Brian’s Fight: One Step at a Time
On Brian’s 50th birthday, Thanksgiving came without a single bite of food. What should have been a day of celebration quietly marked the beginning of a life-altering journey. A devoted father of two, a self-employed entrepreneur, and a man more used to giving than asking—Brian now faces the battle of a lifetime: lower esophageal cancer.
The diagnosis came with both hope and uncertainty. Thankfully, the cancer has not spread, and a plan was laid out by Dr. Nguyen: six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation to weaken the mass, followed by a month of rest, and then a complex surgery to remove the lower esophagus. The goal is to reconstruct a new tract using an extension of the stomach. But Brian’s fight comes with complications. Years of sobriety—5.5 hard-won years—have helped restore a healthier life, but the long-term effects of alcoholism may have already damaged Brian’s liver to the point where surgery may no longer be possible without a transplant, something that is not an option.
Even so, Brian refuses to see this as a death sentence. A former statistics student at the University of Oklahoma, Brian recalls Professor James Willbanks reminding every class that life is lived out in the margins, in the standard deviations. This, Brian believes, is simply one of those rare moments—a challenge to be met head-on.
Brian’s life, like many single parents, revolves around family. His son is finishing 8th grade and preparing for high school. His daughter, a determined young woman, has earned a scholarship from the University of Oklahoma to attend flight school. This chapter of fatherhood is one of the most critical, and Brian is fiercely committed to being present and available for both kids during these crucial years.
To keep fighting, Brian has had to sacrifice nearly everything. His business—his main source of income and the reason he qualifies for ACA health insurance—is now being managed by an operations manager, cutting Brian’s income by more than half. Two small businesses—selling used golf balls and flower plants—have been put on hold. A part-time job interview with State Farm, which could have helped ease the financial burden, had to be canceled due to treatment complications.
Now, Brian is operating at a negative cash flow. Without help, savings will run out in 60 to 75 days.
But what Brian still holds onto—more fiercely than anything—is hope. The same hope that carried him through recovery. The same hope that fuels every moment with his kids. The same hope that keeps him showing up, one day at a time.
Brian isn’t asking for pity. He’s asking for a chance. A chance to stay in this fight. A chance to walk beside his son through high school. A chance to see his daughter soar above the clouds. A chance to keep going.
Every contribution helps buy that chance. Every show of support strengthens Brian’s resolve. Please consider donating to Mankind and help Brian continue the fight with dignity, courage, and the heart of a father who refuses to give up.
Because strength like Brian’s deserves a future.