Support Caleb Hankins’ Fight Against Lymphoma
I am writing on behalf of my incredible 18-year-old nephew, Caleb Hankins.
Caleb has always been a true “go-getter.” He started working his first job at just 14 years old and hasn’t stopped since. That same determination led him to graduate high school early and begin attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Since graduation, Caleb has supported himself — living with friends while balancing two jobs and a full-time college course load. He takes immense pride in the independent life he has built.
Everything changed in an instant. At the beginning of January, Caleb noticed a slightly swollen lymph node and didn’t think much of it until it grew significantly within days. This led to an ultrasound on January 8th, followed by a biopsy, an oncologist referral, and then devastating news. Within a month, Caleb was diagnosed with Stage 1 Localized Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, an aggressive and fast-growing form of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
The speed of it all has been overwhelming. In less than a month, Caleb went from worrying about college midterms to undergoing surgery for port placement on February 10th and attending daily medical appointments over the past two weeks. The independent life he worked so hard to build has been placed on hold while he faces this challenge head-on.
The good news is that this cancer is typically very treatable, and Caleb has a long, bright future ahead of him. However, the path there will be incredibly demanding. Beginning February 17th, Caleb will start intensive chemotherapy at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at UNMC, with his first session lasting approximately eight hours. Because of the physical toll treatment takes, he will be unable to maintain his jobs and will require significant time to rest and recover.
Our goal is to allow Caleb to focus on healing and continuing his education without the overwhelming stress of financial hardship. Funds raised will help cover medical expenses, including insurance deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket costs associated with treatment. Chemotherapy of this intensity can also impact fertility, and Caleb hopes to be a father one day. Anyone who has seen him helping in his mother’s daycare knows how naturally wonderful he is with children, and we are hoping to preserve that future by covering fertility preservation costs.
We also hope to maintain the stability he worked so hard to achieve by assisting with rent, phone expenses, transportation costs, insurance, and necessary car repairs so he can reliably travel to treatments and school. Because his immune system will be compromised during treatment, we are working to provide him with a dependable laptop and school supplies so he can continue his coursework safely online when needed.
Through all of this, Caleb is holding on to hope and motivation. One bright light ahead is a planned trip in May to visit his best friend in Ohio and attend a Bruno Mars concert — something he is looking forward to as a celebration of completing his first round of treatment and a reminder of the life waiting for him beyond cancer.
This fight is deeply personal for our family. Our mother, Caleb’s grandmother, passed away this past August from a similar blood disease, and we are determined to ensure Caleb has every possible resource to overcome this challenge. The financial strain is significant. Caleb’s mother, my sister, is currently unable to work while navigating their health challenges and appointments together. His parents, sister, girlfriend, and friends are supporting him through day-to-day needs, and I am organizing this fundraiser and managing his finances to ensure his bills are paid and his future remains secure during treatment.
Every donation, no matter the amount, helps Caleb stay focused on what truly matters — healing, continuing his education, and returning to the life he loves. If you are unable to contribute, sharing his story means just as much to our family.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, compassion, and support.
