
Help Kyle Heal Brain Cancer with Cutting-Edge Treatment
Donation protected
Hi, I’m Rachel, Kyle’s wife. We are raising funds to help Kyle receive all the available support and treatment to help him so he continues to thrive on this cancer journey he has been on for the past 18 years. We will be using the funds generously donated to cover the cost of working with a naturopathic oncologist, and an oncology nutritionist, assistance with the help needed around our home, and the additional cost that cancer, unfortunately, comes with.
That said I'd love to give you the story of Kyle's journey with cancer. Eighteen years ago in 2004, Kyle was diagnosed with brain cancer. A fist-size tumor was present in his left frontal lobe. After his first surgery, the doctor gave him 6 months to live, yet he knew that was not his story. Two weeks later he was able to get in for an awake craniotomy which was an experimental surgery then. When he awoke from surgery he was told they got 99% of the tumor. This was a major win and he went on to receive chemotherapy and radiation for the next 2 years to make sure Tommy the tumor wasn't coming back.
He went on enjoying the life he knew he was gonna continue to have and spent the next 10 years in remission. Yet in 2016 Tommy the tumor made another appearance and required surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Through his second dance with cancer he knew in his bones he had so much more life to experience and that led us up to 2020 when he and I met. We met just two months before the world would shut down and just 1 year before the tumor would return. It was February 2021 when we got the news his cancer was growing again. At this point he has reached his limit for radiation and surgery is far too risky. The doctors are very concerned he wouldn't heal properly from surgery due to all the scar tissue from the previous three surgeries plus the tumor has such undefined borders they don't wanna risk him having any deficits.
He then began taking oral chemotherapy for one year. Throughout the year the tumor remained stabled (no growth and no shrinking) leading the doctors to allow him a break from chemo. Yet after a six-month break, in October 2022 we found out the tumor started growing again. We were gutted to receive the news and knew the big unknowns we were about to face. So in just two weeks, we planned a wedding so we could fully enjoy our wedding day while he was healthy before starting chemo just 4 days after the said wedding.
During those two weeks before our wedding, we made two ER visits as Kyle began having breakthrough seizures from his seizure medication. They were able to increase his dose of medication but this meant that he was no longer able to drive himself or do the things he loves like woodworking.
This leads us to the present day, Kyle has begun a new oral chemotherapy treatment that is more aggressive than the one he was on the past year. He has also begun using a device called Optune. The device is designed to flip the cancer cells out of balance by sending electric currents through arrays he wears on his head. This causes the cancer cells to begin dying off!
Kyle has taken one round of chemotherapy and is doing well! He is tired and beginning to lose some of his appetite but he is in high spirits as always. That said, he has experienced two more seizures. Thankfully it isn't harmful to him but it's exhausting for him and challenging as he cannot do as much as he would like. His autonomy is taken away and is a true challenge.
With all the western medicine we are also seeking alternative treatments that have been shown to help cancer patients. We are hoping that working with naturopathic oncologists, nutritionists, and using Optune is the missing link he has needed on his journey. Yet these non-traditional treatments come with a cost that is not covered by any insurance and beyond our resources.
As we continue this journey we are optimistic but we will need support. Financially we are worried about the cost that we will be faced with. We are worried about the ability to keep our home clean, our minds and bodies nourished, and the additional stress that having these burdens will bring to us. We are asking for your help to support us. The money you donate gives Kyle the ability to try everything that is available to him without concern for finances and keeps us free of just some of the stress cancer brings by using the money for a monthly house cleaner, groceries, and additional care for me as the caregiver.
We appreciate any support you may be able to provide to us in this challenging season of life. Our hearts are so full knowing the love that we have from the community and the generosity that we will be met with, thank you!
Organizer
Rachel O'Bare
Organizer
Nederland, CO