<div>Hi, I’m Juliet. Jessica has been my best friend for 17 years, and walking through life with her has been one of my greatest constants.
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<div>This fundraiser is one way I can support her and Michael during an unimaginably difficult time, and open the door for others who want to help, too.
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<div>Here’s their story...
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<div><strong>Help Us Get to the Other Side of Cancer</strong>
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<div>We thought everything was fine. Michael had been told <em>three</em> times that he didn’t have cancer.
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<div>But in November 2024, we learned the truth: Michael had Stage IIIC testicular cancer—the most advanced stage. By the time it was found, the cancer had already spread through his lymph nodes, from his testicle to his abdomen, and into his lungs.
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<div>Within days, our lives turned upside down. We rushed through a full week of appointments in Charleston, then left everything behind to move in with Michael’s parents in Worcester, MA. We needed to be close to specialists in Boston, and we needed to be there fast.
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<div>Michael began treatment immediately: four rounds of chemotherapy, an orchiectomy (to remove the affected testicle), and a major abdominal surgery called an RPLND to remove lymph nodes.
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<div>We were told he had an 80% chance of being cured. And for a moment, it looked like it had worked.
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<div>His scans came back clear. The tumors in his testicle and abdomen were gone.
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<div>Once again, for a <em>fourth</em> time, he was told he was cancer-free.
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<div>We were given tons of resources about life after cancer, and scheduled his 3-month follow-up appointment.
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<div>But only hours later, his bloodwork results told a different story. His hCG—the primary tumor marker for testicular cancer—had spiked higher than ever. A new chest scan confirmed that the cancer had spread deeper into his lungs and the surrounding lymph nodes.
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<div>Just like that, we were back in it.
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<div>Michael started a second, more aggressive treatment: two more rounds of chemo, followed by two rounds of high-dose chemo with stem cell transplants. Each transplant meant completely wiping out his immune system, then rebuilding it from scratch.
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<div>He’s been through more than anyone should ever have to endure. Nausea so severe he couldn’t eat for days. Fatigue that made walking across the room feel impossible. Emotional whiplash after being told he was cancer-free, only to find out hours later that he wasn’t.
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<div>And still, he keeps going.
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<div><strong>Why We Need Help</strong>
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<div>It’s been almost nine months since we left Charleston, but we’ve still been paying rent and bills for the home we had to leave behind. In the meantime, the costs have added up: chemotherapy, surgeries, hospital parking, gas, food, and now, fertility preservation.
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<div>Before treatment started, Michael made the hopeful decision to bank his sperm. We’d been warned that infertility was likely. Now that’s become our reality. We’re still holding on to the dream of starting a family one day, and we're so grateful he took that step when he did.
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<div>Just a few weeks after his diagnosis, we got engaged and then eloped at a local art museum. The ceremony had to be small and quick, but it was beautiful. One day, we hope to do it all again, with cancer behind us.
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<div><strong>What Your Support Means</strong>
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<div>What was supposed to be a 3-month treatment plan with an 80% chance of cure has become a 9-month battle with an unknown chance. But we’re still here.
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<div>Still fighting.
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<div>Still believing.
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<div>Every donation helps us pay for treatment, daily living expenses, and the ability to begin again.
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<div>If you’ve ever watched someone you love go through something like this, you know how powerless it can feel. Your support, whether by donating or sharing, truly makes a difference.
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<div>Thank you for standing beside us.
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<div>Jessica + Michael
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<div><strong>A Note of Gratitude</strong>
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<div>This journey hasn’t been easy, and we’re truly grateful for the help we have received along the way—meals dropped off, gift cards, care packages for Michael, a car to borrow, a place to stay, or help watching our kitties. Those acts of kindness have made a real difference. Thank you!
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Anonymous

Jeffrey Lukasevicz

Daniel Radel

Kyle Long

Connor Gillen

Alexander Pappas

Nicholas Majidi

Nicholas Pappas

Zachary Pappas

Chris Economos

Owen Shea

Patrick Aoude

Ryan Gleason

Brianna Stallter

John Zahour

Kailyn Myshrall

Marc Roche

Join Jessica & Michael's Cancer Fight

Join Jessica & Michael's Cancer Fight

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