VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The holidays aren’t feeling as merry and bright for George Solano and his family this year after the retired Coast Guard veteran was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August.

His wife, Nicole, said the news has turned their lives upside down, as her husband had surgery in October and is now receiving chemo treatments.

“I guess it didn’t really set in until I went in to see the oncologist and had everything explained to me about medications, what was going on and possible side effects,” he said. “It just got real and it got scary.”

About three years ago, George Solano retired from the Coast Guard after 20 years with hopes of giving more stability to his wife and their two boys. He took on a less demanding job since then, but as he battles the disease, his ability to continue working looks uncertain.

“One of the major side effects of the medicine he’s on is neuropathy,” Nicole Solano said. “It’s not impacting him [now], but down the road [it could be]. He’s already used up all of his time. It is a big change to shift from a double-household income household to a single.”

Relatives and friends surprised the couple with a GoFundMe page to raise money for unexpected medical expenses and household bills. George Solano said if they didn’t have the support system they have in place, it would have been more difficult.

“It’s encouraging to have that support because I think if we didn’t have the support system that we have, I think it would have been a lot harder than it is right now,” George Solano said.

Said Nicole Solano: “This is something that we have to deal with for the rest of our lives, and face treatment, so that’s my biggest concern, and then, stability for my boys.”

To help the Solano family, you can donate to their GoFundMe.