Cullen’s Cancer Fight

Dear family, friends, and supporters,

It’s with a heavy heart that we share the news that Cullen Pickens needs your help. What began as a few mild symptoms in early June rapidly progressed to multiple ER trips, limited mobility, surgeries, and an unimaginable diagnosis….cancer at 31 years old. Despite his otherwise seemingly healthy appearance, Cullen has been diagnosed with a high-grade Sarcoma mass in his pelvis that is the cause of Cullen’s problems. Not only has it metastasized to his liver and possibly his lungs, but it’s also an incredibly rare form of Sarcoma that is proving difficult to fully diagnose, making the optimal treatment tactic difficult to discern.

For someone who thought he’d been doing all the right things (college degree with no debt, saving for a house and retirement, etc.), working his dream job in his dream location in Colorado, and having just found the right girl, the news is devastating. Suddenly, all of his years of planning and waiting seemed to crumble before him, and he couldn’t even retreat to his beloved mountains for solace. But, as a testament to his character, instead of being afraid for hinself, he bacame fearful of how it may impact his loved ones.

Anyone who knows Cullen knows that his light cannot be easily dimmed. Despite the challenges he’s facing, Cullen continues to be his exuberant cheerful self, making jokes and always paying more attention to those around him than himself. Cullen is prepared to fight but, unfortunately, that’s only part of the battle. Large medical bills are quickly accumulating, while his disability and insurance are rapidly running out. The location of the pelvic mass only allows him to lie down, creating further expenses and difficulties when transporting him to his treatments. He is fortunate to be beginning his second cycle of chemotherapy, but the aggressiveness of his cancer calls for a hefty chemotherapy plan that requires him to be hospitalized 5-7 days every cycle. He still has 3-4 more months to go and likely more tests and treatments ahead of him. Due to the difficulty of diagnosing the cancer, we’re also having to consult with Memorial Sloan Kettering to figure out what subtype of Sarcoma he has in the hopes that we are undergoing the optimal treatment plans. But, this will require additional medical expenses of more biopsies, scans, and genomic sequencing. His dream location is also working against him, as alternative housing options that are more accessible and proper for his care needs are unaffordable, even under normal circumstances. We’re doing everything we can to keep him in Colorado with his medical team and everything he’s worked so hard for and his fiance.

Anyone can tell you that cancer is not something easily fought alone. We’re blessed by those who have already shown support through thoughts, prayers, and gifts, and kindly invite you to continue showing love and support to Cullen on his journey.