Hi everyone, my name is Kati. I’m a coworker and friend of Jake and Trystan, and I’m reaching out to share their story and ask for your support during an incredibly difficult time.

On September 9th, Jake went in for what was supposed to be a routine hernia surgery. But during the procedure, doctors made a shocking discovery — a large mass. The surgery was halted, and Jake woke up thinking all had gone well, only to learn that life as he knew it had just turned upside down.

The next day, September 10th, Jake underwent a CT scan to get a better look at the mass. That Thursday night, he was rushed to the ER due to a bowel obstruction — his intestines had pushed through the hernia. Thankfully, with medication and close monitoring, doctors were able to relieve the obstruction, and Jake was admitted for observation until Friday night.

Shortly after, Jake received a life-changing diagnosis: Appendix cancer (LAMN) — a rare and slow growing disease. He now faces extensive and invasive surgery in the coming weeks. The procedure will involve the removal of his appendix, spleen, gallbladder, and belly button, with the possibility of more depending on what doctors find during his upcoming colonoscopy on September 19th.

Jake's surgery will last 8–10 hours and will include a specialized treatment called HIPEC — a heated chemotherapy wash that targets cancer cells in the abdominal cavity. He will spend his first night in the ICU, followed by 7–10 days in the hospital. While the hope is that this procedure will leave him cancer-free, it will be a long road of follow-up appointments and recovery.

Jake will be out of work for at least 6 weeks, and Trystan will also need time off — they are expecting a baby girl in November and are parents to a 2-year-old son. On top of this, they are in the middle of moving and are set to close on their new home on October 20th.

If that wasn’t enough, Jake and Trystan have been devoted animal fosters with AHCR for over 5.5 years, taking in more than 80 foster dogs, many with serious illnesses like Parvo. Trystan also serves on the leadership team for the rescue. Trystan also works for CPS and has for the past 6 years. These are two people who always show up for others — whether human or animal — and now it's our turn to show up for them.

They are humble and would never ask for help themselves, which makes this even harder. But they need us right now. Any donation, share, or kind word can make a huge difference in helping them stay afloat while navigating this incredibly tough time.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for taking the time to read, share, and support Jake and Trystan.

if you want to send via Venmo to Trystan here is her Venmo @trystan-schreier