Our dear friend, brother, son, husband, Josh Duffy (a.k.a., just Duffy), has been diagnosed with Plasmablastic Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma--a rare, aggressive blood cancer that has reared its ugly head suddenly and unexpectedly.

In the process of finding out his diagnosis, Duffy and his wife, Nancy, have also discovered that they're not covered under the insurance they've been paying for. Said insurance hasn't covered any diagnostics whatsoever, and the Duffy's have had to pay out-of-pocket for every PET scan, MRI, and biopsy. So far, each scan is approx. $4k, and every oncology appointment approx. $2k. In the last few weeks, they've paid over $60,000 out-of-pocket simply to find out what kind of cancer and what specific treatments lie ahead.

The dramatic and sudden onset has left Duffy unable to work his normal, physically demanding job. The unknowns around sick leave, disability pay, and the bureaucratic paperwork battles that lie ahead have yet to be answered, but its imperative that Duffy move ahead with treatment immediately.

Additionally, Nancy's work as an independent contractor sadly disqualifies her from Paid Family Leave, and her current work contract will still mean that she has to work full-time while caring for Duffy.

Having to sell everything, move to a cheaper apartment upstate, max out credit cards and accounts isn't something anyone should have to worry about when their loved one is facing this kind of illness. Sadly that's the reality that Nancy and Duffy are faced with alongside a devastating diagnosis.

It's going to be a long road, and an especially rough next few weeks as Duffy starts an aggressive chemo treatment in NYC alongside hospital stays, and a litany of tests and biopsies to further determine the course of treatment. Each paid for out of pocket.

To know Josh Duffy, known to most of us as Duffy is to love him.

To know Nancy and Duffy is to know boundless joy and optimism. I've been lucky to call them friends for 11 years. We met as new transplants to NYC, all of us bright eyed and optimistic with dreams and aspirations far beyond our humble beginnings, it turned out to be the perfect recipe for a lasting friendship.

Nancy and Duffy don't believe in impossible. They met in South Africa and fell headfirst straight in love, even though Duffy lived thousands of miles away in London. A very long distance relationship ensued that ended in an ultimatum: No more goodbyes. That was Nancy's marriage proposal. She was moving to New York, and that meant he was coming too.

Through all of New York's ups and downs they've been there for each other, a dream job gained, a dream job lost, a pandemic, a wedding in South Africa, through all of the best and worst decisions. They were always there for me too. The door was always open. Nancy and Duffy would give you the clothes off their back (and often did), the keys to the Lanny or their apartment for as long as you needed it. In times of distress it was an invitation to share a bottle of wine and home cooked meal that would usually end the next day after falling asleep on the couch. I've never known more generous people and will spend a lifetime repaying their kindness.

So I'm hoping to help them now that they're the ones in need.

Duffy would do anything for the people he loves. Now it's time for the people who love Duffy to show him the same. Please consider helping to lighten the load for two incredible humans who have done so much to help others. Every dollar counts, and if you can't contribute financially, please share wherever you can.

We love you, Duff.

Go get 'em.

**Please give Nancy and Duffy space to process this life-changing news, I'll be updating this page with any new information as it's received. **