Hi! It’s your friend Gary.

Thanks for visiting my GoFundMe page!

If you’re here, you have some idea of what’s going on with my health journey since being diagnosed with Colon and Liver Cancer in June 2024.

It’s been quite a ride!

A couple months after diagnosis, I went “Code Blue” when they put in my chemo port. They said they almost lost me! But I guess God still had some plans for me - cause here I am, still breathing and still praising Him.

I was on chemotherapy for a full year, and also had surgery to remove 6” of my colon. That year was full of chemo treatments (and their side effects), scans, surgeries and other procedures.

The good news is that my colon appears to be cancer free!!!

Now I am getting radiation ☢️ for the cancer spots on my liver. Not out of the woods yet, but man - I sure feel blessed to have only ONE organ with cancer!

I do continue to have intermittent pain in my abdomen and back, but have medication to help me get through it.

The biggest hurdle for me right now is fatigue - both physical and mental (chemo brain). I’m operating at about 50% of my normal energy level, which makes it really challenging to work or concentrate. I am told this will probably last for another year.

I tire quickly from normal tasks - even photography wears me out a lot faster than before. And sometimes I struggle just to complete a sentence or organize my thoughts. (Which is why I asked my friends Laura and Sami to help me set up this page!)

The other major hurdle is that my car is just… wearing… out.

While my photography jobs have been running thin lately and my friend’s carpet cleaning business (where I did some part-time work) has shut down, I have still been able to make a little money by driving for Amish people.

But… my car really needs some expensive repairs. It is over 15 years old and at nearly 300,000 miles.

Before the cancer, I also drove for Uber. I would love to do so again - and it’s something I can do at my current energy levels - but my car is no longer eligible because of its age.

So I probably need to sell her and find an affordable used car.

Right now it’s been a little over 2 years since I’ve been able to work at 100%. I am thankful to collect some Disability, but that doesn’t cover my living expenses like rent, groceries, or the over-the-counter meds and supplements recommended by my cancer care team.

So your donations will help me to cover living expenses and upgrade my car.

You have all been so generous, helpful, and gracious - and I can’t thank you enough for your love and support during this chapter of my life. You have helped me so much with financial needs, and your friendship and prayers have been just amazing. My cup overfloweth.

You can see me on Facebook at https://facebook.com/gmanwelling or check out my health journey on https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bf3c2DRFC . I will do my best to keep the updates coming!

Thanks again for being the best support system a guy could ask for.

You Rock!

Peace, love, balloons!

Gman