Steve Snider Jr's Fight vs. Cancer

Hello friends and family.  It's extremely difficult for me to believe and accept that I'm making a GoFundMe Campaign for an immediate family member.  But here it is, and this is why:

My younger brother (I'm holding him as a newborn in the picture above) has cancer. 

Steve Jr., who turned 40 years young in late October, was diagnosed during xmas week 2017 with Stage 2 Colorectal cancer.  The news is devastating, heartbreaking, shocking, sad.  We're all spinning.

He and and his wife Kasia are an amazing couple.  And this should be the happiest time ever for both of them. 

Their baby boy, their first child, is due on 1/18/18

Steve's tests have shown the cancer to be localized and limited to the mass in his colon.  So far it has not spread to his surrounding organs or lymph nodes.  Steve was also told during his oncologist appointment that he has at least 8 months (!!!) of treatment ahead of him.  It’s a big tumor and it's grown into the muscle wall of his rectum.  This means surgeons can’t just cut it out for fear of not getting all of it out of his body.  He needs many months of radiation and chemo to try and shrink it before his surgery.

Steve and Kasia.  They live in San Francisco.  Along with NYC, it's the most expensive city in America to live in.  They rely solely on public transportation and rideshare services to get around town, get groceries, go to work, enjoy leisure time together, etc ... and now Kasia's impending childbirth and Steve's many upcoming doctor and hospital visits and treatments. 

Steve has worked as a manager / bartender at a busy after-work bar in SF's financial district for almost a decade.  Unfortunately as a result of his upcoming months of radiation and chemo treatment, he won't be able to work, and it's doubtful he'll be able to return to his job after his approx 8 month treatment and surgery because of the length of time of his absence. 

Kasia is a Senior GIS / CADD (Geographic Information Systems / Computer Aided Design & Drafting) Specialist for California Engineering & Geology.  She is an hourly paid employee - not salary.  She is also currently on maternity leave, and will be for quite some time.  And Kasia's family lives in Poland.  Her mom and dad will not be able to make it to the US to see their grandson born and to support her during Steve's cancer treatment.

The timing of this news couldn't be worse for Steve and Kasia.  But they have each other, they love each other, and together they will get through this.  Their baby boy who arrives into this world in approx 1 week will certainly provide a spark for both of them to fight Steve's cancer diagnosis.  But the three of them need all the help they can get.  Steve is not one to ask for help / charity.  Dude doesn't even have a facebook account and he's a very private person.  But as his loving brother, and for our mom and dad, I have to / want to / need to do this for him.  Anything that anyone can provide to help both Steve and Kasia and their newborn son this year.

Thank you all for your consideration.  And your thoughts.  And your visits.  And your emails.  And your gifts.  And your donations.  And your phone calls.  And your texts.  And anything that will lift both of them up during what's supposed to be (still will be) the happiest time of their lives, but also the most challenging time of their lives.

-- Matt Snider --