshire, CT
Caitlin Gordon
Beneficiary
