Hi everyone, and thank you so much for taking the time to read Phil’s story.

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My name is Karlie, and I’m starting this fundraiser for my boyfriend, Phil Lucafo — one of the kindest, hardest-working, and funniest people you could ever meet. Phil is the type of man who brings light into every room he enters. He has touched my life and my daughter’s life in ways we can never fully put into words, and now he needs help as he faces one of the hardest battles of his life.

Phil’s Diagnosis:

In October 2025, Phil was diagnosed with HPV-positive squamous cell carcinoma (tonsil/throat cancer). What started as a swollen lymph node on the right side of his neck quickly grew into months of tests, specialist visits, imaging, biopsies, and deep uncertainty. Receiving the diagnosis has been devastating — emotionally, physically, and financially.

Treatment Plan:

Phil is scheduled for a partial pharyngectomy on December 12th, where doctors will remove:

Because of the extent of the surgery, Phil will be staying in the hospital for 3 to 4 days after surgery and will need a feeding tube through his nose for up to two weeks afterward. Once he has healed from the surgery, he will start radiation and chemo treatments, which are estimated to begin in mid-January 2026.

We will be staying near Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale for two weeks after surgery due to the risk of his surgical site bleeding, until doctors clear us to go home. During this time — and for the weeks of treatment after — Phil will be unable to work, adding even more strain to an already overwhelming situation.

How This Has Affected Our Lives:

The emotional toll has been enormous. Watching someone you love go through scans, biopsies, consultations, and fear is indescribably heavy. Phil has handled everything with strength and grace, but the truth is that this has shaken us deeply — and the financial strain has grown month after month.

We’ve already been responsible for multiple appointments, imaging, procedures, and pre-operative costs, and the bills continue to climb. With Phil unable to work after surgery, and with treatment potentially continuing into 2026 and beyond, we’re facing a level of financial burden we simply cannot cover on our own.

What Your Support Will Help With:

Every donation — no matter the amount — will directly support Phil’s recovery and help us stay afloat during this painful and uncertain time.

Why I’m Asking for Help:

Phil is an incredible man who has brought joy, laughter, and love into the lives of so many people — especially mine and my daughter’s. Seeing him fight this has been heartbreaking. All I want is to ease some of the weight he is forced to carry so he can focus on the most important thing: healing and beating cancer.

If you are able to donate, share, or simply send love and prayers, it means more than you will ever know. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting Phil in this fight.

With love and gratitude,

Karlie and Phil