My kind-hearted brother-in-law Julian is battling a rare and pernicious form of cancer. After 20+ years working as a mental-health therapist to college students, Julian struck out on his own to set up a private therapy practice just before his diagnosis. As as result, he and his family are lacking the kind of resources and support that big organizations often provide. What's more, Julian's wife - my big sister - is currently in graduate school to become a therapist herself, a mid-career change influenced in no small part to the example of Julian's work helping other people. Add two college-aged and high-school-aged daughters to the mix and it all combines to a very challenging period for Julian's family -- in terms of health, emotion, and yes financially too. This is where we ask for your help.

But first a little more about Julian. He grew up in Texas and Northern California. He's a life-long Astros fan, who found joy in their recent World Series victories (yes even including the scandal-ridden 2017 year, thank you very much). He's also a long-time adherent of the Bill James Baseball Abstract and could tell you about the WAR statistic long before Michael Lewis and Brad Pitt ever uttered the phrase Moneyball. He is an avid tennis player. He's an empathetic professional and father, who takes great pride in the accomplishments of his performing arts and sports-loving kids. He is also a sort of miracle consumer of food. He has been known to wake before dawn and create elaborate breakfasts composed of all manner of left-overs scrambled with eggs into omelettes of gargantuan size and unusual flavor. Needless to say, his appetite these days is not quite what it was a year ago.

Julian is currently undergoing treatment for Stage IV primary mediastinal non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He has braved several rounds of chemo and radiation and is now set to go through a stem-cell transplant. It's going to be delicate period during which Julian will not be able to work and treat his own patients. The doctors and we, his family, are hopeful.

We are asking for help. It's a cliche but any amount will help. Please consider giving $20 or $100 or more if you can. Even if you can't contribute now, we are deeply grateful for your consideration and reading this far to learn about Julian's story.