Support Kortney Hastin Kicking Cancer
Donation protected
One of the best guys out there, Kortney Hastin (better known as "Kort" to his nearest and dearest), has been valiantly fighting stage 4 melanoma for over a year now. In December of 2018, Kort had a mole removed for biopsy, which confirmed melanoma. Lymphatic mapping indicated the melanoma may have spread to nodes in his left armpit. After undergoing surgery to remove the remainder of the original mole and several lymph nodes, it appeared the melanoma was no longer present. Scans also showed the cancer had not spread to any of Kort's vital organs.
Unfortunately, by early fall of 2019 Kort found himself dealing with exhaustion, fevers, night sweats, and a general lack of appetite. After undergoing a multitude of tests that he and the doctors were hoping would indicate a stomach, intestine, or gallbladder issue, a CT scan revealed lesions on his liver and spleen, and micronodules on his lung. An MRI then revealed tumors on his vertebrae and some small tumors on his brain. Stage 4 melanoma was the diagnosis.
Since November of 2019 he’s undergone weeks of radiation on his spleen, spine, and [now] two rounds of weeks-long daily radiation on his brain, as well as countless courses of immunotherapy treatments involving different combos of drug therapies. He is still currently undergoing regular immunotherapy treatments in addition to daily oral chemotherapy and BRAF-inhibitor drugs. At the end of July, Kort suffered a seizure and then had a second seizure at the end of August. Because of this, he’s been forced to add twice-daily seizure meds to the 20+ pills he was already taking every single day.
Unfortunately in recent months, Kort has had an aggressive amount of tumor growth in his brain (the number of original tumors more than tripling). He also still has multiple tumors on his spleen, as well as lesions on his liver. Recent scans have shown though that his lungs are clear, as are his lymph nodes, and that the tumors on his spine are gone!
Kort's grueling cancer battle is not solely a physical and emotional burden, but a MASSIVE financial one, and Kort cannot work at all right now. There is no way he can or should be doing anything other than focusing on his treatments. Everyday he’s dealing with extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headaches and more thanks to the endless treatments and medications he requires for recovery. And the seizures have only added to his inability to work right now; he is no longer permitted to drive.
He is not currently receiving any financial aid from the government. Kort has been denied [after repeated appeals] for Unemployment, and the state of California has denied his claim for Disability. He has been approved for Federal Disability, but it does not kick in until SIX MONTHS (January) after his first seizure, and the payment will only be $1,650/month.
If you’re able to donate to show support for him and his fight, please know that truly ANY AMOUNT HELPS!! I know 2020 has been a grueling year for all of us in many ways, one of them being financially. I completely understand if you are not able to contribute financially at this time— you can still help out by spreading the word on social media or any other way you please. (Kort has OK-ed this and said to feel free to share it far and wide!!)
This is the guy who shows up for everyone every time. Let’s show up for him and support and empower him in any way we can right now! Thank you all so much.
Unfortunately, by early fall of 2019 Kort found himself dealing with exhaustion, fevers, night sweats, and a general lack of appetite. After undergoing a multitude of tests that he and the doctors were hoping would indicate a stomach, intestine, or gallbladder issue, a CT scan revealed lesions on his liver and spleen, and micronodules on his lung. An MRI then revealed tumors on his vertebrae and some small tumors on his brain. Stage 4 melanoma was the diagnosis.
Since November of 2019 he’s undergone weeks of radiation on his spleen, spine, and [now] two rounds of weeks-long daily radiation on his brain, as well as countless courses of immunotherapy treatments involving different combos of drug therapies. He is still currently undergoing regular immunotherapy treatments in addition to daily oral chemotherapy and BRAF-inhibitor drugs. At the end of July, Kort suffered a seizure and then had a second seizure at the end of August. Because of this, he’s been forced to add twice-daily seizure meds to the 20+ pills he was already taking every single day.
Unfortunately in recent months, Kort has had an aggressive amount of tumor growth in his brain (the number of original tumors more than tripling). He also still has multiple tumors on his spleen, as well as lesions on his liver. Recent scans have shown though that his lungs are clear, as are his lymph nodes, and that the tumors on his spine are gone!
Kort's grueling cancer battle is not solely a physical and emotional burden, but a MASSIVE financial one, and Kort cannot work at all right now. There is no way he can or should be doing anything other than focusing on his treatments. Everyday he’s dealing with extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headaches and more thanks to the endless treatments and medications he requires for recovery. And the seizures have only added to his inability to work right now; he is no longer permitted to drive.
He is not currently receiving any financial aid from the government. Kort has been denied [after repeated appeals] for Unemployment, and the state of California has denied his claim for Disability. He has been approved for Federal Disability, but it does not kick in until SIX MONTHS (January) after his first seizure, and the payment will only be $1,650/month.
If you’re able to donate to show support for him and his fight, please know that truly ANY AMOUNT HELPS!! I know 2020 has been a grueling year for all of us in many ways, one of them being financially. I completely understand if you are not able to contribute financially at this time— you can still help out by spreading the word on social media or any other way you please. (Kort has OK-ed this and said to feel free to share it far and wide!!)
This is the guy who shows up for everyone every time. Let’s show up for him and support and empower him in any way we can right now! Thank you all so much.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jessica Franks
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Kortney Hastin
Beneficiary