Support Dan Carver's Fight Against Cancer

Dear Friends, Family, and Greater Loving Community of Dan Carver,

Our beloved Dan Carver finds himself fighting Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare type of bile duct cancer. He was diagnosed at The University of Vermont Medical Center just two short weeks after a beautiful wedding celebration for his eldest daughter, Emily, this past Labor Day Weekend.

On average, 1.9 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year; only 0.42% of them are diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. As a man with a lifelong commitment to maintaining his physical and mental health through 10,000 steps a day and habitual yoga practice, Dan’s diagnosis came as a shock.

The location of Dan’s tumor is obstructing his bile ducts and preventing proper liver function, leading to a rapid, dramatic decline in his health. Dan’s care has been escalated from UVM Medical Center to Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Unfortunately, even with the top specialists in the field for this type of cancer, his tumor has been deemed inoperable.

As surgery is not an option, Dan’s prognosis is terminal. His journey now is chemotherapy, with the goal of containment of the cancer, reduction in symptoms, and the gift of more time surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones. Dan and his family remain hopeful for an advancement in treatment for cholangiocarcinoma and continue to pray for a medical miracle.

Dan’s diagnosis comes with an unexpected and overwhelming financial burden. He has worked tirelessly in his professional life to be the sole provider for his wife Kathy and their three daughters, Emily, Kate, and Molly. This disease has taken away his ability to work, leaving him with a very limited income. Daily expenses from life before cancer are depleting most of these new means, while the costs of his medical care and treatment continue to grow larger. Dan now faces debilitating medical bills and prescription costs that are currently not covered by his Medicare insurance.

Dan and Kathy live in northern Vermont but his treatment plan requires him to be in Boston two days a week so he can continue to receive chemotherapy and attend other appointments at Dana Farber. The weekly travel expenses of transportation, housing accommodations, meals, and parking are compounding quickly. Additionally, Dan has already had two surgeries where tubes were placed into his liver to externally drain bile as the tumor is completely obstructing his bile ducts. These drains must be surgically replaced every three months requiring additional hospital stays. As his journey battling this cancer continues, his time in Boston, appointments, and medical bills are expected to only increase.

Those fortunate enough to be in Dan’s life, starting from his boyhood days in Connecticut through his successful career at Ben & Jerry’s, Rhino Foods, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and Ski Rack, know Dan as a cherished friend and colleague who is as generous as he is self-disciplined. Dan is the man (“The Ice Cream Man”) with a contagious smile, clever wit, and the best trivia teammate you could ask for. His natural tendency to help others and to ask nothing in return can be seen throughout his life. From serving his country in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, sitting on the Colchester School Board, to coaching in the Colchester Youth Soccer League for 12 years; his impact has been felt by many. Despite facing many adversities since childhood, Dan’s unwavering drive to better the lives of others has never faltered. He is, in short, among the very best that humanity has to offer.

As Dan has been given a prognosis of months versus years, we hope to alleviate some of the family’s financial burdens so they can enjoy being together during the unknown, challenging time that remains. If you can afford to provide financial support, your contributions are appreciated with loving gratitude. Prayers for a medical miracle, love, and positive energy are equally appreciated.

Thank you and Go Team Dan!