Support for Alex’s Treatment and Jazzy’s Surgery

Hi friends,

We’re reaching out for support as our family navigates a challenging time. This past month brought two major health updates: our dog Jazzy, who just turned 2 on April 7th, needs both knees replaced due to a genetic disorder—and Alex has been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in his brain.

Alex was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2021. After a few major surgeries, things were looking stable. That changed in August 2023—a couple months after we adopted Jazzy—when the cancer returned in his neck. And now, in April 2025, we’re facing another recurrence. Thankfully, surgery isn’t needed at this time—radiation and a year of immunotherapy is the treatment plan moving forward.

Jazzy came into our lives unexpectedly but has become a big part of our home. We adopted her from the North Lawrence sanctioned homeless campsite, where she was born. She’s been with us through a lot, and we’re committed to doing what’s needed to keep her healthy and comfortable.

Over the past year, we’ve experienced some really positive life changes—we got married in July 2024 and bought our first home in December. Along with those milestones have come higher living costs. With Alex needing time off work and Jazzy’s upcoming surgery, our financial situation has gotten a bit more complex.

We want to be transparent: we received a family inheritance that allowed us to put a down payment our home. The rest of it has been set aside as retirement savings. While we can use those funds if needed, we’re hoping to avoid dipping into them right away so they can continue to grow for our future.

This GoFundMe is to help us cover some of the more immediate out-of-pocket expenses related to Alex’s treatment and Jazzy’s surgery.

What We’re Hoping to Cover:

40% of Alex’s income during 2 months off work not covered by short-term disability — $2,800

Out-of-pocket maximum for Alex’s medical treatment — $3,000

Jazzy’s TPLO surgeries (both knees) + aftercare — $10,000

We’re not expecting to raise the full amount, but any help makes a difference. Please only give if you’re in a position to do so—and if not, sharing this is also incredibly appreciated.

Thanks for being part of our community.

— Alex, Sylvan, and Jazzy