Team Kenny

There are some moments in life that you never forget.  The day I learned that Kenny had stage IV cancer is one of those moments.

In July 2020, Kenny was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, which had aggressively spread throughout his body.  A stage IV diagnosis for a husband and father of three young boys is already unimaginable — but add in a global pandemic and it becomes even more isolating and crippling.

Since his diagnosis, Kenny has embarked on the fight of his life and with the support of his amazing wife Jamie, has undergone exhausting rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments at Mass General Hospital, traveling to Boston every other week for treatments. To say that the last eight months have been difficult for Kenny, Jamie, and their family is an understatement, but Kenny's resolve has never once wavered.  Like so many who have fought this disease, Kenny wakes up each morning and says, "Not today". His will to live is as strong now as when he was first diagnosed.

If you are reading this story, you probably already know and love Kenny.  You know his incredible wife, Jamie, his three athletic and hilarious boys, his magnetic smile, his quiet presence, and his willingness to always put his friends' happiness in front of his own.  You know his unyielding love for his mother and father, and his love and respect for his older sister and older brothers. If you know Kenny, you know he will never complain about this diagnosis or ask for our help.  Kenny will tell us he feels good, and everything is fine.  He will flash a smile, send a thumbs up selfie, and carry the weight of his diagnosis in silence.  That is Kenny.  It is who he is and who he always has been.  He’s the kind of glass half full, life is what you make of it, always up for an adventure kind of friend everyone needs.  And now, he needs us.

The financial costs facing Kenny and Jamie are undoubtedly overwhelming and the reality of Kenny's diagnosis is that no amount of insurance will cover the cost of his critical long-term care.   Everyone who knows and loves Kenny has repeatedly asked how they can help.  In the coming months, Kenny will continue to travel to Boston to receive treatment where he and Jamie will be faced with decisions to pursue treatment and medicines that may not be covered by insurance.  Kenny will miss more time from work and will need the care of his wife, who will have to take time off without pay. The hurdles Kenny and Jamie face are staggering, but they are determined to beat this disease.  Like the marathons he's run before, Kenny will never give up – he’ll fight like hell to finish this race with the same strength and determination he’s carried through life.  And I know he’ll feel us fighting right alongside him because we are #teamkenny, forever.

Thank you for taking time to read Kenny's story. If you’re able, any contribution is amazing, and no sentiment is too small. If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing Kenny’s story with others.  All funds raised will go directly to Kenny and Jamie to help provide for their family and offer some financial security to pursue any available medical treatment so Kenny can focus on his treatment, his fight, and most importantly his family.  The journey forward continues.