Support the Cox-Collins Family in Crisis

I am raising funds for my dearest friends: Henry, Melissa, and Sofi Cox-Collins. They were an integral part of the homeschool community that I hosted on our farm in Pownal, VT. We essentially raised our children together.

Henry was diagnosed with colon cancer just over two years ago, and despite many treatments has been slowly declining. He has not been able to work during this time. He was the primary income earner for the family, working as a master carpenter. In order to pay his medical bills and just live, they have depleted all of their savings and tapped out credit cards. He was being treated by a specialist in NYC and for many months they were constantly traveling and having to stay there. Melissa has been the only one able to work. She was earning a decent supplementary income working at a farmer's market. However, since Henry's diagnosis and time in NYC, she has been unable to continue that work. At the time of his diagnosis, they also had a family carpentry business, but this ordeal has caused them to lose that stream of income as well.

He had a major operation in the fall of 2024 to remove the cancer. He also ended up having "whipple surgery," which is incredibly dangerous. The doctors also completely reconstructed his colon. Additionally, they gave him an ileostomy which has made it very difficult to get nutrients from the little food he can eat. He recovered in NYC for over a month and then was back and forth to the hospital due to ongoing complications.

In January of 2025 it was discovered that he had 2 liver abscesses. While they were accessing them, they found that the cancer has metastasized to his pancreas. In March of 2025 he found out he had 3 more liver abscesses which he was given more drainage tubes for and he still has. These require constant maintenance. He is on 24/7 care. He's been on antibiotics for over a year and his body is completed wiped out. He is currently bedridden and has lost 60 pounds. As of today, he's so weak he can barely lift his hand to drink.

As of this past week, they have realized they have reached the end of the line for treatment from conventional medicine. Melissa is now taking care of him full time at home. Henry says he is not ready to die and is still fighting. As long as he wants to fight, Melissa will fight with him. They are currently pursuing alternative treatment and comfort care.

Sofi is a top notch student (and amazing human) who is headed to college in the fall after successful homeschooling and engaging in trades education at Bennington's Southwest Tech. She has sadly had to endure this horrible situation over the past few years, and has had to step up in ways that many teenagers will never experience.

This campaign is to help find funds and resources to help this family survive their daily lives without anxiety over how they will pay for alternative treatments and comfort care, smaller things like gas to get to appointments, and utility bills. This will also help them be able to get Sofi settled at college. Melissa will be attending nursing school full time to set herself up to be financially stable, but this will take at least two years.

Any little bit helps. Thank you so much for considering donating.