Lance Kicks Lymphoma
Donation protected
This is my dad Lance. On Fathers Day June 15th 2014, a few hours before my sister Emma and I were supposed to take him out for dinner and a movie, he called to tell me he was at the hospital. He said he was having a follow up on a swollen lymphnode in his thigh that had been bothering him for a couple of weeks. While checking him in, the nurse discovered his lung didn't sound right. She then ordered a chest xray immediately. The xray came back and his entire left lung was opaque. His lung was filled to the brim with fluid, and it had pushed his heart over into the other side of his chest. A cat scan was ordered and everything after that seemed to happen very quickly. I've never experienced anything quite like sitting in a room with someone you love more than the World and having a doctor tell you his body is full of cancer. Its pretty Earth shattering, to say the least. You feel like the wind has been knocked out of you and you hope that at any moment you will wake up from this nightmare. Only you don't. We were whisked away to a room where we spent the next week. After several biopsies, a surgery, 10 lbs of fluid drained from his lung, and what seemed like endless poking and prodding, the doctors diagnosed him with stage 4 non-hodgkins follicular lymphoma. He started on chemo just 5 days after going in for a check up. His prognosis is good, however the medical bills are not.
Chances are you probably know Lance. Sometimes it seems like everyone does. He was born and raised in Seattle and began photographing the local music scene at the age of 13. Earning a reputation with his energetic and honest photographs, Lance got involved in some of the most legendary musical movements Seattle had to offer, including working as the official photographer for Pearl Jam in the 1990’s. His work can be found in some of your favorite albums, in museums and galleries around the country, and in any music publication you can think of. In the 2000s he took some time off from photography to travel the world with his own band, Seattle punk spectacular The Briefs. And in recent years he has spent time engrossed in a wide array of projects from curating installations for Nordstrom to traveling to Nepal and documenting the grass roots Sherpa cultural identity for their 2012 Spring catalog ‘Sherpa Adventure Gear’.
Lance has been in recovery for over 10 years and one of his greatest passions in life is extending the hand of service to help others in need. He has worked cloesly with the MusiCares foundation to assist other artists struggling with addiction. He's helped countless individuals on the road to recovery and he is always there. Whether its to offer a place to stay, a ride, an ear to listen, or advice. Now its time for us to be there for him.
Lance is not the type to ask for help, so we are asking for him. And like many artists, who have dedicated their lives to a creative calling, he is without insurance. Cancer sucks enough but not being able to afford the treatment sucks worse. Lets help take one thing off his plate so he can focus on kicking some lymphoma ass. If you have anything to give, it will help, I promise.
Thanks and love to you all!
*Due to the OVERWHELMING support and those who have expressed interest in contributing in the coming weeks we have opened our goal to allow additional donations. Words cannot express our gratitude. Thank you <3
Lance has been in recovery for over 10 years and one of his greatest passions in life is extending the hand of service to help others in need. He has worked cloesly with the MusiCares foundation to assist other artists struggling with addiction. He's helped countless individuals on the road to recovery and he is always there. Whether its to offer a place to stay, a ride, an ear to listen, or advice. Now its time for us to be there for him.
Lance is not the type to ask for help, so we are asking for him. And like many artists, who have dedicated their lives to a creative calling, he is without insurance. Cancer sucks enough but not being able to afford the treatment sucks worse. Lets help take one thing off his plate so he can focus on kicking some lymphoma ass. If you have anything to give, it will help, I promise.
Thanks and love to you all!
*Due to the OVERWHELMING support and those who have expressed interest in contributing in the coming weeks we have opened our goal to allow additional donations. Words cannot express our gratitude. Thank you <3
Organizer
Mackenzie A. Mercer
Organizer
Seattle, WA
