Hannah Sullivan (25) and Kevin Santopadre (25) were overjoyed to get engaged on December 6, 2025. The next five weeks were filled with holiday celebrations, laughter, and dreams of their future together. They were excitedly stepping into a new chapter — one they imagined would be filled with wedding planning and building their life side by side.

Everything changed on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

What started as a seemingly minor concern — a small “bump” Hannah noticed on her lower abdomen and some lingering hip discomfort — quickly turned into something far more serious. Late that evening, thinking it might be a hernia, Hannah asked Kevin to take her to the ER. By 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning, their world had been turned upside down. Hannah was diagnosed with Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, with a non-surgical tumor surrounding her iliac veins and artery.

Within 24 hours, they met with an oncologist and were told that because of the aggressive nature of the cancer, chemotherapy needed to begin as soon as possible. Before treatment could start, they were also faced with urgent and heartbreaking decisions about fertility preservation due to the tumor’s location and the impact of chemotherapy. In a matter of days, Hannah and Kevin had to process life-altering news and make incredibly difficult choices about their future.

Hannah began her first round of chemotherapy on February 6, followed by her second on February 26. She will continue treatment into early summer, at least.

Because of the aggressive treatment schedule and side effects, Hannah has been unable to work full-time and has had to step away from teaching dance — her true passion. While the reduced income is challenging, it is overshadowed by the growing medical bills, pharmacy costs, and fertility-related expenses. Kevin has also missed work while supporting Hannah and has incurred medical and logistical expenses of his own. Travel, meals, and day-to-day costs associated with ongoing treatments continue to add up.

Adding to the uncertainty, Hannah turns 26 in April and may need to transition off her current health insurance in the middle of treatment — potentially resetting deductibles and requiring new providers during an already overwhelming time.

For those who may not know them personally:

Hannah, daughter of Ann and Rick Sullivan, was born in Delaware and moved to Iowa at age four before settling in Algonquin at age eight. She was active in soccer, dance, and numerous school activities, graduating from Jacobs High School in 2018. She attended Millersville University in Pennsylvania, graduating in 2022 — and it was there that she met Kevin. She moved to Denver later that year to begin building her career and future.

Kevin, son of Paul and Sharon Santopadre of McHenry, Illinois, graduated from Marian Central Catholic High School in 2018 and from Millersville University in 2021. He relocated to the Denver area in January 2022, where he and Hannah began building their life together.

This is not how this wonderful couple imagined starting their engagement. Instead of finalizing wedding details, they are navigating oncology appointments, chemotherapy treatments, and unimaginable uncertainty. Despite it all, they continue to face each day with strength, faith, and deep love for one another.

If you are able to support Hannah and Kevin during this time — whether through a donation, sharing this page, or keeping them in your prayers — it would mean more than words can express. Every contribution helps ease the financial burden so they can focus on what matters most: Hannah’s healing and their future together.

Thank you for surrounding them with love and support.