Porter is the best of friends. He is the kind of person who shows up without being asked, who checks when others forget, and who quietly carries more than most people ever realize. Today, he is facing something no one should have to endure twice: a second bout with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) and an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that attacks the immune system.

DLBCL is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for helping the body fight infection. In this disease, abnormal B cells, the white blood cells that normally protect us, grow uncontrollably and form tumors in the lymph nodes and sometimes in vital organs. It is fast-moving and unforgiving. Porter fought this cancer once before with courage and determination. He endured the treatments, the hospital stays, the fear, and the uncertainty. He did everything right, and yet it has returned.

This time, the treatment is even more intense.

Porter will undergo an autologous stem cell transplant, a grueling but potentially life-saving procedure often used when lymphoma returns. The process begins with medications that stimulate his body to produce extra stem cells. Those cells will be collected through a procedure called apheresis, where blood is drawn out, stem cells are separated by a machine, and the remaining blood is returned to his body. It takes hours, sometimes days, to collect enough cells.

Then comes the hardest part.

Porter will be admitted to the hospital and given six consecutive days of chemotherapy at doses three times stronger than what he previously received. These high-dose treatments are designed to destroy any remaining cancer cells, but they will also wipe out his bone marrow, the part of the body responsible for producing healthy blood cells. During this time, his immune system will be nearly nonexistent. He will be extremely vulnerable to infection, bleeding, and complications. For approximately three weeks, he will remain hospitalized under constant monitoring as his body fights to recover.

After the chemotherapy, his previously collected stem cells will be re-infused into his bloodstream. Those cells will slowly make their way back to his bone marrow and begin the long process of rebuilding his immune system. This phase, called engraftment, requires patience, resilience, and faith. Even after he is discharged, Porter will spend several additional weeks at home recovering, regaining strength, and attending frequent follow-up appointments.

The physical toll is overwhelming. The emotional toll is just as heavy. But alongside all of this is the financial burden.

During the extended hospitalization and recovery period, Porter will be unable to work. Medical bills, insurance costs, medications, travel expenses, and everyday living costs will continue to accumulate. The stress of wondering how to keep up with those obligations should not be something he has to carry while fighting for his life.

If you know Porter, you know he is not someone who asks for help easily. He is strong, independent, and always the first to offer support to others. But right now, he needs us.

Your donation, no matter the size, will help ease the financial strain so he can focus entirely on healing. If you are unable to give, sharing this page and keeping him in your thoughts and prayers means more than you know.

Cancer may have come back, but so has Porter's determination. Let’s remind him that he does not have to fight this battle alone.