Hello my name is Debbie Smith I am creating this GoFundMe for my brother Joe to help in his recovery from major surgery due to cancer.
Joe Gray - a long time Taylor Metal employee, husband/father, and independent hard worker - needs financial support during a long medical recovery after an extensive tongue surgery and ongoing complications. Joe has always been a hard worker and fiercely independent. After 27 years of dedicated service at Taylor Metal, Joe now faces an overwhelming medical crisis and has no employer disability income to rely on. On Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Joe underwent a major 8 1/2 hour surgery to remove a large portion of his tongue due to squamous cell cancer. Surgeons then sent his lymph nodes for testing to determine whether the cancer has spread. Joe currently has a feeding tube a tracheotomy and multiple skin grafts. Because of a very large abdominal hernia the feeding tube had to be replaced more than 20 times as the hernia repeatedly pushed it out. Joe will be out of work for an extended period. He is also dealing with severe dropfoot, which leaves him unable to feel or move one foot, ongoing severe sciatica, and he needs a full knee replacement. All of these conditions will require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and mobility support. He has been paying on his home for 20 years and is extremely worried about bills, mortgage and providing for basic needs while he cannot work, the funds raised will be used for:
-Medical and hospital bills not covered by insurance
-home care, supplies, feeding and trach supplies, wound care and medication’s
-physical therapy, mobility aids, and rehabilitation after surgery
-help with mortgage, utilities and essential living expenses while Joe is out of work
-traveling and lodging for family members if needed for appointments
If you can help financially, any amount will make a real difference. If you cannot donate, your prayers, messages of support and sharing this campaign with friends and community will help Joe more than you know. Thank you for standing with him
during this difficult recovery.