
Elio Lancaster's Post Cancer Relief Fund
Hello friends and family and anyone else that has come across this story,
After 8 months from his diagnosis, 3 rounds of chemo and 2 surgeries, last week Elio was given the all clear. We are beyond ecstatic to report that his cancer is officially in remission! ❤️
He's is excited to be back in Denver now and finally be able to start his life which, post graduation from Denver School of the Arts, was not only highjacked by the pandemic, but a bout with cancer to boot. He's been writing music again and is looking forward to getting back into performing, traveling, getting a job, a car, an apartment with his best friend, and just living...which has a whole new meaning these days. In a lot of ways, though, he's starting over from scratch.
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At the tail end of 2020, the widely agreed upon "Worst. Year. Ever.", my son Elio Lancaster was diagnosed with Stage 3B testicular cancer at 19 years old. I don't think I need to go into how difficult this was for him and his family as I know many people have been affected by this disease and subsequent treatment and feel that it's pretty understood. It was brutal. It fu*@ing sucked...
We were made aware that this was to be the most difficult thing he ever has had, and maybe ever will have, to deal with on a physical, emotional and spiritual level.
It was.
So, at the onset of his treatment we encouraged him to only focus on getting better and let him know that we would take care of him financially throughout this ordeal. We wanted to do everything we could to remove any stresses from his life as we could. He quit his job, sold his car and then he and I traded our lives in Denver for a 1 bedroom apartment in Tampa to get treatment at the renowned Moffitt Cancer Center. The months in that apartment were excruciatingly dark, punctuated by bright lights of love that we received from friends and family along the way...to which we will forever be grateful for <3
While Elio spent all of his savings just to get by during this time, we feel very fortunate and privileged to not only have been able to get world class care, but to be able to cover the costs of travel and healthcare (in the $10s of thousands) within the family. Although there are still outstanding bills and we appreciate all of the offers to assist with them, we can and will cover these ourselves.
I probably also don't need to say how much he means to me...I love him more than life itself. I can't put into words how relieved I am to put this chapter behind us. Life is hard and we don't always have control over what form that will take in our own lives. I, for one, will always do what I can to soften the blows that life takes at my son by any means I can think of...and this is one that many have suggested, so fuck it!
Help him hit the ground running!
This GoFundMe is to help kickstart Elio's return to life after cancer. It's to help get him some financial freedom after being enslaved to this disease for so long. It's so say "good job kid, you won and deserve a fucking break!". It's to say "You've struggled enough, I got you".
Give what you feel comfortable giving with no feelings of obligation. Every bit of the funds raised here goes towards his future, not his past
❤️
Adam