Support Ray's Battle Against Lymphoma

Dear friends—both known and yet unknown,

I’m reaching out with a tender heart and a fierce love for my husband, Ray.

Ray has recently been diagnosed with Lymphoma (DLBCL + EBV), and we are now walking through a season of profound change. As we move through this time together, our hope is simple and essential: to keep Ray at home, surrounded by care, comfort, and the familiar rhythms of our life. But with both of us unable to work—and medical and daily expenses growing—we’re asking for your support to help carry us through.

Medical Context

During an ER visit due to finding blood in his urine, Ray was hospitalized for 6 days. During that time, he was placed with a full-time catheter, bilateral ureteral stents (double kidney stents), and a biopsy that removed 3 enlarged lymph nodes. Since coming home, he had a bone marrow biopsy, is scheduled for a permanent port, and is prepping for 6 months of chemotherapy.

Who Ray Is

Ray is, at his core, a gentle force. He has met life’s hardships with quiet grit and a capacity for compassion that touches everyone he meets.

In his twenties, he survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He recovered from a devastating accident where he was struck by a car, and just last summer, he navigated an occipital lobe stroke with grace. His body has endured more than its fair share. And still—through every hardship—Ray’s kindness and humor, his deep love for his family, and his reverence for storytelling have never wavered.

Ray grew up in a family of loggers and later found his way into accounting. He also has a creative spirit. His photography—whether portraits of friends or quiet, candid street scenes—reveals something essential in people. Through his lens, strangers become known. Ordinary moments become sacred.

More than anything, Ray is a devoted husband, son, and uncle. He’s the keeper of family stories. The one who makes sure everyone feels included. His deepest concern is, and always has been, the well-being of those he loves.

The Road We’ve Been On

The past year has brought challenge after challenge. I had an emergency appendectomy that led to a long, complicated recovery. Just as I was finding my footing, Ray had a stroke while out of state, requiring extensive aftercare. Our insurance fell heartbreakingly short, and the medical bills began to mount. I lost my job at the end of the year while caring for him, drained my savings, and haven’t had stable income since.

And now, with this new diagnosis, we’re facing the most difficult chapter yet. We are doing everything we can to meet it with love, presence, dignity, and grace.

How You Can Help

Your support will help us in these essential ways:

A Gift from the Heart

If Ray’s story resonates with you—if you’ve known illness, loss, deep love, or the fragile beauty of life—your donation, healing vibes, and even your willingness to share this story are gifts that mean more than we can say.

We are held together right now by love and the kindness of others. Thank you for being part of that circle. Thank you for seeing Ray, for honoring his life, and for helping us make the most of our time together.

With deep gratitude and a full heart,

Heather