The first time you hear that cancer has affected a loved one, the floor falls out from under you. The second and third time it happens, though it feels like there is nowhere farther to go, you fall even more.

As many of you know, Olivia has been living for five years now with stage four appendiceal cancer—an extremely rare diagnosis with even rarer rates of survival. With a profound tenacity and her joyful spirit, Olivia has sought treatment through chemotherapy, surgery, nutritional wellness, Chinese medicine, physical and mental therapy, and a host of other remedies promising remission. Sadly, she hasn't achieved lasting remission—and now, she needs your help.

Olivia's courageous quest to find healing has shepherded her through a cross-country move, a magical engagement, and the start of her new career in logistics. It has allowed her to nurture supportive friendships, snuggle her first nephew, celebrate holidays surrounded by her family, and indulge in banana splits on vacation. It has kept her well enough to plan a wedding, belly laugh at Jack Black movies, cook dinner while dancing in the kitchen, and enjoy life’s little moments. Her pursuit of healing has not, however, eradicated the cancer… yet.

When Olivia’s trusted oncologist confirmed that the cancer had returned for a third time, she knew she wanted—and needed—a change. The combination of chemotherapy and surgery has quite literally gotten her to this point today, but this treatment has also taken a huge toll on her quality of life. As her partner, I have watched her lose her hair, lose weight, and, at times, lose the spark from her eyes. As her partner, I have held her hand through crippling waves of pain, through tears of frustration and guilt, and, too often, through cycles of bad news from doctors. As her partner, all I’ve ever wanted for her was a chance at the life she was meant to live—that we were meant to live, together.

And so, with unwavering optimism and the strength of her conviction, Olivia is choosing to forge a new chance for this life. She is taking a different path in her recovery that, while scary, is inspiring hope.

Aptly named, Hope4Cancer is an integrative cancer center that provides alternatives to conventional oncology treatment. The doctors at Hope4Cancer treat all patients, regardless of their prognosis, by addressing not just the tumor, but the whole person in front of them. Olivia will attend their three-week in-patient program in Cancun, Mexico that focuses on therapies to boost her immune health, provide advanced nutritional support, promote detoxification, restore her microbiome, and, ultimately, give her body a chance to heal from cancer and find the root cause of the disease—without toxic and invasive treatments, chemicals, and aggressive surgeries. Their program is research-based, personalized to each patient, and, most importantly, something that Olivia feels is right for her. Read more about Hope4Cancer on their website .

Though it may seem like she is at her lowest, Olivia is looking up. She has chosen a road to healing that we believe will, slowly, catch us from cancer’s endless free-fall. We believe that treatment at Hope4Cancer will return Olivia to her rightful place in life: trekking scenic hiking trails, yelling out mostly wrong answers to Jeopardy!, wrestling on the floor with Lola, sight-seeing in Greece and Japan and Morocco, and—let’s not forget—dancing with abandon at our wedding.

Many of you have asked how you can support her on this journey, and aside from your prayers, positive thoughts, uplifting words, and emotional encouragement, financial aid is much needed. Treatment with Hope4Cancer is not covered by insurance, but of course, no cost is too much for life-saving care.

Even in the face of her own stress and fear, Olivia is excited about and fully committed to her recovery, and we hope you will join us on this journey. As she has always done since her first diagnosis, she plans to keep her extensive support network in the loop with longwinded phone calls, an unshakeable sense of humor, and oversharing updates on Facebook.

Thank you for keeping Olivia and all those she loves in your thoughts and prayers, and if you are able, please help support her through what is sure to be a trying time. There is no one more deserving of healing and a long, healthy life.