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DECEMBER 10, 2025
Hello everyone, Derek here.
I wanted to give you all an important update about Matt — where things stand now, and why I’m stepping in again to ask for your help.
For those who may not know, I started this GoFundMe shortly after Matt was first diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer metastasized to his liver.
At that time, he was overwhelmed by everything happening all at once: port placement surgery, a liver biopsy, beginning chemotherapy (his very first infusion landed him in the hospital for five days), the shock of the diagnosis, and a relationship breakup that hit him extremely hard emotionally.
Your generosity kept him alive during that first phase of treatment. Every dollar you donated went directly toward helping him survive: rent, car payments, insurance, medications, medical bills, food, and all the basic expenses that become nearly impossible when you’re too sick to work.
Those original funds were used over a year ago. But they carried him through a period when he was fighting for his life every day, and they miraculously lasted until he was able to work again and take care of himself for a time.
Unfortunately, this year took a very hard turn.
What Happened This Year
Perhaps the biggest blow was a $6,000 transmission failure.
Since Matt drives Uber, he had to rent a car at $300 a week — just to keep working.
He tried to work and continue chemo at the same time for a month, but he was actually losing money because the rental expense was so high. He had no choice but to pause chemotherapy so he could work enough to rebuild financially.
He pushed himself hard for three months, and at the beginning of September he was finally able to pay for the transmission repair — using everything he had saved and three credit cards (an important detail for what came next).
Matt then worked diligently throughout September and the first half of October to catch up on everything he had put aside to afford that repair.
And he was almost caught up…
Then everything crashed at once.
He began experiencing intense mental and physical fatigue, recurring infections, and complications that made it impossible for him to return to treatment at that time — and soon, impossible to work at all.
Matt has now been unable to work for two and a half months, and as a result he is:
3 months behind on rent
3 months behind on car payments
2 months behind on all three credit cards used to pay for the transmission
Facing mounting basic living expenses while having zero income
And then came the most devastating news...
Matt’s Recent Lab Results
Matt’s CEA cancer marker — a major indicator of colon cancer progression — has risen dramatically:
From 152 on July 3, 2025 to
3,990 on November 24, 2025
For context, healthy cancer-free levels are 0–3.7.
This kind of surge is extremely alarming. It explained the overwhelming physical exhaustion he had been experiencing, while the infections explained the mental fatigue.
It was a crushing blow — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Why I’m Asking for Help Again
Matt is fighting every single day, but right now he cannot fight alone. He needs help to survive the next few months, keep his housing, keep his car (his only way to reach medical appointments), and continue treatment without falling into complete financial collapse.
If you can help in any way — whether through a donation, sharing this fundraiser, or sending a prayer — it would mean more than words can say. Prayers make a meaningful spiritual impact. And even small donations truly help. They add up. They matter.
Matt doesn’t like asking for help, which is why I’m doing it for him again now. He’s in a truly difficult place, and I know that together we can give him a lifeline.
The challenges listed here are only the most significant ones. Matt has had a very, very hard year. More than once he told me on the phone, “Everything is a fight right now… on all levels. Everything.”
As heartbreaking as it was to hear that, it is also a testament to his strength and courage.
Most people would see a diagnosis like his as a death sentence.
But Matt doesn’t think that way.
He finds reasons to fight.
He imagines reasons to live.
He holds onto them and pushes forward with everything he has, because deep down he knows his mission on this earth is not finished.
Matt has a legacy to build — and with your help, he can continue that mission.
Thank you again to everyone who supported him before, and thank you to anyone who can support him now. You have no idea how much of a difference you’ve already made — and how much of a difference you can still make in Matt’s life.
With gratitude,
Derek Gunn
JULY 11th, 2024
Hello dear friends and strangers,
My name is Derek Gunn. I recently learned that a good friend of mine, Matt Adams, has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer (1 tumor), spreading to his liver (10+ tumors). Matt has been undergoing chemotherapy and many other remedies to aggressively battle against this cancer.
The reason I’m starting this GoFundMe page is that Matt could use a lot of help at this time as he is self-employed and, on some days, the chemo treatments make it extremely difficult for him to work and earn a living.
Matt is a great friend to me and to many, many others and he is truly a man with broad interests and various pursuits. Many of you likely already know of his deep interest in archaeology, local history, web creation, research, and music.
When Matt first learned of his diagnosis, he started making videos and sending semi-private links to inform his friends and family, and to avoid having the same draining conversations many times over. A few friends and family members encouraged him to start a channel because they saw his potential to help others along their battles with cancer, and so that’s what Matt is currently working on, and his channel is off to a good start!
You can watch Matt's videos regarding cancer, his progress, and other various topics at his channel below, and be sure to subscribe so you can help his messages reach others in need.
Please consider giving what you can to help Matt with his medical expenses as well as all the other typical expenses (car payment, car insurance, rent, food, phone/internet, medical insurance, various medical bills not covered by insurance, etc.)
If you can't donate, please pray for him and please share this link, because shares and prayers really help get the word out! I thank you and Matt thanks you from the bottom of his heart, as well!
To learn more about Matt's really interesting research, or to join in with him, go to https://www.nehssie.com
or the Facebook group for NEHSSIE (North East's Historical Stone Sites Investigations
& Explorations).
