Hi,
We are here to support a dear friend, Michael Gonzalez, in his journey navigating his fight against Stage IV Metastatic Colon Cancer. With a recent diagnosis, Michael will be undergoing six months of chemotherapy with hope to minimize the presence of cancer cells throughout his body. Because of this, he will be out of work as an electrician for at least nine months and will need our help covering day-to-day expenses, monthly bills, along with the ongoing costs of medical care.
While typically associated with an aging population, colorectal cancer has seen an increase in prevalence in young adults throughout the last decade. Before entering the emergency room mid-May, Michael was experiencing severe stomach pains accompanied by nausea and a fever. At 27 years old, this diagnosis was not something to be expected. After identifying a cancerous tumor in his colon, surgeons were able to operate and remove the tumor with success. However, his medical team believes there is a high likelihood of recurrence. During this surgery, it was also confirmed that the cancer has spread to other parts of his body but the extent is currently unknown. This will soon be determined once a PET scan has been approved through his insurance.
Through chemotherapy and other novel forms of medical intervention, Michael will be putting up a fight against cancer that will cost him a great amount of time, energy, and money. The goal of his treatment is to eradicate cancerous cells throughout his body and to achieve a state of NED – meaning no evidence of disease. In this state, he would be able to return to a normal, healthy life while working closely with his medical team to identify any potential recurrences of cancer cells within the body.
On a more personal note, Michael is an unconditionally loving friend to many. Having the privilege to watch him become the person he is today has been nothing but a treat. Michael has provided myself and many others the support we’ve needed to overcome our greatest hurdles. While he faces this fight, I hope that we can come together to uplift the person that has been a light for many of us.
Thank you,
Jackson
