Make A Diff for Griff!

Dear Friends of Griffin,

You know Griffin Weyforth.  Charming, irreverent, witty, honest, faith-filled, devoted husband and father, a real family man.  An aggressive prostate cancer diagnosis has pulled the rug out from under he and Kathy. But it hasn’t stolen his sense of humor or diminished his charm.  Has it altered the way he goes about his day?  Of course. Does it have him looking a little closer in the mirror to see if he looks any different?  Surely.  But have a meal with the guy like my husband and I did recently and it’s easy to forget he’s fighting the fight of his life.  For his life.

Unfortunately, Griff’s cancer scenario is not common in a young man of 51.  For eight weeks, his local doctors administered 39 radiation treatments and outlined some options available to him with a bit too much of a “hope for the best” attitude.  Wisely, he and Kathy did their research and looked outside the box for more choices.  Through some trusted resources, they found what they believe is their best path to a better outcome.  The doctors are progressive and caring and they gave Kathy and Griffin what they so desperately needed: HOPE!  The only downside is that the clinic is in Orange County, CA.  (A good friend of ours has been treated there for the last three years and is living his life cancer-free and has a very positive outlook on his longevity. Griff would like to have the same).

Griff flew to CA nearly two weeks ago to spend 3-4 weeks getting his treatment plan underway. They are using a blend of western medicine protocols complemented by some more progressive efforts being used internationally.  He has changed many things in his diet, his lifestyle choices and is fully committed to moving forward with a plan that makes sense to him. Ironically, he feels better than he ever has thanks to the changes he’s made.

Some of the treatments will be covered by his insurance.  Many will not.  Nor will travel, car, hotel expenses, food and some of his required supplements.  The Center wants Kathy by his side every weekend.  That adds more expense. As does getting his children out to see him. The importance of a support system cannot be underestimated when you are trying to kick cancer in the you-know-what.   They need to be there. The Center is wise to know that.  

We knew that many of Griff’s family members and friends would be willing and able to help make this cancer journey possible without causing them an enormous and overwhelming financial burden.  My husband, Mark, and I offered to start a Go Fund Me. Thankfully they had the grace to accept.  Our goal is to raise $25,000 in the next month to help pay the first significant bill due in March. 

All gifts, regardless of size, are appreciated more than the Weyforths will ever be able to express.  Anything from $10 for a healthy meal to $50 for supplements or $100 for a night at the hotel or $250 for a plane ticket or $1,000 for a day at the clinic. Maybe you are in the position to make a sizeable donation and offer a challenge to get it matched.  Perhaps you want to honor someone in your life who has fought prostate cancer or any other cancer. You get the picture. Every donation really does matter.  You will see giving levels on the fundraising page but those are just guidelines. As I said, every dollar truly will count to Make A Diff for Griff!

Thanks for your consideration!

Co & Mark Bauman

p.s. If you want to follow Griff's journey through cancer, the link to his Caring Bridge site is: www.caringbridge.org/visit/griffinweyforth