Dear family, friends, friends of the past, friends of the future, strangers who I don't know. I am a 32 year old Dutch guy who moved to live and get married in Oklahoma about seven years ago. I became a proud dad 17 months ago. I got diagnosed with cancer 2 months ago. I got officially diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer only two days ago. It has spread to the liver and lungs, and it's bad.

This GoFundMe is not directly for me - it is so my wife and daughter are not left with a mountain of debt after my passing, into the future, which hopefully is still years away. I can sincerely tell you this thought is a heavy burden on my heart - even worse than having cancer itself. Is to leave them with such financial troubles because of me. I will not be able to work and earn those savings for her or keep those bills down. My wife is a Third Grade teacher and is doing the best she can, but this is overwhelming sadly.





I'm not a hero. I'm not a funny tough guy who keeps a smile during all of this - and I wish I was a better writer or give you an inspirational speech like some people can. This is incredibly tough to bear and I still cry immediately thinking of the mere chance of not seeing my seventeen month old daughter grow up.



Of course I'll fight - for her and my wife especially - but like the doctor so stoically said: "It's terminal." This is why I decided to open the GoFundMe, to combat the incoming bills and try and maintain it as much as possible, and build a college fund for my daughter while keeping medical bills down.

Money donated will go towards medical bills that need immediate payment and Embers (daughter) college savings.







I'll keep this updated. I don't know how long GoFundMe lets you have a campaign up but I'll keep it running because any dollar counts, for Ember, for Tori. For now for me it's chemo therapy for 6 months and hoping it catches on. And if not, try something heavier. And fight it if it comes back. I will keep updates.



OF COURSE I'll be fighting for that chance to survive. For the people I love most of all. My wife, Tori. My family. And I want to see my little girl grow up most out of everything.





There will be a lot of difficult times ahead and it's about buying extra years at the moment.



WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP BESIDES DONATING? Sympathy messages are appreciated - so are prayers, thoughts. But to be honest, I am not dead yet. I'd rather have you treat me like normal for now.





SHARE SUCCESS STORIES! - I'm not joking , colon cancer survivor stories are the ones I draw most energy from. Even if you are a stranger and you know a friend of a friend... TELL ME! Especially if they have similar situations to my own (stage 4) and they got cancer free/survived. I will write it down and it'll become my own 'hope' book maybe I get to share some day.



This gives me hope, because the doctors aren't allowed to give me hope, they have to stick to the facts.

So that's about it. I am dropping all pretense and have swallowed all pride I have at the moment - the same stuff that prevents me from asking for help in the first place, but I need it. We need it. The reassurance my wife won't drown in bills if I possibly pass away early and my daughter going to college is 100% the reason I am doing this.

From the bottom of our hearts, Thank you.

The Meijer Family