Support Matthew Hughes' Battle Against Cancer

Hello, my name is Matthew James Hughes. I am 46 y.o. I am married to Velma Hughes and father of two children, my daughter Karalyn and Leonidas, ages 16 and 10. I am the sole provider for my family as my wife homeschools our kids.

On September 9, 2024, after 3 months of having difficulty eating, my family convinced me to go to the hospital. I found out I had lost 70 lbs in weight, and I was diagnosed with an esophagus mass that was determined to be cancer after a biopsy.

On October 2, I returned to the hospital as the mass had grown to completely obstruct, and water was not passing. I was given a jejunal feeding tube (a tube directly inserted into your small intestine). I need to carry 2 IV-type bags and a pump with me to give me my nutrition 22 hrs a day.

My treatment will require 5 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments (once a week for chemo and 5 times a week for radiation) . This will be followed by a recovery period 4-6 weeks. Then I will be scheduled for surgery to remove the mass,and part of my esophagus. And my esophagus will be reattached to my stomach, once I recover from the surgery I will have weeks of immunotherapy. I have about a 50/50 chance of surviving this process I am about 30 years younger than most people with esophagus cancer. I have a clean bill of health other than the recent cancer diagnosis. And I have a strong determination to recover and be able to provide for my family again

I am asking for the money to help support me and my family through this difficult time. I will be using the money to pay rent, transportation to and from my treatment, and expenses for me and my family. My total monthly bills are 2 thousand a month, rent, insurance, utilities, and it should be 6 months for the total treatment process.