I am writing this for my best friend, Connor, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. After a CT, multiple appointments, and a biopsy, doctors at Henry Ford Cancer in Detroit informed him that he has Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He is scheduled to begin chemotherapy in one month. Connor is only 24 years old, active, and extremely intentional about how he lives his life. Anyone would have a hard time processing news like this. But if you know Connor, you know he is determined. He won’t sit still for long, and he has always made the most of every minute he gets. He’s my best friend, and I watch him lift up the people around him with his infectious positivity and support every day. He brings energy to everything he does, often without even realizing it, and consistently inspires the people around him to do more.

I met Connor at First Watch, where I quickly saw how much he genuinely cares about both people and cooking. He takes his role as a cook very seriously, keeps things moving when it gets hectic, never folds under pressure, and takes pride in his knowledge of food and food safety. He is truly one of First Watch’s most valuable employees. I knew pretty quickly that we would get along, and everyone can rely on him to be a supportive teammate.

Outside of work, Connor enjoys indoor rock climbing, thrifting, and spending time with his cat, Chino. He has a strong interest in music and occasionally plays guitar. He is also an excellent cook. Trying new foods and figuring out how to make them is one of the many ways his determination shines through. He is always eager to try new things whenever he gets the chance. His diagnosis came after a biopsy that left a significant scar on his neck. It all started when he found a lump, and doctors discovered that his lymph nodes were extremely inflamed. They removed the smallest one, which was still about the size of a ping pong ball.

Even with all of this, Connor is approaching this challenge the same way he approaches everything else in life. He is staying positive, focused, and preparing to march headfirst through the storm rather than letting himself get stuck. That’s just who he is.

With treatment ahead, frequent travel to the hospital for chemotherapy, recovery time, and mounting medical expenses, getting his health back will require a significant amount of time away from work. Unfortunately, much of his energy will need to be devoted to healing. His bills and everyday expenses won’t disappear, so truly, anything helps.

This fundraiser is here to help take some of that pressure off so Connor can focus on treatment and recovery, and eventually get back to the busy and fulfilling life he cares so much about. Physically, this is going to be a major change, as he won’t be able to maintain the fast-paced lifestyle he has built for himself.

  Anything you can give will help Connor and his family. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing his story with others. Every contribution and every share will help make this road a little easier for my best friend, Connor. Thank you.