Support the Freyberg family

With permission from Bryan and Meryl, we are creating this Go Fund Me to help support the family during this difficult time.

In January 2025, Bryan was diagnosed with a rare cancer called gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), which has spread to his liver. While rare and incurable (for now at least!), there are people who live with GIST, so we remain hopeful. For treatment, he has started Imatinib, which is a type of chemo without IV or hospitalization but still has the adverse effects of a weakened immune system, nausea, and depleted energy.

Fortunately, he is on a three-month paid leave from work while they adjust to the news and lifestyle of fighting cancer while raising a family. Being on a yearly academic contract, they are uncertain of his employment status after this summer.

Meryl and Bryan are scared and devastated for their girls and the path ahead for all of them. They know many of you are scared too, for Bryan, for their girls, for Meryl, and for yourselves. They know you love Bryan, and they thank you for holding him in your thoughts (and for still giving him shit because he wants to feel normal).

That said, many of you have asked how you can help or support the family at this time and into the future. We are setting up this Go Fund Me to receive any financial support their community wants to provide them to maintain as normal a life as possible and prepare for the unknown financial impacts of this diagnosis.

Your generous contributions will go towards making family memories, like a trip to the Grand Canyon in April, equipment and supplies to try to keep their family as healthy as possible (air purifiers for home, classroom, etc.), kids activities or childcare when they need to focus their attention on Bryan’s medical care, and potentially longer-term support for the girls.

Bryan’s biggest fear is not being able to provide for his family as a result of this diagnosis. If you are so moved to lessen that burden, please make a donation and know that it will go directly to Meryl and Bryan*.

For updates on Bryan’s health, please refer to the CaringBridge site:

https://www.caringbridge.org/site/116b8ce0-cad4-11ef-b5ff-7d02daf8e00e

Thank you for your support,

Heather & Allison

*Note: a transaction fee (2.9% + $0.30 per donation in the US) will be applied to all donations. These fees include debit and credit charges and help to ensure your funds are processed securely.