For the past three years, it has been just the two of us. After losing Owen’s mother, we spent a long time navigating the quiet, difficult process of healing. We moved in with Owen’s grandfather so I could save up and try and get on my own feet again. Slowly but surely, the day to day became a little easier, I worked as much as I could with the goal of a car and our own place again. After two years of navigating through a single parent family, we finally reached a point where we began catching glimpses of the light at the end of the tunnel, we were looking toward the future again. We were finally rebuilding our lives. But just as we were finding our footing, our world was turned upside down. On Thanksgiving Day, Owen began getting sick. After weeks of hospital visits, ER trips, and agonizing uncertainty, we received the diagnosis on January 17th: medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer.

Life has moved at lightning speed since that day. Owen underwent brain surgery on January 22nd. Afterward it took two weeks in the hospital for him to learn how to walk and talk again. After only 8 days of being home, we were sent halfway across the state to stay at a Ronald McDonald House while he completed intensive radiation five days a week, for two full months. He perservered through each day of radiation like a soldier, and we're back home now. Currently, we have a few week break before he starts a 9 to 11 month long regiment of Chemotherapy.

Through it all, Owen has shown a strength that humbles me, and makes me so very proud to be his Dad. But as a single father, the reality of a medical crisis is that when I am at his side, I cannot be at work. I had to step away from my job in the first week of December to be there for every test, scan, surgery, and every difficult night. I am Owen’s only parent, and right now, taking care of him and making him as comfortable as he can while he bravely faces what's in front of him is my highest priority—but I’ve realized what an incredible challenge it will be to do it alone.

With almost a year worth of treatment still ahead of him, I am reaching out for a helping hand from the community, in the hopes of alleviating some of life's lesser burdons.

That way I can make absolutely certain, that I'll always have a helping hand ready to give him as he faces such hardship.

This fund isn't just for bills; it is a "Caregiver Fund" that allows me to stay by his side. Your donations will go directly toward reliable, accessible transportation for Owen’s appointments, a year of stability for our living expenses, and nutrition and urgent needs as he undergoes treatment. Any funds raised beyond our immediate survival will be placed in a dedicated savings account for Owen’s future. Whether it’s a donation, kind thoughts, or simply sharing our story, I am so grateful for your kindness. After everything we have already lost, I am doing everything in my power to make sure my son has the stable, healthy future he deserves.

I'm sure most parents speak highly of their children, but Owen is such a bright, hilarious, sweet hearted, young man, who - I believe - will one day make quite an impact on this world... or maybe on another.