Support young musician fighting thyroid cancer.

Meet Hoyt:

Age: 26
Occupation: Historic Restoration Construction Contractor
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Color: Blue
Top Destination Goal: Italy
Favorite Animal: Birds
Favorite Movie: O Brother Where Art Thou
Favorite Artist: The Beatles
Favorite instrument: Guitar

Now that you know a little about the hard-working, creative, and kind man that is Hoyt Mangrum, here is his most recent story:

In June of 2020, while on a trip to Montana, John Paul, Hoyt's brother, noticed a large lump on the side of Hoyt's neck. As a good and attentive brother does, JP encouraged Hoyt to have it checked out. Hoyt agreed to go to a clinic as he had felt tired, sluggish, and lethargic for some time. 

By early July, after countless consultations, scans, labs, and an FNA biopsy, Hoyt received a diagnosis of 

advanced Differentiated Papillary Thyroid cancer. 



Hoyt in downtown Bozeman, Montana, about three weeks before his diagnosis. 



Hoyt underwent a 5-hour surgery requiring a radical throat dissection and a total thyroidectomy on August 14th. With an incision beginning behind his left ear and ending at his right collarbone, the surgeons removed every lymph node, his jugular vein, and his entire thyroid. The lymph nodes were removed as they were the ones containing the cancerous masses. The lab report came back with 8 of the 16 nodes being cancerous, and one measuring at 2 inches in diameter. The jugular was removed because the masses had suppressed the vein and had all but stopped blood flow. The entire thyroid was removed, both left and right lobes and the isthmus. One of the significant concerns with the surgery was potential damage to Hoyt's vocal cords. If you've ever had the pleasure of hearing Hoyt Mangrum sing, then you know all were concerned. The brilliant team of surgeons was able to preserve his vocal cords while being as thorough with the thyroid removal as possible. Hoyt's challenging recovery had him in the hospital for five nights, where he championed his healing each day and night with strength and grace. Hoyt was able to go home and convalesce in peace without the hospital's constant beeps and bumps soon after. 

Hoyt 2 days post-op.


The prescribed thyroid hormone replacement medication gave Hoyt a new lease on life with renewed vigor and energy.  For two weeks, Hoyt took thyroid hormone replacement medication and experienced an active thyroid that supported his body's energy! However, treatment is not over! After a taste of what will be, Hoyt was taken off of this medication to drop his THC levels to prepare his body for radiation.
This was a challenge in itself, as Hoyt's malaise and lethargy returned ten-fold, and he was left weakened and exhausted. 

Radiation treatment began earlier this week. He took a pill filled with radioactive iodine on Tuesday, October 5th, and he is currently in radioactive induced quarantine while the medicine works its way out of his system. Not only will this aggressive treatment attack any cancer cells that had moved beyond his neck, but will also provide visuals for a scan that will show where the cancer is hiding. Hoyt is scheduled for this scan next Tuesday. Learning more about where the cancer could have spread to is an anxious moment to await. However, Hoyt has mounted every challenge with a calm and gentle spirit. 

--------

Hoyt has been in and out of work for about a month now due to these treatments' side effects. In addition to being unable to work, hospital bills, surgeon bills, consultation bills, lab bills, and countless other bills have mounted up. Hoyt has had some government assistance, but the financial aspect of this disease has been tremendous. Many are struggling as our country battles for health and stability. 

Please consider Hoyt's story when you consider giving: 

A young, driven young man with his life turned upside down by a surprise sneak-attack of cancer. 

Any amount will help. 


All the best,

Katherine