Supporting Chris and Tree Through Colorectal Cancer

Our friends Thereza 'Tree' Cononi and Chris Lacey have long been beloved members of the Islands community impacting many of us through their kindness and radiant positivity. In addition to being generous neighbors and friends, they are devoted small business owners.

Tree and Chris are presently navigating a hard moment and need our help.

In December 2020, Chris was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. In 2021, he went through 8 rounds of chemotherapy, a surgery, an ablation, 4 more rounds of chemotherapy, and another surgery (Dana-Farber, Mass General and UVM Medical Center).

In November 2022, the cancer resurfaced leading to radiation in Boston (Dana-Farber and Mass General) throughout 2023. They continued with quarterly trips to Boston to monitor things.

Reports were steady until February 2025. Mid-March they went to Boston for an outpatient intervention which resulted in a complication and a 10-day hospital stay. During this time, they learned the cancer resurfaced. The intervention in Boston was unsuccessful and resulted in another emergency intervention at UVM Medical Center which prompted an admission on April 1st. Since April 1st, Chris has had multiple interventions, chemo and complications. Chris has continued to show inspiring resilience, strength and inspiration and Tree (and their very good dogs, Tonka and Odie) have remained by his side offering love and care through it all.

As you can imagine, the financial strain of medical treatments, travel, and missed work continues to intensify. Together, we can lift some of the burden they're carrying and let them focus on what matters most: Chris' health (and Tree, Tonka, and Odie's wellbeing, too)! Any contribution, big or small, will make a meaningful difference.