How I got here...

For five years I was making a small but fulfilling living doing the thing I loved: making people laugh. I’m in my 30’s and have had a clean bill of health on every physical I took. Out of nowhere I experienced some terrible pains in my abdomen that eventually lead to a diagnosis of cancer in my liver and intestines. Surgeons removed 12 inches of my intestines, but were unable to treat the tumors on my liver. At this point in time there is no cure for the cancer in my liver. Our hope is that a cure or treatment will soon be found. Doctors told me that worst-case scenario, I have five years to live.

Surreal is the only word to describe my state upon hearing this news. I’ve always tried to be an optimist, but there seemed to be no upside to this news. As the shock started to wear off, and my mortality set in for the first time, I started analyzing my life. It was pretty good. I had already been living my dream. I had a loving family, an incredible woman, and what I considered the best friends in the world. But now I had to wonder if I had time to reach all the goals I had set for myself. This scared me the most. That the biggest obstacle in my way was one I never considered: time. I struggled on how to handle this.

It was my girlfriend (now wife), Denise, who asked me what the biggest dream I had left was. Almost before she finished her sentence I said, “To perform on David Letterman.”  I had always planned on being on Letterman someday, but now I felt a deadline. My girlfriend smiled and said that is where all my effort should be put: into getting a spot on Letterman.

So that’s what I’ve decided to do. I’m pulling out all the stops, calling in all my favors, and harassing anyone who will listen to try and get a spot on Dave’s show. I’m also documenting all my efforts with a film crew. I’m hoping that the documentary will show a side of the disease not usually shown: someone living with cancer, rather than dying from it. I am also planning on donating proceeds from the film to a cancer fund I created called LaughStrong (inspired by Lance Armstrong’s foundation).

I hope my journey will inspire others, and remind anyone faced with their darkest hour that it is then, more than ever, that your dreams matter.

UPDATE!!!

NEW FACT:   I Performed on Letterman!

It happenned. On Monday August 31st, I taped my Letterman appearance. It airs on Sept 4th!!!   Thanks to all who e-mailed Dave on my behalf...could not have done it without you.  I’ll post the video here when I get it.

Again, thanks to all who helped make this dream possible.

(Click Here to send Dave and the show a “Thank You”message)

Thanks so much! And please refer others to our website!