My name is Will Slabach and I’m representing a new friend I made through work at Trader Joe’s. Joe Caputo and I share common traits: a positive outlook, we value hard work, we each love our wives, and we plan as best we can for our future.

Where we diverge, however, is the state of his wife’s health. Only a few months ago while living in Reno, Becky was diagnosed with colon cancer and within days underwent surgery. There were complications from infections to becoming septic. She had a G tube put in, a colostomy bag, and a nephrostomy tube put in to drain her left kidney.

After a short recovery, Becky was taken by ambulance to emergency surgery; the cancer had spread to her liver, placing her cancer diagnosis at stage 4. Their strategy then was to seek out better treatment and so moved to Marin County, California, a 30-minute drive to UCSF Hospital in San Francisco. Becky has ongoing chemotherapy and has undergone surgery on her liver, removing two of three tumors. A surgically planted pump is delivering chemotherapy to the third.

Becky is a nursing professor who goes above and beyond to help her students because, as Joe says, “that’s just the way she is. She is so kind, generous, and strong.” Her two girls are the most amazing gift of life. She is a devoted mother and an incredible wife/best friend. She is everything to Joe and their two young daughters, James, 5, and Gray, 4. Through her willingness and resolve to do all she can to fight the cancer, she’s teaching the girls how to be strong, confident women.

We are fundraising to support Becky’s medical expenses and the family’s move to Novato for better treatment.