Hello Family and Friends,

My name is Janet Heider and I am reaching out on behalf of my courageous cousin, Ruben Ballon, fondly known as Buboy/Boi and his loving partner, Daphne. As some of you may know, Ruben's remarkable resilience has led him through multiple hospitalizations. With their permission, I'm sharing his health concerns to rally support and love, because together, we can make a difference! ❤

The tumor in his neck is squamous cell carcinoma that reoccurred from his trachea. The nodule in his lung isn’t from his lung cancer, but from his thyroid cancer. Fortunately, his lungs and brain metastases are stable, which works in our favor, as thyroid cancer grows slowly, while lung cancer is quick and aggressive. His medical team will perform a partial or total laryngectomy, depending on the outcome of the surgery. He will have another stoma for breathing, similar to before, which may be permanent this time.

He'll likely require temporary tube feeding and face a lengthy recovery process, during which he'll relearn eating and speaking, and adapt to changes in smell and taste. His doctor recommends surgery and rehabilitation in San Diego, CA, for the best possible outcome.

Although Medicaid covers part of his expenses, he needs our collective support to overcome the remaining financial challenges. I'm assisting his loving partner and caregiver, Daphne, with managing the numerous responsibilities, as this journey has been incredibly demanding for her. Thank you so much for your donation, continued love and your support. Any amount is greatly appreciated! Please continue to lift Ruben and Daphne through their medical journey. God bless you always.