Help Rich Beat Brain Cancer Again

Title: Help Rich Beat Brain Cancer…Again

The roar of the crowd…the thwack as ball and bat connect…the softball spiraling up in a perfect arc and down again in a line directly towards the right fielder. Crack. It sounds unbelievable, but getting hit in the head with a baseball saved Rich Gilliam’s life 14 years ago. The CT was supposed to show a concussion, not a malignant brain tumor.

One craniotomy later and Rich was cancer free. It takes tremendous strength to go to battle against your own body.

Rich needed that strength again four years later when he found out the cancer was back. Another fight, another victory thanks to surgery and radiation. After all, Rich has two boys to stick around for, and he was determined to watch them grow up.

Fourteen years is a good run, as Rich’s neurosurgeon says, but that run has come to an end. Being told you have cancer for the third time the week before Christmas isn’t a gift anyone wants, but Rich is facing more surgery and the possibility of chemo afterwards with a quiet determination and an appreciation of life. The good news is that the cancer is treatable, but Rich definitely has a battle ahead.

So why are we here?

Two months of debilitating symptoms (constant blinding headaches, blackouts, and nauseating dizziness) have made working impossible. Not only is medicine expensive, but bills for rent and food and utilities have to be paid and that takes more than good spirits and a handsome smile. The financial impact of cancer is nothing short of crippling.

Rich is doing what he can by applying for short term disability and pursuing any available resources, but there aren’t many available social safety nets even for situations like this. It is a difficult time of year for so many, we know, and this is one more ask when resources are strained for many folks.

Even $5 or $10, spread out among generous-hearted souls, adds up and makes a difference. If you can afford to help, we are so very thankful. If you can’t, we ask that you share this go fund me. We’re all connected, right? Let’s pull together and be a community of support in this weary world.

Thank you so much for being a part of this battle.