11/28/2017 – #GivingTuesday Success

Wow. My heart is full of joy and I’m very blessed.
The last few years I have supported a few different non-profit organizations during #GivingTuesday, where Individuals and corporations open their hearts and wallets on a national day devoted to giving back.  This year, I choose to support No Stomach For Cancer.
I shared my story with my friends on Facebook and Twitter and asked them to consider a donation of $10.00 to support www.nostomachforcancer.com, NSFC has been invaluable during this process. They have the best information and their staff has been great giving me the information I need. My goal was to raise $500 for the foundation.  My friends and family were so generous and ended up giving a total of $2,000!  You can see the page here: https://give.everydayhero.com/us/support-no-stomach-for-cancer-on-givingtuesday
52 total gifts for a total of $2,093.50.
 So many people blessed me by sharing their love and interest to help. A friend of mine will most likely start a Go Fund Me account of some sort because so many people want to help.  It will be a huge blessing because I suspect the total trip/surgery will cost between $15,000 – $20,000 WITH insurance.
It’s not easy for me to ask for help. Especially with finances. However, with such a large number of people asking to help, it makes it easier for people to make an impact with small gifts. Also – any gifts that will be over my need, will be donated to my Church or NSFC. If I get’s started, I’ll post it on here.
This was the message I sent on #GivingTuesday:

“My Story

I recently learned I’m a carrier of a rare gene mutation which causes Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC). HDGC is rare and very dangerous. In most males my age, the gene mutation is already creating cancer in my stomach that is undetectable until it’s too late for curable treatment. With my new diagnosis, I have an 80%+ chance of developing stomach cancer. I decided to eliminate the chance of dying from stomach cancer by having my stomach completely removed. I’ll be traveling to NYC to have a prophylactic total gastrectomy (total removal of the stomach) early January. My life and diet will forever change, but I’m thankful I have the opportunity to address this now, while I’m still alive.
No Stomach for Cancer (NoStomachForCancer.org) was the only organization that collaborated everything I needed to be well informed to fight this deadly disease. They have been available and extremely supportive. I believe No Stomach for Cancer is literally saving lives and working hard to further research so future patients have better options.
I will be very blessed and honored if you donate $10.00 or more during #GivingTuesday, where Individuals and corporations open their hearts and wallets on a national day devoted to giving back. Each gift, no matter the size, has the potential to save a life like mine.
All gifts go straight to No Stomach For Cancer Foundation. www.nostomachforcancer.org