Help Calvin Beat Cancer!

Hello family, friends and loved ones!

A GoFundMe? What is going on?: 

Calvin was recently diagnosed with an olfactory neuroblastoma, a tumor in the nasal cavity. This is a rare form of cancer which the current ENT doctor has only seen a handful of times in 20 years of practice. Although it is a slow moving tumor, it does require surgery and additional follow up treatment. 

We are asking for your support as we go through this difficult time. 

History: 

Last summer Calvin started experiencing difficulty breathing through their right nostril and began the process of appointments and referrals. This led to an ENT appointment where it was discovered this was caused by a growth in the nasal cavity. Following a CT scan and a biopsy in early December it was determined it was cancerous. 

Since then Calvin has had a PET Scan, ruling out cancers in other parts of their body, and is currently awaiting an MRI Scan. 

Future Treatment: 

After an MRI scan is completed a surgery to remove the tumor will be scheduled. An ENT Surgeon along with a Neurosurgeon will remove part of Calvin's skull to access the nasal cavity and remove the tumor. This is tentatively scheduled to occur during late February/Early March. Following this Calvin will be out of work for several weeks and will most likely lose their sense of smell permanently. 

Additionally, it will soon be determined by the "Tumor Board" of the hospital if treatment with radiation or chemotherapy will be required post-surgery. It is also possible that the cancer could reappear at some point in the future and we will continue to have to monitor for symptoms for the rest of Calvin’s life. 

How you can help:

As we are all aware by now healthcare in America is expensive. Calvin is currently a part-time case manager and Erica is a small business owner. Along with the fears that would come along with any health issue there is the increased concern for financial safety during this time. Calvin will be out of work for a minimum of 4 weeks and Erica will likely need to spend time assisting them with caring for themselves. With this in mind we are reaching out to ask for financial support. 

The care itself has already cost over $1000, while we are working with insurance and hospital financial aid, Calvin being out of work for this long will severely impact our ability to pay our rent and other bills. 

We know money is tight for many, but if you are willing and able, anything you are able to provide would be helpful and extremely appreciated. If you'd like to donate via other platforms (Paypal/venmo/cashapp) please reach out to us via social media or other direct communication. 

If you'd like to help in other ways (Vegetarian meals during recovery, visiting, or well wishes) please feel free to reach out as well!

Thank you all for your love and support during this difficult time. From our family to yours, here's hoping for us all to have a healthy and happy rest of this year!

With love, Erica, Calvin and their Cats (Hector, Pigeon and Archibald)