In August 2021, Mustafa was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage 4 appendix cancer (metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix). Appendix cancer is rare, affecting approximately 1500 people a year with no guaranteed curable treatment.

Mustafa is a young, passionate, hard-working 35 year old who has always led a healthy and active lifestyle. He is kind, giving, and sweet. Mustafa loves spending time with his family and friends and is always the life of the party. This life-threatening diagnosis has been difficult and confusing to him and his family, but he remains positive through it all.

His disease is not responding to the chemotherapy treatments. He's running out of time and options. The only route left is for him to undergo a very risky Cytoreductive with Hipec surgery, all the way in Pittsburgh, PA. This is an extensive (and expensive!) 12-15 hour surgery. During the surgery they will remove several organs that have tumors on them and then wash his belly with heated chemo. This will require a long healing period. Mustafa faces many expenses, including the out-of-network cost of working with the specialty surgical oncologist, as well as all of the related travel/lodging costs.

Once he returns home, he will have extensive aftercare expenses. He will need to continue chemotherapy, physical therapy, fertility therapy, and naturopathic care, including dietary counseling, as he must follow a strict diet. And just as importantly, he will have to get alert service training for his beloved puppy, Eshgh.

Mustafa will also need mental and emotional support services to help him process this chapter of his life journey.

He is beyond grateful for anything you can do, whether a donation or just your positive energy and prayers.