On January 30, our world was turned upside down with what we thought would be a routine doctor's appointment. In just over a month, on March 4, my husband was officially diagnosed with a rare, high grade splenic marginal zone lymphoma.  The speed at which everything changed has left our family reeling and unprepared. After serving our country for 20 years, he is now facing the true fight of his life. As a family, we are preparing for a long and challenging journey through treatment, filled with uncertainty and worry. With two teenage children at home, the emotional and financial strain is overwhelming, but we are determined to stay strong for each other.  

As his primary caregiver, I am only able to work part-time, and our kids will also be stepping in to help care for their dad.   This is a significant hardship for them, as they are balancing school, caregiving, and the emotional toll of seeing their father so ill. On top of all of that we still have all of Rachel’s health concerns and medical appointments to worry about. My husband’s illness, and the fact that treatment started this week, will make it difficult for us to keep up with bills and provide for our kids as we normally would. The costs of medical care, daily living expenses, and simply putting food on the table will quickly add up as we’re at the very beginning of this cancer journey. Every day brings new challenges, but also hope that with the support of our community, we can get through this together.

We are reaching out to friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers for help during this difficult time. Any support—whether it’s a donation or sharing our story—will make a meaningful difference for our family. We are deeply grateful for your kindness and generosity as we face this challenge together.