Gus is an active, funny, smart, spirited 19-year-old. He just completed his freshman year at Colorado Mountain College, in Steamboat Springs, where he is enrolled in their four-year nursing program. As you might imagine, Gus is living his best life in Steamboat and has flourished academically and socially at college, while still spending plenty of time on the mountain this winter (he is a Courter after all).

In mid-April, Gus experienced some shortness of breath and pain in his chest, both of which he had felt intermittently for over a year. He went to Urgent Care in Steamboat where a chest x-ray revealed that he has a large mass in his chest. He was admitted into the hospital and, unfortunately, further testing revealed that he has metastatic cancer.

The large mass is a football sized tumor that is pressing on and invading his left lung. It is also pressing on his heart. The tumor is malignant (primary is Mediastinal Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumor) and additional work-up identified that he also has a spot on his right lung, another on his sternum, and two spots on his brain. The “football” (as Gus is calling it), is too large to safely remove at this time.

The cancer is aggressive and Gus is ready to fight back with an aggressive plan. The doctors he is working with are amazing and they are fast-tracking everything. Gus will start heavy duty inpatient chemotherapy on May 4: four - three week rounds (12 weeks total).

The family is going to need your support as Gus fights this. Thank you in advance for anything you're willing to contribute. Since his treatment starts on May 4th... May the 4th be with you, Gus!! Be Strong!