Kurt Jon Gulbrand Cancer Fund

Greetings friends,

I hope this message finds you all happy and healthy. I am writing to you on behalf of my husband, Kurt Gulbrand. I wanted to share some news about Kurt because we need your love and support. My big healthy, kindhearted husband is facing the fight of his life. I know he has touched the lives of many of you, and you are all important to him.

Kurt and I both had Covid at the beginning of July; our symptoms lasted around three days. Several weeks later, our family went to Florida for a baseball tournament in which our youngest son, Bryce, participated on a team coached by Kurt. Any of you who know Kurt will understand how much he loves coaching his son, and how much he enjoys watching our eldest son play Lacrosse! After we came home, Kurt noticed a lump on the left side of his neck, which we assumed was a swollen gland due to his recent illness. He called his PCP, who could not see him for several weeks, but called in a Z-Pack (antibiotics). Kurt finished the meds five days later as prescribed, but his neck was still swollen and, in fact, had worsened.

Three days passed, and Kurt told me it felt “funny” when he swallowed. I told him to go to Urgent Care immediately (Most of you know I am a nurse). Kurt went to U.T. Urgent Care, where the ER doctor wrote an order for him to have a diagnostic Ultrasound, which he did the same day. Later in the afternoon, the ER doctor called and informed him he had an irregular mass in his neck and should see his PCP immediately. Kurt had completed his yearly physical two months earlier in June; his doctor had given him a clean bill of health!

Wednesday, August 10th.

The next day Kurt and I went to his PCP’s office (without an appointment), and he told us Kurt had a mass in his neck that appeared to be “aggressive." He ordered labs to be drawn directly after the appointment and scheduled Kurt to have biopsies of his neck at U.T. Hospital the following morning. Thursday, August 11th.

Kurt and I went to U.T. for his scheduled procedure; they obtained several biopsies and then decided to send Kurt for a CT scan immediately. We were told the results of the biopsies would take ~ five days, but on our way home, we received a call from the nurse wanting to schedule Kurt for an oncology appointment at U.T. Hospital the following Monday morning. She said although the CT results were not back yet, the biopsies had been reviewed and showed the “tumors” in his neck were malignant. So we stopped by Kurt's Mom's house (she is in the early stages of dementia, and we care for her) and let her know about the situation. We then drove home and informed my mother, who lives with us (she is disabled), and then later in the evening, we shared the news with our two teenage sons – it was brutal. Friday, August 12th.

Monday morning Kurt and I went to U.T. Oncology Center and first met with the Oncology Surgeon. He told us Kurt has Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, and several structures in his neck were affected. Therefore, Kurt would require Chemotherapy and Radiation prior to surgery to shrink the size of the tumors. The Surgical Oncologist personally led us over to meet with the Chemotherapy doctor, who then led us to the Radiology doctor. It usually takes a couple of weeks to develop a treatment plan, but due to the aggressive nature of his cancer, they said Kurt would be starting his treatment in two days. For those of you who do not know the inner workings of the hospital system, we were being “emergently fast-tracked” and brought to the front of the line due to the seriousness of Kurt’s diagnosis. Monday, August 15th.

I have spent as much time as possible looking for anything I can do to assist Kurt in fighting this terrible disease. I immediately put him on a “cancer diet,” which he has followed closely. I appreciate the hours many of you have logged to help research information to help Kurt in his battle to defeat this cancer. We are both scared, sad, in disbelief and exhausted, but determined to fight like hell!

Kurt’s cancer diagnosis happened so quickly, and due to the aggressive nature of his cancer, we did not have time for a second opinion. Instead, I contacted MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, and their experts advised him to continue his current chemotherapy and radiation plan to minimize the risks of disrupting his treatment plan. We foresee Kurt having surgery at MD Anderson as soon as he may travel, with clearance from his medical team.

So that I may share information about Kurt more efficiently, I have set up an account on the site “Caring Bridge,” for which any of you can log in to track Kurt’s progress. I will be posting information on his treatment plan and progress. https://www.caringbridge.org

Kurt is 52 years old (his birthday is this month) and the healthiest cancer patient I know; he has no other medical problems and does not even take a single pill. He has never smoked or done any drugs, stays active, and is the most positive person I have ever met. Kurt is a man of integrity and great character and has been an amazing role model and father to our two boys. I love him with every fiber of my being; to our boys, he is a hero.

It has been 20 days since Kurt was diagnosed with cancer. Our boys know that Kurt has cancer, but they do not yet know the seriousness of it, so your discretion is essential. For those of you who already know about our situation, your calls, texts, and emails of encouragement have been a huge source of comfort for Kurt and our family. We know the medical bills and costs to care for Kurt will be mounting, and we need your help. I have set up a medical fund for Kurt and our family and am praying for your love, support, prayers, and donations. Any suggestions from you are welcome; my brain is on overload right now.

Much love to all of you,

Deborah