Hello everyone, my name's Chelsea and I'm making this GoFundMe for my loving and wonderful dad, Robert Williams.

This is my father's story.

My father, Robert, was diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer on November 9th, 2023, the worst day of my family's life. This was his first battle with cancer and it hit him hard. Through every surgery, every feeding tube, every grueling radiation and chemotherapy session at MD Anderson (in Houston, TX.), he fought with everything he had. After the six long weeks of treatment away from home, we finally heard the words we had prayed so desperately for, that the cancer had gone into remission (March 21st, 2024). Dad said it felt like God had given him his life back and he wasn’t going to waste a moment. His faith carried him through the darkest days, and in gratitude, he joined a church to further devote his heart to Jesus Christ, to my mom Annabel, and to the people who loved him most. 

But life doesn’t always follow the script we hope for...

On November 19th, 2024, Robert traveled to Houston for his routine check-up at MD Anderson. During this doctor visit, Dad got news no one ever wants to hear: the cancer had returned, spreading to his right hip. Now battling stage 4 metastatic cancer, the doctors at MD Anderson came up with a new treatment plan, a plan that has been experimental up until a couple of years ago. This treatment will still consist of chemotherapy and thankfully will be closer to home. While receiving this treatment, Robert had to have another feeding tube inserted into him to be able to receive the calories & nutrients he needs to survive chemo. After months of treatment, he had his next routine check-up with MD Anderson scheduled for April 21st 2025. The appointment did not go as planned, his PET scans showed that the cancer was still in his right hip and has now spread to his left hip. Doctors told us what we feared the most, the cancer would never leave. Now my dad faces a heart-wrenching decision: undergo a third round of brutal chemotherapy to slow the spread, risking an even shorter life, or stop treatment and live whatever time he has left on his terms. No one should have to make choices like these. 

At this current moment, Robert is trying to get on disability so that he can continue his chemotherapy treatment and be able to properly feed with his feeding tube for 16 hours a day. For some reason, applying for disability is a lot harder than you would think, even for a 63 year old man who has cancer. We are hoping and praying that the doctors will finally approve of it and allow my dad the chance to continue fighting for his life.

I've created this GoFundMe to be able to help my dad, Robert, & my mother, Annabel, survive through this very difficult time. With all of the chemotherapy treatments and the side effects that come with it, my father hasn't been able to consistently work to support his household. The income my mother makes is also just not enough to keep them afloat. My parents are struggling to pay their bills and keep food on the table, they've started to sell their belongings just to be able to get by. At this moment they are in financial desperation and could be at risk of losing their home. With dad wanting to fight cancer for the third time, he won't be able to work and do his chemo treatment at the same time. I just want to be able to help my family and the only way I know how currently, is to create this GoFundMe and hope we can raise money to pull them out of this financial burden. My father has given everything to our family, his love, his strength, his unwavering support, he would never ask for help himself, but I am asking for him. I'm so grateful to be his daughter and hope I can give something back to him by sharing his journey on here. More than anything, I just want my father to be happy and have a simple life with the remaining years he has left. 

I know this is a long read, but I appreciate everyone who has stuck around to hear my father's story. If there is anything you can donate to my dad during this hard time, I thank you for that, more than you know. Giving him a prayer or even just spreading the word and sharing his GoFundMe would mean so much to us right now.

Thank you for your time, I hope you all have a very blessed day.

(I want to thank ASCO Equipment for allowing him to still have a place to work, a job that gives him the insurance he needs to be able to attempt this fight with cancer. Despite the physically draining side effects from chemotherapy & radiation, Robert continues to do his best to try and work to support him and his wife Annabel.)