Our friend David Piper has been through a whirlwind over the last few months. After a sudden diagnosis in September, he’s undergone a major colon resection surgery, battled a secondary infection, and is now starting chemotherapy.

"You Have Cancer."

Those are the three words no one ever wants to hear. For David Piper, that moment came on September 9th during a colonoscopy, when he was woken up to photos of a tumor and a diagnosis that changed his life forever.

David’s battle began in late May with persistent pain and pressure in his lower colon. Despite his best efforts to manage the symptoms through diet changes, nothing worked. Following his diagnosis in September, things moved at a whirlwind pace:

• September 15th-16th: David underwent the first of three CT scans and met with a surgeon to plan his fight.

• September 29th: He underwent a major colon resection surgery. Doctors removed 13 inches of his colon and rectum, along with 34 lymph nodes.

• The Pathology: Results showed that the cancer had spread to a lymph node, which meant surgery wasn't the end of the road—it was just the beginning. David is now facing a grueling series of chemotherapy treatments.

Recovery hasn't been easy. Just three weeks after his major surgery, David was rushed back to the hospital to battle a serious bacterial infection. On October 20th, he underwent another surgery to implant a chemo port, and he continues to undergo further testing, including MRIs, to monitor his progress.

Why We Are Raising Funds

At 74 years old, David should be focusing entirely on his health and healing. However, living on Social Security alone makes the financial weight of cancer nearly impossible to carry.

Because of his treatments and the physical toll of surgery, David is currently unable to work his part-time job, which he relied on to make ends meet. We are asking for donations to help David cover:

• Hospital co-pays and mounting medical bills.

• Out-of-pocket costs for medications and specialized care.

• Daily living expenses (rent, utilities, and food) while he is unable to work.

I’ve started a GoFundMe to help him focus on healing rather than how to pay for his next co-pay. Please read his story, donate if you can, and share this post to help spread the word.