This past December our dad, Billy Hart, was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. What started back in July as what doctors believed was sciatica slowly turned into something much more serious. His pain worsened month after month, and by December he had lost the ability to walk. An MRI finally revealed that a tumor on his left hip, that had grown so large, shattered the upper part of his pelvic bone. For the past two months, he has been fighting not only this terrible diagnosis but also fighting to be heard and taken seriously. He has recently begun targeted therapy for a specific BRAF mutation, and in two months he will start immunotherapy treatments every three weeks for the rest of his life.

Our dad has always been a hardworking man who provided for his family without hesitation and has been a part of the Santa Cruz community for 67 years. Now, he is unable to work, much to his dismay, and needs to focus solely on healing and fighting this battle. Although he has medical insurance, the reality of healthcare costs in America means overwhelming out-of-pocket expenses — with doctor visits, ongoing treatments, and just one medication costing $800 per month. As he faces a long and uncertain road ahead without the ability to earn income, the financial burden is an added stressor to this fight.

We are asking for help so he can focus on what truly matters — fighting this disease and spending time with the people he loves. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with our family during the most difficult time of our lives.