24 hours.

That’s how long it took for Dan’s entire life to disappear.

One day he was in Costa Rica, taking care of animals no one else wanted, helping people who were struggling find their way back to a better life, showing up for anyone who needed him.

The next day, he was on a plane to Toronto, being told he likely had cancer.

No time to prepare.

No time to wrap up his life.

No time to say goodbye.

Just go.

Dan is the person people call when things fall apart.

He’s worked on support lines helping people through addiction, guiding them toward rehab, and staying with them in some of their darkest moments.

Outside of work, he’s always been the same person.

The one who helps friends when they’re struggling.

The one who gives more than he has.

The one who sees what others overlook and steps in anyway.

And in Costa Rica, that extended to animals, too. Not the easy ones. The ones no one else wanted.

What He’s Facing:

Dan has now been diagnosed with stage 3 multiple myeloma, an aggressive blood and bone marrow cancer.

It has already caused severe damage to his body.

He has multiple fractures throughout his bones, with the worst being a mango-sized hole in his pelvis and a golf-ball-sized hole in his lower spine. He also has 3 broken ribs and lesions in every bone, causing constant, intense pain.

Basic movement is extremely difficult. Even resting is uncomfortable, and sleep is next to impossible.

Doctors have said they don’t fully understand how he is handling this level of pain.

But he is.

The Road Ahead:

Treatment has already begun, and it is intense.

Over a minimum of 8 months, Dan will go through:

weekly chemotherapy

radiation treatments

daily medications

immunotherapy

ongoing hospital procedures

a stem cell treatment, followed by a bone marrow transplant

This is everything, all at once.

And he is facing it head-on.

What Was Left Behind:

When Dan got on that plane, he didn’t just leave Costa Rica.

He left his entire life behind. His home is still there. So are the bills. So are the responsibilities.

At the same time, he now needs to secure a place to live in downtown Toronto, close to the hospital, while going through treatment.

Right now, that means paying for two lives at once.

He also left behind six cats he rescued and cared for:

Two blind and bonded, living with fear and anxiety, slowly learning to trust. They must stay together. [The female is Milo. The male is Quinn.]

Two incredibly affectionate cats who love human connection. [The female is Bebe. The male is Booboo.]

One independent indoor-outdoor cat with FIV who is self-sufficient. [Her name is Misa.]

One quirky, gentle cat who loves affection but prefers her own space. [Her name is Wendy.]

Friends are stepping in to help, but they still need stable, long-term homes. We cannot wrap up his life in Costa Rica until his cats are in safe, loving homes.

His belongings, his space, everything he built now has to be dismantled and brought back piece by piece, requiring travel, time, and support.

Nothing paused when he left.

Everything followed him.

Why We’re Asking for Help:

Dan cannot work right now.

And the financial pressure is immediate.

Right now, his life exists in two countries at once.

We are facing:

ongoing treatment and medication costs

securing housing in Toronto, including first and last month’s rent

daily living expenses during treatment

ongoing financial obligations in Costa Rica

care and rehoming support for the animals he left behind

travel, housing, and logistics to bring his life back to Canada

complete loss of income

This is not something that can wait.

We are trying to remove as much of this weight as possible so Dan can focus on getting through treatment.

How You Can Help

If you’re able to help, even a small amount right now makes a real difference as Dan begins this next phase of treatment.

If donating isn’t possible, sharing this page could be the reason it reaches someone who can.

And if you or someone you know may be able to give one or more of his cats a safe home, especially the bonded blind pair, that would mean more than we can put into words.

From Our Family:

Dan has spent his life showing up for others when they had nowhere else to turn.

Now he needs that same support around him.

He is facing this with a strength we can barely comprehend.

And with the right people around him, he won’t have to do it alone.

Thank you for being part of that.

With love,

Guy