Help Chantel Fight Cancer

Chantel Nelson was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at the age of 35.

Late last summer, Chantel began having stomach pains. At first, it was dismissed as indigestion brought on by anxiety, but it continued to worsen. In January of this year, she had an ultrasound that looked suspicious. After many tests in Bellingham and Seattle, on March 1st, she met with a GI oncologist who diagnosed her with stage 4 colon cancer that has metastasized into her liver, ovaries, some lymph nodes and peritoneum. This cancer is incurable but treatable, meaning that Chantal will have cancer for the rest of her life.

Her first round of chemotherapy started Monday, March 18ᵗʰ, and she will undergo treatment for six months, with additional CT scans every two months to help track progress and ensure her specific cancer cocktail continues to work. She hopes to be eligible for several surgeries and procedures to improve her chances of beating this cancer back into remission, which is difficult with colorectal cancer but not impossible. The average prognosis for people with Chantel's diagnosis is three years.

Fortunately, Chantel is well above average and intends to beat back her cancer until a cure is found. She travels to Seattle because local providers couldn't get her in as quickly as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center could. Chantel has health insurance through the exchange, which should cover most of her treatment. Still, medical bills have already started to arrive. Heron has cut back their work hours and has reduced the number of new clients they will take on to ensure they can take care of Chantel, drive her to and from doctor appointments in Seattle, support Alex throughout this scary process, and also spend as much time as possible with their family.

Chantel and Heron have always opened their homes and hearts to those who needed assistance, welcoming people to stay with them, making food for folks in need, and even giving their tent and camping gear to someone forced to live outside in the elements. Their generosity is always exceptional. Given the opportunity, we hope that all the people who love them will rally around them in whatever way they can.

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For those that have met Chantel & Heron but maybe don’t know their whole story we thought we would share a little of it as well as what is happening with her cancer. Thank you so much for your love and support!

Chantel and Heron met through their mutual friend, Rae. Their chemistry was instant, and so they began dating. When their paths diverged, Heron went to school at UW, and Chantel remained in Bellingham, where she took the time she needed to heal from her past divorce and recenter herself. Though no longer a couple, the two kept in touch. When Heron returned from studying in Spain and finishing their degree, they reconnected, and their friendship grew; their love blossomed. In each other, they found partners supportive enough to share their dreams and steadfast enough to work toward their goals.

And so they began building their lives together. As their partnership grew stronger and deeper, they felt ready to expand their family in a way that supported the community. Both Chantel and Heron have benefitted from community support growing up - helpful neighbors, family friends, and extended family filled in gaps throughout their childhood and teen years. With this in mind, they dedicated themselves to learning everything about supporting families and children in the foster care system, and being a safe place for kids experiencing hardship and instability. Little did they know, they would meet their now son, Alex. They worked hard as a team to create a welcoming home for any child who needed one, whether temporary or long-term. In May of 2020, they welcomed a 7-year-old to their home and supported her in reuniting with her family, and in August of 2020, they learned there was a teen who seemed like a good match and was looking for a long-term LGBTQ foster family. This is how Alex joined their family. He worked hard to graduate from high school in his new, safe, supportive home and with his new family's love, attention, and encouragement. He is currently a student at Whatcom Community College.

A few years ago, Chantel, who ran the kitchen and dietary program at St. Francis for over a decade, was let go due to organizational restructuring. She took some time to figure out what she wanted to do next. Having always been interested in computers and technology, she pursued computer science, focusing on web security. Although Heron was in the early stages of their chosen career as a doula, the two bravely decided Chantel should return to school. And so they continued sharing their dreams and working towards their goals. Heron and Chantel were married on March 25ᵗʰ, 2021, on Chantel's birthday. They just were able to celebrate Chantel's 36ᵗʰ birthday and three years of marriage.

This brings their story to the present day. Chantel has just two quarters of school until she graduates with a four-year degree. She also has a part-time job at Anvil Corporation, which has the potential to develop into a long-term position. Meanwhile, Heron has found their niche in the community, providing support and education for families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.