Hi,

I’m Chris. You probably knew that already since you’re here. You likely followed the link from my Instagram or Facebook so thank you for even coming this far. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. Up until about a year ago I took great pride in supporting my family with the best job in the world as a tattoo artist while my husband, Scott, took care of our two elementary age children. We have always needed one parent at home as our son is on the spectrum along with a few other neurotypical challenges.

Let me tell you how we wound up here.

In May of 2025 I went to the hospital with debilitating hip pain. It was a Monday. I remember that because I waited until the kids were at school to call an ambulance. I didn’t want to scare them.

After some very disinterested prodding and poking, the doctors wanted to send me home with muscle relaxers, and only reluctantly sent me for a CT scan after my husband stepped in to advocate for me. I didn’t know what they were going to find, and after two more scans, no one wanted to tell me.

Eventually, and it took more time than you would think to pin down exactly what was wrong with me, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. The cancer had metastasized and eaten away the majority of my left hip along with spreading to other various soft tissue places in my abdomen. Aside from the pain in my hip, which was intermittent for a long time, I had no other discernible symptoms. I’d had a check up at the same time last year with a full blood panel that came back normal.

Yep.

Then it was like joining the world’s shittiest three ring circus. My family and being able to work when I was able helped to keep me sane. I won’t bore you with all the agonizing details, but we were hopeful, after 5 rounds of targeted radiation and 6 brutal rounds of R-CHOP chemo, that this would just be a few months of hell and done. My initial scans came back clear, my energy started to come back, I started regrowing my hipbone and my hair.

(PSA: The worst hair to lose is your nose hair)

But after a scan in April of this year, the doctors told me the cancer was active again. The treatment this time is something very cool called CAR-T therapy, but it’s going to wipe me out like never before.

Once the treatment is done I need to be in quarantine for no less than 3 months with a 24/7 caretaker. I will have no immunity to the world, but hopefully my cancer will be gone as well. I'm unable to work and Scott will be my primary support as well as continuing to take care of our family.

While we understand the seriousness and necessity of the situation, it has left us in a position where we need to turn to others for help. I'm utilizing all the resources available, but it isn't much, and I'm currently on my second denial for support from the state. Believe me when I say I've exhausted all available avenues and still continue to bang my head against some walls even as my energy levels dwindle.

So if you're able to help, I appreciate more than I can say.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Thank you for your support.