Outer Banks surfboard builder, Jesse Fernandez, is in need of your help. In August of 2018, Jesse was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Kidney Cancer. His health started deteriorating in 2017 after a surf-related back injury which was slow to heal and accompanied by weight loss and extreme fatigue. His doctor performed blood and diagnostic tests and a tumor was discovered on his right kidney consistent to Renal Cell Carcinoma. Further scans and a liver biopsy revealed the cancer had spread to multiple organs.
After spending his entire life surfing and building surfboards, he is not able to work or surf at this time due to chronic pain and fatigue. He is responding well to treatment but medicines used to shrink the tumors zap his energy and leave him with migraines. Though he has his ups and downs, he is embracing a positive attitude and eating well.
Jesse and Michelle are struggling to meet household and medical expenses.
Jesse’s wife Michelle works full time and drives him to Virginia weekly for immunotherapy treatments, oncology appointments, diagnostic and lab tests. Often tests and appointments have to be performed on different days, thus several trips to Virginia can be made in a week. With Jesse unable to work, the medical bills are rising, creating a financial hardship on them.
Jesse has been surfing for 50 years and building boards for at least half those years. He has surfed alongside many great legends and designed boards for top surfers in the world. He plays bass and guitar, still checks the waves via internet daily, complains about the disastrous Miami Dolphins season and can still be cajoled to roll a mean spicy tuna roll on days he is feeling well.
How You Can Help
We ask for your prayers and any financial support to help Jesse and Michelle with current and impending medical and living expenses as he heals. Any amount you can give will be greatly appreciated.
You can help by:
1. Clicking the Donate Now button
2. Sharing this campaign on Facebook or Email
Please share Jesse’s story to as many people as possible. A quick email or a post on Facebook will make all the difference in creating a successful fundraising campaign!
