INSIDEEDITION.COM EXCLUSIVE:

FORMER MEMBER OF ELVIS PRESLEY’S INNER CIRCLE FACES FORECLOSURE DUE TO MOUNTING MEDICAL BILLS FOR CANCER TREATMENT

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New York, NY — December 2, 2016 – INSIDEEDITION.COM spoke with Sonny West, who was once Elvis Presley’s best friend and bodyguard, and today is facing foreclosure on his Nashville, Tennessee home due to the medical bills associated with his cancer diagnosis.

West is currently undergoing treatment for cancer shortly after celebrating five years in remission. His wife of 46 years, Judy Jordan, is also undergoing treatment for cancer and will be admitted into surgery next week. Because of their mounting medical bills, and debt of nearly $22,000, the couple is now facing foreclosure, scheduled later this month.   

From his hospital bed, West told INSIDEEDITION.COM, “I don’t want to leave my family behind, penniless, leaving them with nothing,” he said. “I just want to be back to where I can carry the love that I need to carry. I just feel very depressed.”

West was once an integral member of Elvis Presley’s posse, known as the “Memphis Mafia.” He started out as one of Presley’s bodyguards, and eventually broke into The King’s inner circle, where he remained his good friend for 17 years.

He appeared in Presley's 1968 hit filmStay Away, Joe, and Presley reciprocated by acting as the best man in West and Jordan's wedding.

West’s lucky streak ended about five years ago, when he was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer. He has been on a feeding tube ever since.

"My parents' finances started going downhill after my dad first had cancer," their son, Bryan West, told INSIDEEDITION.COM.

Jordan, an actress known for roles inThe Jackie Gleason ShowandThe Beverly Hillbillies, was diagnosed with stage 3 breastcancer soon after.

"When I was diagnosed, everything fell apart," Jordan told INSIDEEDITION.COM. "We got caught on payments and couldn't catch up. It's devastating me. It's one thing after another. I had to be a warrior to not fall apart."

To pay off debt they accrued for the various treatments, the couple began selling Presley's memorabilia, including the jewelry he gifted West, and a briefcase.

West has considered selling the rest of his collectable goods, which he has kept in storage. "I have a gold mine in there, but I'm not well enough to go in there. I've been too sick," he said.

They also started a GoFundMe campaign  to raise money to pay off their debt. An Elvis impersonator sympathetic to their cause donated $1,000 to the campaign.

However, the couple claims the Presley estate has not been willing to contribute. "They just don't care about us guys," West said.

According to their son Bryan West, their home is still scheduled for foreclosure December 15.

"They will have nowhere to go," he told INSIDEEDITION.COM. "They don't want to lose their home. I can tell hope is slowly slipping away. "

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