Support Christopher Kuntzsch on His Healing Cancer Journey

Dear friends,

Our dear brother, Christopher, is beginning treatments for aggressive prostate cancer, and he needs our support. If you're receiving this, you've felt Christopher's dedication to his family, parents, community, nature, work, and future generations. He strives from dawn to dusk to care for these beloveds.

Now is the early stage of what may be a long healing process. While treatment plans are still being confirmed, Christopher is stepping back as much as possible from his many roles to rest, recover, rejuvenate, receive, inquire, transform, and heal.

This is our opportunity to step in and support Christopher and his dear family, Katia, Kolea, Mateo, and Jalen.

Financial support is most helpful at this time. Christopher is taking medical leave from his work at Stanford, and while he’s grateful for the medical coverage it provides, the out-of-pocket costs for treatment are adding up quickly - on top of the thousands of dollars in medical expenses already incurred this year. His intensive cancer treatment plan, including surgery, radiation, and possibly other therapies, is still being finalized and is set to begin in April. Along the way he has been working with a strong network of additional providers and modalities, including Chinese medicine and acupuncture, therapy, and other alternative treatments.

Support for Christopher and his family to not have to worry about the mounting financial stress on top of facing the uncertainties of this diagnosis would mean so much and help Christopher focus on his healing during this tender time.

The story of how this was discovered, its advanced condition, and their journey so far are below. And please note: After medical care begins, Christopher will need additional kinds of support like meal trains, appointment rides, childcare, and some help around the house, particularly at times that Katia needs to be out of town for work. We will send ways to sign up and support at that time.

Beyond any financial or in-kind support that you are moved to give, Christopher would appreciate your holding him in his prayers and vision for his healing. We include his prayer below, so that you can read that in his own words.

With love and gratitude,

Paul Houghtaling & Julie Wolk

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The Who, What, When, Where, and Why

How was this found? How is Christopher feeling? How serious is it?

Here's what we can say...

Christopher started with a new primary care physician in late 2024 and at the time did not have any obvious symptoms of concern. The physician ordered a series of routine tests and bloodwork for the intake process. Some of these tests were ahead of the recommended schedule, but recent research suggests could be good to start at younger ages. Among these was the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test.

Unexpectedly, the PSA test result came back alarmingly high, indicating the need for immediate follow-up. Subsequent testing and advanced imaging confirmed a diagnosis of Stage 3b Prostate Cancer, and indicate the cancer is aggressive and high risk. While thankfully the PET-Scan does not show current metastases, imaging does show extra-prostatic extensions and the doctors believe there likely may already be micro-metastases from the cancer, which could indicate multi-modal therapies and mean that this could be a long healing process. This information now informs the treatment plans being discussed, and the multiple medical opinions being solicited.

This is a serious and advanced cancer. It is unusual for prostate cancer to reach this stage at the young age of 49. And all plans being discussed begin ASAP.

Christopher has said - as he eases into acceptance of needing treatments, stepping back from Stanford, and stepping into the maze of appointments and planning - that he is noticing the deep tiredness and strain of holding so many roles in his life. He is also now noticing some symptoms and experiencing some pain and discomfort.

Christopher is praying and holding the vision for a full and complete cure, and we ask you to join us in holding that vision and positive outlook. And while vulnerable for him to share this intimate information and to open up to receive, he is welcoming this as an opportunity to practice being supported by others and is so grateful for your love and care.

Regarding communications - you are welcome and invited to reach out to him personally to express your care - he’d love to hear from you. And, please know that he likely will not be able to respond to everyone personally. We will post periodic updates here on this GoFundMe so that you can stay informed as to his well-being.

Christopher’s Prayer Request:

Please hold a vision of me in full and vibrant health, with any malignant abnormalities or cancer transformed and neutralized to restore balance and vitality to my body.

Pray that this process is well-supported on all levels - from the skill and care of the medical teams to the love of my family and the guidance of ancestors and spirit - so that we have everything we need to move through this toward vibrant health with grace and ease.

I also ask for support to contact and heal the root cause of this imbalance, so I may address it physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Picture me in your heart, mind, and prayers in full and vibrant expression and embodiment of my original instructions and gifts - a healed, whole, and actualized man - with full vitality and function of all of my organ systems and body functions, living to the fullest of my days on this planet, in health and happiness, among my relations.