Life has taken an unexpected turn. Many of you know I’ve been living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) following foot surgery — a condition that already made daily life and work more difficult than I ever anticipated.

After ongoing swallowing problems, I underwent an endoscopy that revealed a severe esophageal stricture. Biopsy results confirmed cancer, and I have now been staged at Stage II.

My treatment plan will be aggressive. It includes FLOT chemotherapy and surgical intervention. Due to the severity of the stricture and the impact of treatment, I will also require a feeding J-tube for several weeks to maintain nutrition during this process.

Our focus now is simple: move forward with treatment and give me the best possible outcome.

I do plan to continue working as much as I can throughout treatment, primarily to maintain my health insurance. However, there will be periods where working consistently won’t be possible, especially during chemotherapy and recovery.

Between oncology visits, procedures, treatment, and missed work, the financial strain is building quickly. I have worked hard to stay afloat, but this situation will stretch our household beyond what we can manage alone.

My goal is to stay as functional and independent as possible during treatment, while being realistic about the challenges ahead.

My partner, Jamie, has been an incredible support through all of this, but the road ahead will place a significant burden on both of us as we navigate treatment and recovery together.

How funds will be used:

- Cancer treatment and medical expenses

- Travel costs for oncology and specialty care

- Lost wages during treatment and recovery

- Basic household stability during this period

I also believe in accountability. To the extent possible without compromising personal or medical privacy, I will share updates and documentation showing how funds are being used. Transparency matters to me.

If you are able to help, we are deeply grateful. If not, sharing this page is just as meaningful. Support in any form allows us to focus on treatment and recovery instead of constant financial pressure.

Thank you for taking the time to read and for standing with us during this chapter.

— Asa