Ryan and I met in 2017 and felt an instant connection. Three years from that moment, we found out we were expecting our first child and were overcome with joy and excitement. But just 2 months into my pregnancy, Ryan complained of abdominal pains so bad he needed to go to the hospital where they discovered a mysterious mass in his abdominal cavity.

Ours lives were turned upside down with numerous tests, scans, and uncertainties. Two months after they found the mass, it was determined it was cancer and he would need chemotherapy. It has been an emotional rollercoaster during a time when we otherwise would have only had to prepare for and enjoy our little girl. The physical and mental demands of chemo and pregnancy have exhausted us both.

We have been lucky to have received so much support from our family, friends, and work, yet the way the healthcare system is designed in this country has left Ryan with medical bills exceeding $14,000. He has to pay 2 deductibles since we discovered his cancer at the end of 2020. Anyone that knows Ryan knows how kind and generous he is, he doesn’t deserve this. 

Even despite a rigorous 5 day a week chemo treatment every 21 days, Ryan is still working full time and investigating every angle he can to help reduce his medical costs. Soon, I will have to go on maternity leave, and we all know how expensive babies are, too!

We don’t expect help, and we don’t expect to meet the goal - this is just realistically the expenses we are facing to pay off the hospital. So many people have offered to help in any way they can, so we thought we would create a way for people to donate if they feel drawn to our cause. We are so grateful for the love and support in any shape or form. 

This is not an easy ask for us, and we would never have thought we would be in this position. We have both worked so hard our whole lives, and Ryan is an amazing provider. His strength to continue working, even through chemo, shows me how dedicated he is to his family. It’s not his fault this country was not built to support the sick, and disability will not cover the needs of a family of 3. 

Thank you for listening and being there for us. We love you. We look forward to the day we can pay it forward.