I’ve gone back and forth about writing this. Asking for help has never come naturally to me, especially in a public way. I’ve always tried to carry things quietly and figure them out on my own. But I’ve reached a point where honesty feels more important than pride.

Over the past few years, that honesty has meant facing something I had hoped was behind me. In early 2023, my colorectal cancer returned. As many of you may know, I’m a cancer survivor — I overcame the disease in my mid-thirties. I never imagined I would be navigating it again.

The tumor is considered inoperable due to its location and involvement with key arteries. Since 2023, I’ve gone through nine months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which slowed the cancer but did not remove it.

The toll on my body has been heavy. I’ve developed stage 4 chronic kidney disease and now rely on bilateral nephrostomies to support kidney function. Because of this, chemotherapy had to be paused for the past six months while we focused on stabilizing my kidneys.

I’m now beginning a new round of treatment — a different combination that we hope will keep the tumor in check while placing less stress on my kidneys. I’m cautiously hopeful.

Over the past year, constant appointments, procedures, recovery periods, and physical limitations have made it impossible for me to work consistently. As a result, our financial stability has been deeply affected, and I’ve had to step away from some of the therapies that were helping me manage symptoms.

At the same time, my family has been navigating enormous emotional and financial strain. My mother is currently in hospice care. I’m doing my best to manage all of this with resilience, but the truth is that things are precarious for me and my family.

While Italy’s public health system covers the basics of treatment, many of the therapies and daily medical needs that help me stay stable are not covered. These include integrative support such as ozone therapy, medicinal supplements, CBD, acupuncture, as well as ongoing nutritional and wellness care.

In addition, there are constant out-of-pocket medical supplies and materials related to my kidney support and wound care — items like dressings, gauze, tape, and other essentials that add up over time. Combined with basic living expenses during a period when I haven’t been able to work consistently, the financial pressure has become overwhelming.

I’m trying to raise $50,000 to support treatment, manage these ongoing costs, and give myself a real chance to rebuild strength and return to meaningful creative work.

More than anything, this support would give me space to focus on treatment, regain strength, and preserve quality of life during a deeply uncertain season.

I’m actively open to freelance work and project collaborations as part of my healing and reconnection process. If you’re not in a position to donate but have a project, collaboration, or consulting need where I could contribute remotely, I would genuinely welcome that conversation.

I’ve spent most of my life working across design, creative strategy, and visual storytelling. You can see my work in my online portfolio.

Final Thoughts

If you’re unable to make a donation, please know that I completely understand. These are challenging times for many people, and any support, of any kind, is deeply appreciated. Even a small contribution or simply sharing this page means more than you might realize.

And beyond financial help, I would genuinely love to reconnect. My health situation has caused me to retreat and go quiet with people I care about — not because I didn’t want to reach out, but because it felt hard to know how. If you’re open to it, I would love to hear from you, see your face, or catch up over FaceTime or WhatsApp. Reconnection, conversation, and community are just as meaningful to me right now. Even well-wishes and blessings mean more than you know.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for being here in whatever way you can.

Christopher

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From His Sister, Michelle

Watching my brother go through this has been heartbreaking. He’s been in and out of hospitals for years, facing procedures and side effects that would crush most people. And yet, he keeps showing up. He still makes people laugh. He still cares about beauty and meaning. He still wants to give.

If you can donate, share, or support him in any way, thank you. You’re helping him hang onto his independence and his creative spirit in an unimaginably hard season.

With love,

Michelle

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How will the funds be used?

Funds raised will help cover:

• Ongoing out-of-pocket medical and integrative therapies

• Essential medical supplies and wound care materials

• Living expenses during periods when I’m unable to work consistently

• Support while I focus on stabilizing my health and gradually returning to remote creative work

The goal is stability — physically, emotionally, and financially — so I can continue treatment while rebuilding strength and contributing again.