Support Alan and Claudia's Cancer Battle

Three short years ago, I married the love of my life. I had been working as a chef for the nearly the last twelve years of my life, but I wanted to spend more time with my new family, so I sought a more workweek, daytime kind of job. I started a new delivery driving job because I loved the idea of working independently, and especially the idea of headphones!

Somewhat earlier that summer I was experiencing a slight bulge around my rib cage, but I connected it to an injury I sustained while lifting some large furniture one day. I was now physically exerting myself more than ever in an effort to lose my restaurant flab. But my bulge started to get bigger, and doctors convinced me that it was a dislocated rib, with very few options for treating except for your standard pain medicine.

I did lose my job a couple days after Christmas. I decided I would try applying for teaching positions, while paying the bills with unemployment insurance for the time being.

In February, I really did become quite sick. On the evening of my wife’s birthday, she had to take my to the ER because I was having severe lung pain. We couldn’t have imagined what we would learn in a few short hours.

We discovered that I had stage four sarcoma (a rare cancer) on the left side of my abdomen. At this point, I had a small Nerf football growing on the side of my belly. While doing my weekly UI report, I disclosed that I was unable to work. For the crime of being truthful, I lost my only income at the worst possible time.

Like so many families in 2025, we are struggling a good bit. I am trying to get as much chemotherapy I can, as quickly as I can; it is actually a race against time. My wife is trying to be there for me as much as possible, but she also is the sole breadwinner right now. In the meantime, we are trying to make use of all and any resources available.

We are very prideful hardworking people, and we understand that everyone is in financial trouble, so this is exceptionally difficult, therefore we would be exceedingly humbled to receive any donation, no matter the amount.

God bless you and yours most sincerely,

Alan and Claudia Memmott