Cancer Sucks

Hello, my name is Chris Hurley, I'm 53 years old. For as long as I can remember I've always been as healthy as a horse, I have always been a hard worker and provided for my family. In 2017, I lost my job due to a change in policy at work, and I have been on disability ever since.Of course, when I lost my job, I lost my insurance. In August of 2021 my son and I decided to go through our the welding program at our local trade school. Our ultimate goal was to start a business together. Everything was going fine until January of 2022. Then I developed a pain in my back that could not be explained, it got so bad I ended up in the Emergency room, where they told me I had cancer. The type of cancer that I was diagnosed with is called Urothelial Carcinoma, an extremely aggressive form of cancer. When I asked them what caused it, they said it was environmental, I'm not sure what I got into, could have been anything over the past 20 years. I have no family history of cancer. In February of 2022 I had my first surgery, they removed a 12 pound tumor and my left kidney. Then I started Chemotherapy that May, and the prognosis was good, everything looked like it was going to work out. Life moved on, my son and I continued with the Welding program, and except for getting a little behind, I never missed a beat. In January of 2023 everything was still clear and it was recommended that I undergo BCG treatments. Those lasted from March to April of 2023, and they were supposed to be the cure, and kill anything that was left after my surgeries, but it did not. in May, my Urologist did another exam to inspect my bladder, and found a tumor invading my bladder, and plans were made to remove it. In between times I developed an infection that needed to be treated, and in June I caught Covid, which landed me in the hospital for 5 days. Fortunately I survived that, but it delayed cancer treatment. After Covid I had CT Scans and then an MRI, and surgery was scheduled, but then no one was available for nearly two months. I suppose Doctors need vacations too. We finally got everyone on the same page, and a surgery date was set for November 9, 2023. And then I got Covid a 2nd time on November 1, which pushed my surgery date even farther back, so while we were waiting for another surgery date, my surgeon ordered a PET scan to determine how active the tumor was. What they found was another tumor in my liver, and now they don't want to do surgery. My choices now are to not do any treatment, or extended chemotherapy that is potentially dangerous for my remaining kidney, and I have been told that I don't currently qualify for a kidney transplant. Cancer Sucks!!!

My ultimate goal with this fundraiser, is to not leave my family with a mountain of debt. So that's my story in a nutshell, thanks for listening, any assistance given will be used appropriately and is greatly appreciated.

Chris