Please Help Evan Marquit Fight Pancreatic Cancer

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To receive updates from Evan and Lollie and join the conversation about his battle please subscribe to https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/evan-marquit .


Please consider supporting our dear friend Evan and his family (wife Lollie, kids Sadie and Julian, and dog Luna) as they battle his recent cancer diagnosis.  Some odd skin lesions  noticed at the beginning of 2020, along with recent, unexpected weight loss, have now been identified as telling symptoms of Evan’s worst nightmare.  He has been diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer that has metastasized to his liver, some lymph nodes and a vertebra.

There is some good news: Neuroendocrine tumors generally grow more slowly and respond better to treatment than “standard” pancreatic cancer does. Evan has been incredibly stoic and upbeat despite discovering his new health challenges.  He’s thankful that he and Lollie have been able to assemble a great medical team combining mainstream western medicine with other healing methods to help him address his rare form of pancreatic cancer. He is not suffering physical pain.  He has the love and support of family and friends.  Though he has just begun treatment, he’s bringing a positive disposition to the task at hand.

Coincident with his devastating diagnosis, just as he was about to take a disability leave, Evan was recently laid off from work.  The layoff was due to the slowing of the economy and had nothing to do with Evan’s health.  Nonetheless, Evan has been the primary breadwinner for his family, so this layoff creates a devastating blow to their family’s economic stability.  The layoff also means his former employer is no longer contributing to the family’s health insurance premiums.  Health insurance has never been so critically important and yet so expensive for the Marquit family.

Fortunately, Evan has always had passions beyond his career.  He’s a very accomplished musician who plays several instruments, though he especially loves keyboards. He has spent the last several years jamming Grateful Dead covers with his bar band, Wound Up Rooster.  He also loves bombing down single track mountain bike trails and telemark skiing.  He’s a devoted husband and inspiring father to two teenagers and loves volunteering to help coach their high school mountain bike racing team.  While he still has energy for music, his world has abruptly changed.  For anyone who has ever experienced cancer either personally or through a close loved one, you know that the diagnosis is all-encompassing and it impacts every facet of your life.  Once diagnosed, you enter this alternate reality and at times it can feel like your old world and old self have been left behind.  Your time is consumed with numerous doctor visits, lab tests, body scans and of course nights spent researching new and unfamiliar topics.  It’s an exhausting place to be — physically, mentally and emotionally.

The money we’re raising will be used to cover the extra expenses associated with being sick and also to help offset the family’s loss of income.  Raising a family in the Bay Area is expensive, and the disability payments Evan is now receiving (combined with Lollie’s business income, which has also been impacted by the pandemic slowdown) do not begin to cover their expenses.  Evan is not able to work, but the bills keep coming due, just as Sadie is applying to college and the engine on the family’s formerly trusty pickup decided to start failing at 267,000 miles.  We want to establish a safety net to keep their current misfortune from spiraling further. 

Evan has a serious diagnosis that will keep him out of work for the foreseeable future. Fighting this cancer is Evan’s new, full time job. At a time when they should be fully focused on Evan’s health, his family is distracted by monetary stress.  While money cannot cure Evan’s cancer, our community can serve collectively as Evan and Lollie’s cheerleaders and help alleviate some of the financial burdens that they are facing.  It is during our darkest times when friendship shines a most needed light.  If you can help shine your light on the Marquit family, we and they will be forever grateful.  All contributions are appreciated, large or small, and can be made online or mailed directly to:

Evan and Laura Marquit
115 Morningside Drive
San Anselmo, CA 94960

We want Evan back out on the mountain with his bike and skis, not staring at a mountain of debt.  Thanks for being part of Evan’s support team.  

Read about Evan’s progress and subscribe to updates: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/evan-marquit