Help Sean recover from cancer surgery and cover the costs of care, rent, and home support during his recovery.

Earlier this year, my dear friend Sean was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer after months of unexplained pain and exhaustion. By the time doctors figured out what was happening, the cancer had already spread to his liver.

Since then, he's been undergoing biweekly chemo while continuing to work full-time. His insurance company, of course, has been fighting him every step of the way, adding even more stress to an already exhausting and terrifying experience.

Thankfully, he’s been responding well to treatment, and now his medical team believes he’s a good candidate for a high-risk surgery that could potentially remove most of the cancer and give him more time—maybe a lot more time.

Sean has made the decision to go through with the surgery.

But he’s going to need help.

What This Surgery Entails:

At the end of January, Sean will undergo an extended liver resection combined with a partial colectomy. Most of his liver will be removed, along with a section of his colon. This is a massive open surgery with a long, difficult recovery. He’ll start off in the ICU, then spend months healing at home.

He’ll be unable to work or care for himself for two to three months—minimum.

But Sean lives alone.

He doesn’t have a partner or nearby family. There’s no one to help him when he comes home from the hospital, no one to cook for him, assist with bathing, manage his medication, or run errands. But this surgery is his only chance. He can’t afford not to take it.

Why I'm Asking for Help:

Sean has spent many years working in the social work sector in the Bronx, helping people who’ve fallen through the cracks. He volunteers at food banks and missions in his spare time. He also supports his elderly mother, who lives across the country and suffers from dementia.

He’s the one who shows up for other people—without ego, without judgment, and without asking for anything in return.

He’s also the person who has shown up for me, again and again, for the past 25 years. Through hell and back.

Right now, Sean is still working full-time while undergoing chemo, using up vacation days just to get treatment. But his insurance doesn’t cover in-home care. It doesn’t cover his basic living expenses. And it definitely won’t carry him through the long, vulnerable recovery ahead.

Where the Money Will Go:

What You Can Do:

If you know me, you know I wouldn’t ask for this help if it wasn’t urgent.

This is urgent. Sean doesn’t need pity—he needs practical support, care, and the time to heal safely.

Please donate if you can. And if you’re unable to give, please share this campaign so we can reach more people.

Thank you so much for helping someone who’s spent his life helping others.

With love,

Carré Kwong Callaway