Family Struggles as Father, 43, Given 8 Weeks to Live Following Cancer Diagnosis

Updated at 11:38 a.m. with new photo. Originally published at 1:30 a.m.
Updated on March 10 at 8:48 a.m.

Gary Schmeling died on March 9, 2014.

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In mid-January, Gary Schmeling, 43, thought he might have an ulcer and went to the ER.

After a week of tests, Schmeling, a Framingham father of three, learned he has Thoracic Metastatic Carcinoma; and it had spread throughout his entire stomach. The cancer, which originated in his lungs, continues to spread throughout his body.

Schmeling started chemotherapy at Dana Farber in Boston. Arriving for his second chemo treatment, he was told his body could not tolerate any more treatments as his tumors were rapidly growing. Doctors told him chemo would not help, but only make him worse or possibly end his life as his body was rejecting it, said family friend Mary Arrandale of Framingham.

Gary has since been sent home and put on hospice with a diagnosis of 6 to 8 weeks to live, she wrote in a plea to help the family.

Married to Jodie, the couple have three children - Andrew 20, Bryan 18 and Kailee 14. The family is active in Framingham Softball and Framingham Youth Football and Cheerleading.

With Gary out of work, the family is now dependent on Jodie's part-time wage, which is barely covering her husband's prescriptions, explained Arrandale.

They are behind in paying their mortgage and bills and medical bills keep coming in, she continued.

To help the family, Arrandale, whom many of you may know as a crossing guard in Framingham, has set up a GoFundMe.com account to help the family pay medical and other bills.

The goal is to raise $20,000.

In just 11 days, 36 people have donated $2,255. 

If you would like to help, click here.