Cancer Relief Fund for Tristan Tafes

If you’ve been to Zipolite in recent months, you’ve probably noticed Tristan walking up and down the beach in a thong selling bathing suits on a stick. I bought a crocheted speedo from him a few weeks ago, and the next thing I knew, we were in love.

Tristan is unlike anyone I know. He has the warmest smile, and he is always smiling. His love of life radiates from him. He finds meaning in everything. He has a beautiful spiritual life. He is sweet and kind and generous. He loves animals and they love him. He makes me laugh everyday.

Shortly after we met, I noticed a large lump on Tristan’s shoulder. Tristan told me he is a survivor of rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that primarily affects children. He has a scar on his shoulder in the same place where the lump now grows from where a tumor was removed when he was a year and a half old.

Tristan told me this new growth has gotten progressively larger over the last few months. He initially mistook it for a muscle knot. That gave way to feelings of denial as a cancer survivor. Finally he saw the local doctor at the pharmacy in Zipolite about two weeks ago.

Access to medical care in rural Oaxaca isn’t great. Tristan had to go to Pochutla, the largest town in the region, for an ultrasound. A doctor told him he needs to get the growth removed immediately and that it is likely a recurrence of his cancer. Tristan went to the hospital but was denied care because the staff was on strike. It was then he realized his life in Zipolite was untenable.

Tristan lived in CDMX his whole life. Like many who come to Zipolite, he found its allure irresistible. In September of last year, Tristan left his job working for Mexico City’s government, sold nearly all of his possessions, including most of his clothing, and moved to Mazunte, the village neighboring Zipolite. A lifelong fan of “Survivor,” Tristan lived in a tent at an ashram with his cat, Gizmo in the mountains above Mazunte. He lived a modest and simple lifestyle on about 300 pesos a day, approximately $15 USD.

This week, Tristan made the difficult decision to return home to Mexico City, where he has family and he can access a much higher quality of care.

Tristan’s family will support him in any way they can, however they do not have money. They offered Tristan a room that is currently used as a small closet in a home where multiple family members and unrelated renters live. Beyond the devastation of this recurrence of cancer, Tristan’s entire life is being upended. He never wanted to return to Mexico City. He belongs in Zipolite.

I am helping Tristan out as much as I can, but I cannot do it alone. I have rented Tristan (and Gizmo) an Airbnb in Mexico City through the end of the month. He needs his own space for rest and recovery and to sustain his mental health. 

Tristan has created a minimum budget for one year that totals about $15,000 USD. Money that we raise will be used for the following:

Tristan will meet with doctors this week and hopefully get his tumor removed. Right now, he is unsure what his treatment will be and doesn’t know if he will be able to work. 

Rent in CDMX has soared as many Americans and other foreigners have flooded into the city to take advantage of the culture and the Mexico’s weak currency. (Also like many people who work in Zipolite, Tristan was priced out of living there.)

It is important to Tristan to have his own space and not get trapped back in his old life. Tristan hopes to get treatment and make a full recovery to be back in Zipolite selling bathing suits by the start of the next tourist season.

The American dollar goes far in Mexico. I hope to raise at least $15,000 USD for Tristan to live as comfortable a life as he possibly can during this challenging time. 

GoFundMe does not operate in Mexico, so I will collect the money for Tristan and make a bank transfer to him at the conclusion of this campaign. I will post evidence of this for the sake of transparency. We will also post updates about Tristan’s prognosis.

Please help this wonderful person if you can.