Help Chris Beat Cancer!!

A few months ago my husband Chris was diagnosed with HPV positive Tonsil Cancer, which is a type of head and neck cancer. Fortunately, the cancer has not yet spread to the rest of his body, however, it has created complications with eating, swallowing, and speaking.

His prognosis is good, and we found there were a few treatment options available. We had hoped to get approved for surgery but unfortunately were advised by several surgeons that the tumor had grown too large and had connected to his jaw muscles and soft palate which would make the procedure too risky.

After getting several local opinions and researching the best treatments, we decided the best path would be to travel to Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN in order to receive Proton Radiation Therapy. This treatment will take 7 weeks.

Proton therapy is a type of radiation that uses protons, tiny particles with positive charge, to target cancer cells and spare healthy tissue. This type of radiation has the same survival rate as traditional radiation, but with far fewer side effects.

The goal for Chris is to get an effective life-saving treatment that will help him get back to (or close to) the same quality of life he has now. He is only 45 and has many years ahead of him!

The struggle we are facing is that he has to take several months, up to a year away from work. The medical bills are already adding up, along with the cost of traveling and living away from home for two or three months. In Addition, we are currently fighting with his insurance company to get coverage for proton therapy.

If you know Chris you know he is not one to ask for help, but is the first one to help when someone else needs it. He is the most hardworking, strong, and resilient person I have ever known, and I know we can get through this with a little help from our friends and family. Many of you have asked us how you can help, so I decided to create this fundraiser for him! We understand not everyone is in a position to send money, but if you are able to help us (any amount would be greatly appreciated!) we would be eternally grateful!

Shay & Chris