Fundraiser for Lindsay & Michael Carfley

You've Got a Friend in "Penn State Pete"

There can be no doubt that the very core of Pete's being is his wife, Lindsay, and his son, Michael.  Right behind them though, is his alma mater Penn State and the (literally) 500 "Happy Valley" friends that he has amassed in the years since moving to State College at the age of 7.  To know Pete is to have a best friend who will always be there for you - like a brother, although his siblings, Steph and Dave, claim "dibs" on that!  He is the organizer, ringleader and all-around force behind all PSU football tailgates home or away, but much like the Penn State football team itself, Pete truly brings his "A" game for "White Out" games at Beaver Stadium.  On those special Saturdays, parking spaces 5010 and 5011 directly across the street from the Bryce Jordan Center along Curtain Road magically transform from an ordinary section of pavement to part rock concert, part dance party, part Mardi Gras/Mexican fiesta all rolled into one.  On occasion, Pete has even been known to lead a "White Out" themed Backstreet Boys lip synch performance (video to be shared at a later date - haha). 


The one constant of any Pete-led "409" tailgate though is that it is ALWAYS a reunion of friends who come from near and far and who know that they can stop by the tailgate at anytime to crack a beer and re-live memories of days gone by.  From State High classmates to former teammates to Penn State connections to law school colleagues to the scores of American Legion baseball players that Pete played with and coached, along with the friends and family of all of the above, to Pete, truly ALL are welcome.  And as fate would have it, Lindsay's family's tailgate is located just spaces away, resulting at times in what seems to be a repeat of Pete and Lindsay's amazing wedding reception in June of 2015 (minus the band Velveeta, unfortunately). 











Unquestionably, PSU tailgating is part of the Carfley and Strathmeyer family DNA.  Indeed, one of Pete's most ardent and pressing wishes is, with Lindsay, to bring Michael to a Penn State tailgate to meet all of the friends who have now become family and for Michael to see his very first PSU football game in Beaver Stadium, alongside cousins Cash and Tabyn. 


A more devoted father and husband, a more generous person and a better friend than Pete you will never find.  But now, he needs us.


The Diagnosis

Starting in late April/early May, in the midst of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Pete began experiencing abdominal pain which at times extended into his back. As the days wore on, the pain became increasingly more intense and persistent and rarely went away entirely. Beginning in early June, Pete and Lindsay started to seek out medical help to identify the cause of the pain. CT scans, a blood test and a biopsy revealed our worst fears.  Like a bolt of lightning seemingly coming from out of the blue, we learned that the pain Pete was experiencing was, in fact, caused by an advanced form of pancreatic cancer. 

This, after a very long and emotional journey with Michael, born on June 16, 2017, the day before Pete's own birthday and 2 days before Father's Day, weighing in at 1 pound, 1 ounce.  Michael lived the first 325 days of his life in the hospital, with most of that time spent in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, one of the finest children's hospitals in the country, if not the world.  Lindsay lived in the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia the entire time Michael was hospitalized at CHOP while Pete worked in Harrisburg and drove or took the train to Philadelphia every weekend and every other chance he could in between. 
We are thrilled to report that Michael is thriving under Pete and Lindsay's constant love and watchful supervision and just celebrated his third birthday.  Michael is truly a living miracle.  One look at him and you genuinely believe that anything is possible.  He inspires Pete, Lindsay and countless others every day to fight with all that we have, to never give up and to keep pushing even when the statistics may be stacked against us.  Collectively, we draw strength from him and plan to fight Pete's cancer with all we have from every angle possible.  


The Treatment

Thanks to a change in insurance through Pete's new employer, Capozzi Adler, Pete has the ability to receive treatment at the best pancreatic cancer clinic in the world, Johns Hopkins.  Pete's future resides in the very capable hands of his treatment team.  Pete and Lindsay met with the Hopkins team on July 14 and Pete's treatment plan is already moving forward.  His treatment will include:

1.  4 to 6 months of chemotherapy starting on July 22, with the chemotherapy being administered locally every 14 days for 5-6 hours per session.

2.  An immunotherapy clinical trial through Hopkins which will overlap the chemotherapy.

3.  5 days of intense radiation therapy to shrink the tumor further (after chemotherapy).

4.  Modified Appleby surgery to remove the tumor.

5.  2 more months of post-surgery chemotherapy as well as additional immunotherapy.


How You Can Help

We are assured that Pete is with the best of the best at Hopkins and that he will receive top notch care there.  Unfortunately, that care and the treatment that Pete needs comes at a cost.  By way of example, the co-pays for the medications that Pete needs to make the pain he is in even tolerable are over $200 each.  Additionally, Pete is the sole provider for his family.  When Michael was born, Lindsay gave up her job to be by his bedside every day, providing direct care, learning everything there was to know about Michael's medical conditions and constantly advocating for Michael's care and what was best for Michael.  While anyone who has met Michael knows of his indomitable spirit and his fierce determination, in many ways, Lindsay and Pete literally willed Michael to health with their unequivocal love and unfailing support.  Lindsay is committed to do the same for Pete now.  So, in addition to your continued love, support and encouragement of Pete, which are truly invaluable and for which we are endlessly grateful, we ask that you consider making a monetary donation to help ensure that Pete gets the care he needs and that Lindsay can be by Pete's side throughout his treatment, providing care for him while continuing to care for Michael's ongoing medical and developmental needs.  

As Lindsay succinctly summed it up, in this family we don't go down without a fight.  And, fight we will.

On behalf of all of Pete's family, thank you for helping to make Pete's wish come true.

XOXO