Help Jay Fight Pancreatic Cancer & Save His Home

I’m launching this campaign on behalf of my dear friend Jay Williams, who has been fighting advanced pancreatic cancer with extraordinary courage. After nearly two years of grueling treatment and setbacks, Jay now faces an even more urgent challenge: the possible loss of the home he’s lived in for 25 years.

I’ve seen firsthand the strength, grace, and humor Jay brings to this fight — even on the hardest days. And in the midst of everything, there have still been moments of light — including the recent birth of his first grandchild, Camden, and the joy of preparing to walk his daughter Alexis down the aisle this May.

But right now, Jay needs our help. Below is a personal note from him, sharing his story in his own words.

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Dear Friends, Family, and Kind Strangers,

I never imagined I’d be in this position — especially after having what felt like a dream career for nearly 30 years. But life took an unexpected and painful turn. For nearly two years, I’ve been fighting advanced pancreatic cancer, and the toll has been overwhelming — physically, emotionally, and financially.

Right now, I’m dealing with tumors that can’t be surgically removed due to their location. This follows a prior surgery known as the “Whipple,” which removed a large portion of my digestive system. Since Thanksgiving, I’ve had eight hospitalizations and nineteen blood transfusions — just in the past three months. This came after completing a new round of radiation in Irvine and recently starting chemotherapy again, which I now undergo every two weeks.

I was also diagnosed with prostate cancer about a year ago, which I’m managing through medication and active surveillance.

I’m anemic, severely immunocompromised, and constantly exhausted. I continue to fight every day, even though my bone marrow was damaged during my first round of chemo over a year ago, which also left me with intense neuropathy. Since the beginning of this battle, I’ve lost nearly 125 pounds. I share all of this not to seek pity, but to paint a clear picture — and to say that despite all of it, I still consider myself incredibly blessed.

That said, I’ve never faced financial hardship like this before. Normally, I’d be looking for work — but with my health as it is, and the unpredictability of needing emergency transfusions, working is simply not an option right now.

As medical bills continue to pile up (even with the insurance I thankfully still have), so do the everyday costs of living. Essentials — like simply buying groceries — have become a weekly struggle. On top of it all, I’m in a legal fight to recover payment for work I completed almost two years ago. That money could have kept me and my family afloat, but legal battles take time… and time is something I don’t have the luxury of right now. It’s left me feeling scared — deeply scared — for the first time.

I’m asking for your help — not just for medical care, but to prevent the foreclosure of the home I’ve lived in for 25 years. My wife and I have built a lifetime of memories here. More than anything, I want to make sure she and the rest of my family are taken care of if anything happens to me — which is always a possibility.

Still, as I said earlier, I truly feel blessed. Amid all this, something life-affirming happened: I became a grandfather. Just a few weeks ago, I met my grandson Camden for the first time. That moment gave me a renewed sense of purpose. I want to stay in this fight — for him, for my family, and for the chance to watch him grow up. My daughter Alexis is also getting married on the East Coast this May — and yes, I plan to walk my baby girl down the aisle as she marries her amazing fiancé, Mike.

So despite the very real medical and financial challenges ahead, I believe in the beauty of life and the power of hope. I’m just asking for a little help to get us through this moment.

If you can donate, please know that any amount — large or small — will make a tremendous difference. If you’re not able to give, simply sharing this page or keeping me in your prayers means more than I can say. I feel blessed by the life I’ve lived, and by the friends, colleagues, and generous strangers who continue to remind me that God’s hand is still in this.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and kindness. Your support gives me strength — and peace of mind that my family will be cared for, no matter what happens next.

With deep gratitude,

Jay Williams