Support Etzael During This Difficult Time

Hi my name is Pam and I'm starting this GoFundMe to help my dear friend Etzael during this difficult time. Etzael is a bartender and server for two downtown Mill Valley restaurants. He is a hard worker and one of the sweetest and most gentle people I have ever met. He is loved by all that know him and will go out of his way for anyone in need.

For Etz, the beginning of 2023 started out with what he thought was a minor health issue. His left hand, which is his dominant, started to show the beginning stages of carpal tunnel. This ailment has plagued many a bartender and server. He started getting massages to ease the pain but the symptoms only got worse. So much so that he had to be pulled out from behind the bar. As a server he was having difficulty writing orders. It was then that he decided to see a doctor. Etz was referred to a physical therapist, but the mobility of his hand did not improve and with time got worse. Then he began experiencing twitching in his neck and buttocks. It was now believed that this was a neurological issue.

Etzael was referred to a neurologist where he went for an ultrasound, had two MRI's and an EMG. He could see in his chart that the doctors were trying to rule out different neurological disorders such as Kennedy's disease. This is when fear set in. The results of the MRI showed that he had a sizable tumor on his kidney. The recommendation was for surgery. The neurologist said that if the tumor is malignant then it could cause cancer neuropathy which may explain his symptoms. They would remove the tumor and if his symptoms subsided then he would be in the clear. Etzael was wondering, "in the clear of what?" and then as if he said it out loud the doctor responded, "If not then it's ALS."

Etzael was beside himself. Cancer or ALS? Are those even things you want to choose between? It was the first time I ever saw him look defeated. All of his friends secretly prayed for cancer. Etz had his surgery a little over a week ago. They were able to get the whole tumor out. A few days ago he got the pathology results back. It was a malignant tumor. His neurologist said that it was the best case scenario. Now we just wait and see if the symptoms subside. It could take a few months for things to return to normal. Etz had a semi look of relief on his face. He said, "I never thought I would be so happy to hear that I had cancer." So now we pray and wait.

Everyone knows that in the service industry, if you don't work, you don't get paid. Etzael will be out of work for some time and will have increasing medical bills and copays. If you can please support this amazing human in his time of need it would be greatly appreciated. If you can't donate then please keep him in your prayers. He still has some obstacles to overcome and could use some positive energy right now. Thank you.