The Zak Family

Dear family and friends of Mike & Shannon Zak (our Zak Pack) –

Thank you so much for the continued love and support as Mike continues his battle against cancer. The calls, cards, meals and other random acts of kindness have bolstered spirits through this emotional, uncontrollable journey. We hope you know that your outreach has the power to brighten difficult days. Please keep it coming!

As many of you know, December 10, 2023 marked the two-year anniversary of Mike’s diagnosis. Year two brought with it many curve balls, which Mike & Shannon seemingly took in stride. After four rounds of chemotherapy, Mike’s scans showed that the tumors had grown, leading his oncology team to discontinue the treatment. After weighing the options, in August ‘23, Mike began new treatment, Mirati’s KRAS inhibitor. Fortunately, at the end of the year, Mike’s cancer reached a “controlled state,” opening the door to discussing surgery to remove the cancer.

In March, Mike will undergo cytoreductive surgery under the care of Dr. Garrett Nash and his exceptional team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York. Given how rare appendiceal cancer is (affecting only 1 to 2 people per million), the team at MSKCC is one of the few in the US that has the expertise to treat Mike. Mike’s recovery could vary from ~3-6 weeks, so the Zak’s are making plans to temporarily relocate to NYC to be near Mike’s care team as he recovers.

The funds you’ve donated to-date have given the Zak’s additional peace of mind as they navigate the complexities of oncology teams, treatment options, and insurance coverage. They have used the money donated to cover chemotherapy treatments, hospital stays, regular CT scans, pre-op appointments, and travel to Memorial Sloan Kettering.

If you would like to support the Zak’s through this next big milestone, please consider donating to the Go Fund Me page.

Thank you all for everything you’ve done for Mike, Shannon, Mikey & Blair!

With Gratitude,

Fellow Zak Pack Friends