Bryan's Battle Against Stage 3 Colon Cancer

Dear Friends and Community,

We (Will and Anna) are reaching out on behalf of Will's stepfather, Bryan Russell. Bryan was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer earlier this year (June 2023). This year has been a challenging journey for him and his wife, Zanthanie, and their twin daughters Zabrya and Joane' (who are currently seniors in high school). Bryan has underwent chemotherapy since June 2023 while maintaining his job as a dedicated cook at Chilis Restaurant for the past 20 years.

Bryan is not just a beloved husband and father, but also a respected member of his community. Despite the physical and emotional toll of his treatment, he shows immense strength and courage as continues to work as much as possible to provide for his family.

Due to the nature of his treatment, Bryan is currently managing a colostomy bag as he navigates through both work and his health challenges. Although everyone is hopeful that the treatment has been effective, they wont know the full picture until completion/further scans. 2024 will bring ongoing treatment alongside radiation. This has placed considerable financial strain on him and his family.

We’re setting up this GoFundMe to support Bryan and his/our family. Your contribution will alleviate the financial burden of medical bills, daily expenses, gas to travel from home to the treatment centers and allow Bryan to focus on his health without the added stress of financial worries.

We want to emphasize that Bryan and his family have been reluctant to ask for financial assistance. Since this summer, they've been trying their best to hold things together. However, as time goes on, the financial strain is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Their hesitation to seek help stems from their desire to manage on their own, but the accumulating difficulties have made it evident that they could greatly benefit from any support offered.

Thank you for taking the time to reading this story and allowing us to share.

Sincerely,

Will and Anna Thompson

Here is Bryan :) That smile