Help Me Tell My Story of Surviving Stage 3 Colon Cancer
Your support is greatly appreciated
At 40 years old, I heard the words no one expects to hear:
“You have stage 3 colon cancer.”
In an instant, everything changed.
My first thoughts weren’t about myself—they were about my family.
At the time, my wife and I were raising three young children: a 7-year-old, a 5-year-old, and an 11-month-old baby. Instead of planning for the future, I suddenly found myself wondering if I’d be here to see it.
Would I watch my kids grow up?
Would my youngest even remember me?
What would happen to my wife if things didn’t go the way we hoped?
What followed was surgery, uncertainty, fear, and 6 months of chemotherapy—one of the hardest chapters of my life.
But what many people don’t realize is that cancer doesn’t just affect your body.
It changes your mind.
The emotional struggle begins before diagnosis, follows you through treatment, and often stays with you long after. The fear, anxiety, and uncertainty don’t simply disappear.
And then there’s something many survivors quietly carry:
Survivor’s guilt.
The question that lingers:
“Why do I get to live when others don’t?”
You meet incredible people during the cancer journey—people who fight just as hard—and not everyone gets the outcome they deserve. That reality stays with you.
Through it all, my wife stood beside me, helping carry the weight of fear and uncertainty while keeping our family moving forward. Cancer doesn’t happen to one person—it impacts everyone who loves them.
Over time, I’ve found peace, gratitude, and healing in unexpected ways. One of those ways has been through tattoos.
For me, tattoos tell stories.
And this next one tells mine.
Its theme is:
“Lift me up, consume my darkness.”
This tattoo symbolizes struggle, healing, and survival—a reminder of the moments I felt defeated, and the love, hope, resilience, and people who lifted me through the darkest chapter of my life.
This isn’t just a tattoo.
It’s my story.
A permanent reminder of survival, gratitude, and the second chance I’ve been given to spend more time with my wife and children.
If my story resonates with you and you’d like to support this meaningful piece of healing, I would be deeply grateful. Whether through a donation or simply sharing this page, thank you for being part of this journey.
More time. More memories. More life.