Help Alex's dad beat cancer.

My mom's very good friend who is also my younger brother's dad was recently diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer. He was feeling off for a few weeks with some stomach issues and over all feeling unwell, once he turned yellow and itchy he checked into Elmhurst hospital where they misdiagnosed him, butchered his esophagus during a scope, inserted a permanent liver drain tube/bag, got a incorrect biopsy reading and sent him on his way, told him to come back in a month when the inflammation(that they caused) went down. Despite the fact of how urgent you need to move when it comes to pancreatic cancers they failed to acknowledge that urgency. Only getting sicker during the past couple weeks, he made an appt with a highly recommended doctor that specializes in GI cancers, out of Northwest community in Arlington Heights. This past Wednesday they went to see him and this doctor said based off the mri, ct, scopes the overall symptoms he is considered stage two. Pancreatic cancer is usually found in late stages making it the silent killer, by the grace of God they discovered it while it is still operable. The issue now is he is self employed and uninsured. The hospital will not allow the doctor to perform the "whipple" without insurance or at least half of the $87,000 that the surgery will cost. The doctor said it's crucial he get the surgery in the next 2-3 weeks to increase the chances for a successful procedure.
--My mom really wants to pull the funds together for him but she is also self employed, she has a cleaning business that she runs and works herself. She is now financially struggling to make ends meet since she can no longer coordinate with my brother's dad to watch him as frequently as before, for her to work, nor rely on the income he was previously providing her for my brother.
My brother does have down syndrome so she isn't comfortable leaving him with just anyone so for now she's been getting by being able to go to work, by leaving him with his dad on days that he has enough strength to watch him.
If you've gotten this far my mom called me this morning asking for advice and tips on how she can get money together with bake sales, garage sales, church organizations etc. We also discussed organizing a silent auction but in the mean time I thought we could start a gofundme to hopefully bring in some donations while trying to get everything else started. 

Losing my own father at 12 years old was absolutely devastating. I just pray my brother does not experience the same traumatic loss, due to lack of funds. 

Any and all donations are appreciated. 
Please share and help give Alex's dad a fighting chance. 




Pictures included are from Alex's birthday last year in August and the second picture from Rick's birthday June 6, 2018 to show how it's taken a toll on his appearance.