Help Dylan Fight Terminal Cancer
Donation protected
Dylan Mackey was always tough, resilient, and a fighter. He spent his childhood watching and playing sports and hanging out with his friends. As a huge Patriots and Arizona Wildcat fan, Dylan lived and breathed football and would later go on to play for his junior college. The most recent excitements in Dylan’s life were his managerial promotion and his engagement to the love of his life, Kerra, who he has been dating for over seven years. Dylan and Kerra had set their wedding date for March 13, 2015 and began planning their wedding, dreaming of their future family, and making plans for their life together, until, one day last April, they received the news that Dylan’s brain is speckled with malignant masses. Dylan was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
Dylan used to be young, bright, fit, and healthy too. Like many young men in their thirties wouldn’t, Dylan never worried about the severe headaches he experienced over many months, chalking them up to old football injuries or post-work exhaustion. However, when the headaches became unbearable, Dylan went in to the hospital to undergo what would be the first of many MRIs to come. The initial scan revealed masses in Dylan’s brain. Hoping for a miracle or the masses to be benign, Dylan’s fiancé, Kerra, fell to her knees overcome with grief when the biopsy revealed that the masses in Dylan’s brain were malignant, Multiforme Glioblastoma.
Despite their shock at the horrific news, Dylan and Kerra were determined to battle his cancer. Their love for each other would be the cornerstone of their strength and together they would fight to save him.
“Two hearts one soul” continued to be their motto as Kerra lay in the hospital bed next to her fiancé listening to soft harp instrumentals playing in the background, while Dylan tried to manage the pain of his headaches and contemplated what the cancer meant for their limited days ahead.
Dylan has since undergone intense radiation to his brain, followed by months of different forms of chemotherapy treatment, during which Dylan continued working full time. Fiancé Kerra also continued working full time at a local behavioral health agency serving underprivileged children and their families, as well as continuing to uphold her 4.0 GPA in her Master’s program in Therapy. They planned for their wedding, regardless of everything.
Despite the treatment team’s best efforts, it has become more apparent that tragically, the tumor is winning. Kerra’s worst nightmare is becoming her reality as the man she knows and loves slips away as Dylan is now unable to remember basic short term information such as, which day it is, or which events have taken place in his day. Most recently, Dylan was excited for an upcoming Arizona basketball game against Michigan and was given tickets as a gift. Dylan was thrilled to be in the stadium where he grew up watching his favorite team play once again. Following the game, as Kerra and Dylan sat in their living room Kerra was greeted with the question, “so when are we leaving to the game?” after Dylan read on his reminder board that he was to attend the Arizona Basketball game that day. Dylan is now living in a state of constant confusion. Kerra is watching Dylan’s brain slowly overcome by tumors.
Now, Dylan spends most of his day in bed as he is becoming progressively weaker both physically and mentally. The most recent scans have revealed that one tumor in particular is more aggressive and not responding to the chemotherapy as his doctors had hoped. The location of the tumors renders them inoperable and another round of radiation would be futile due to the damage radiation itself would cause his brain.
At a loss, the treatment team deferred to a clinical trial as the next option to battle Dylan’s cancer. However, his loved ones were informed last week that he does not qualify to participate in any clinical trials either. At this point, Dylan’s sole treatment option is limited to continuing the chemotherapy already known to be insufficient.
Grief stricken does not begin to describe the emotions felt by this couple who are so deeply in love. Now, they both prepare themselves in their own ways for the loss of his life. And while fiancé Kerra continues to lay by his side daily, becoming his caregiver and attending every appointment and treatment, she knowingly watches him slip away for good.
Kerra herself is faced with the harsh reality of medical bills, financial aid, Dylan’s recent job/income loss, and time away from work herself to care for him. This fundraiser is a plea for prayers for strength and peace, as Dylan, and his loved ones continue to treasure each of his limited days with us on here on earth. Dylan and Kerra are in dire financial straits. The bills continue to pile as Kerra debates whether to spend the precious moments left with Dylan or at work to provide for them. The burden is too much for her to bear alone as hard as she works to do so. If you are touched by Dylan and Kerra’s love story and feel compelled to help, please share to help fundraise and/or donate to lighten the financial burden and stress as much as possible. Any small amount helps and would be greatly appreciated by this sweet, young couple during their time of great trial.
Dylan used to be young, bright, fit, and healthy too. Like many young men in their thirties wouldn’t, Dylan never worried about the severe headaches he experienced over many months, chalking them up to old football injuries or post-work exhaustion. However, when the headaches became unbearable, Dylan went in to the hospital to undergo what would be the first of many MRIs to come. The initial scan revealed masses in Dylan’s brain. Hoping for a miracle or the masses to be benign, Dylan’s fiancé, Kerra, fell to her knees overcome with grief when the biopsy revealed that the masses in Dylan’s brain were malignant, Multiforme Glioblastoma.
Despite their shock at the horrific news, Dylan and Kerra were determined to battle his cancer. Their love for each other would be the cornerstone of their strength and together they would fight to save him.
“Two hearts one soul” continued to be their motto as Kerra lay in the hospital bed next to her fiancé listening to soft harp instrumentals playing in the background, while Dylan tried to manage the pain of his headaches and contemplated what the cancer meant for their limited days ahead.
Dylan has since undergone intense radiation to his brain, followed by months of different forms of chemotherapy treatment, during which Dylan continued working full time. Fiancé Kerra also continued working full time at a local behavioral health agency serving underprivileged children and their families, as well as continuing to uphold her 4.0 GPA in her Master’s program in Therapy. They planned for their wedding, regardless of everything.
Despite the treatment team’s best efforts, it has become more apparent that tragically, the tumor is winning. Kerra’s worst nightmare is becoming her reality as the man she knows and loves slips away as Dylan is now unable to remember basic short term information such as, which day it is, or which events have taken place in his day. Most recently, Dylan was excited for an upcoming Arizona basketball game against Michigan and was given tickets as a gift. Dylan was thrilled to be in the stadium where he grew up watching his favorite team play once again. Following the game, as Kerra and Dylan sat in their living room Kerra was greeted with the question, “so when are we leaving to the game?” after Dylan read on his reminder board that he was to attend the Arizona Basketball game that day. Dylan is now living in a state of constant confusion. Kerra is watching Dylan’s brain slowly overcome by tumors.
Now, Dylan spends most of his day in bed as he is becoming progressively weaker both physically and mentally. The most recent scans have revealed that one tumor in particular is more aggressive and not responding to the chemotherapy as his doctors had hoped. The location of the tumors renders them inoperable and another round of radiation would be futile due to the damage radiation itself would cause his brain.
At a loss, the treatment team deferred to a clinical trial as the next option to battle Dylan’s cancer. However, his loved ones were informed last week that he does not qualify to participate in any clinical trials either. At this point, Dylan’s sole treatment option is limited to continuing the chemotherapy already known to be insufficient.
Grief stricken does not begin to describe the emotions felt by this couple who are so deeply in love. Now, they both prepare themselves in their own ways for the loss of his life. And while fiancé Kerra continues to lay by his side daily, becoming his caregiver and attending every appointment and treatment, she knowingly watches him slip away for good.
Kerra herself is faced with the harsh reality of medical bills, financial aid, Dylan’s recent job/income loss, and time away from work herself to care for him. This fundraiser is a plea for prayers for strength and peace, as Dylan, and his loved ones continue to treasure each of his limited days with us on here on earth. Dylan and Kerra are in dire financial straits. The bills continue to pile as Kerra debates whether to spend the precious moments left with Dylan or at work to provide for them. The burden is too much for her to bear alone as hard as she works to do so. If you are touched by Dylan and Kerra’s love story and feel compelled to help, please share to help fundraise and/or donate to lighten the financial burden and stress as much as possible. Any small amount helps and would be greatly appreciated by this sweet, young couple during their time of great trial.
Organizer
Christine Ross Sevier
Organizer
Tucson, AZ