Ian's Medical Fund

Hey all. My name is Alex. I'm a loud, ridiculous ginger who loves her family and friends. This brings me to why I'm here with this page. My friend, who became family, Ian needs help. And I am going to do my damnedest to see that he gets some.





This is my pal Ian. Ian Ryerson. And his wife Kari. I've known Kari since 7th grade (so basically a million years) and I've know Ian now for seven years. These two, I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing they are. I'm going to try though.



Kari and Ian moved from Alaska to Los Angeles and became our neighbors. To say we lived at their apartment is putting it kindly. These two became family. We had Thanksgiving together. We forced Kari to watch Seinfeld with us by bribing her with cribbage and beer. They helped us pick out our first rescue dog from the pound. They let us watch their pack of pooches (Big Carl still thinks I'm his second mama). When they moved to Las Vegas we were heartbroken. We visited them as often as we could though so it wasn't too bad. Pretty much every vacation we could take we drove to Vegas. Then they moved back to Alaska when Ian wasn't feeling so well. We were so devastated that they were so far away and that Ian was not doing well.


Well, that "not feeling so well" turned out to be cancer. Bile Duct/Liver cancer. They did what anyone would do, go see the best of the best. They went to Mayo Clinic to come up with a plan to cure Ian's cancer with a transplant. His numbers didn't put him in the "super urgent need a liver now" category but they weren't good enough that they could get away with doing nothing. Well then they were dealt a sucker punch. Ian's cancer spread to his lymph nodes. Mayo basically said "that's it, sorry, we can't do anything to save him, just prolong his life" (by the way, I'm calling bullcrap on you Mayo, you just made my list). They gave Ian 11 months (Mayo you are a bunch of big freaking jerks for saying that). Kari and Ian flew to Arizona for a second opinion. They returned home to Anchorage to start Ian's chemo and radiation.


So this is going to be pricey. Liver cancer costs, on average, here in the good ol' USA are about $50-600,000. Yep, you just read that ridiculous amount right. We need to help. I know I am feeling helpless and this super small thing will make it easier on Kari and Ian and make me feel like I'm helping a little. This will ensure Kari doesn't have to work and can stay home and care for Ian and will help ensure that Ian's life-prolonging treatments will be paid for.


I can't even begin to explain how important it is to help these two right now whilst they're going through this. To be together through this is most important, they will need to lean on each other and their family and friends, so let's be there for them to lean on. Let's help them to not have to stress about one more thing. Let's help them to have one less worry. During all this they should NOT have to think about money. They should not have to think about anything but being together and fighting cancer and that they can do this.


Let's help them be strong and fight. Let's help them say "FUCK YOU CANCER!" and help them kick cancer's ass. Let's help with all the dollars and cents we can give. Because we love them. Because they need us. Because we need them. Because we refuse to let cancer take one more amazing person from us. Because we refuse to allow Kari to become a widow. Because we refuse to let Ian go at age 32. Because cancer can suck it. Suck it hard. And because we can all spare something, even if it means skipping our daily coffee or energy drink for a week to give $25, then let's frigging do it.


Let's all fight with Ian and Kari. Let's all fight for Ian and Kari. We love you guys!