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Recipe for Hope, Benefiting Patrick Ayres

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Dear Family and Friends,

My name is Ellen Campbell,  I am a resident of Steamboat Springs and a professional fundraiser in our community. I am privileged to be assisting Patrick and his family as an administrator of this very important GoFundMe page.  

Most of you may know of Patrick's courageous journey that began just a little over a year ago. For those of you who may not be aware of how he got here at the age of 32, please take time to read about his plight with a life-threatening illness. RECIPE FOR HOPE is a story that will touch your heart and hopefully inspire you to give a gift to support him and his family during their greatest time of need.

In February 2019, Patrick was experiencing dizzy spells and over the months the spells became more frequent and striking up to 15 times a day.  He made the decision to see a doctor for what he thought was vertigo. At first, the doctor assumed it was an inner ear issue but could not find anything wrong so Patrick was referred to get an MRI. That same day, he learned he had a large mass on the front of his brain. Patrick's wife Kaylee said her initial reaction was fear. “They couldn’t give us any details on grade, tumor type or treatment options until we got in to see the specialist. So for a month, we didn’t really know what we were dealing with. That was really difficult and scary.”

They headed to Denver to see a neurosurgeon at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Thankfully, the tumor was operable and brain surgery was scheduled for September 27.

Stepping back to a few months earlier ~ Patrick had been working with Steamboat Springs restaurateur Phillips Armstrong on a new concept for a restaurant at Catamount Ranch and Club, a golf community three miles outside of town. The two worked together to create a 1920s New York City Supper Club to open in mid-December. The Periodic Table.

The details of the surgery in September are graphic so we will skip forward to what the doctors were able to do for Patrick. 95% of the tumor was removed but the remaining 5% was going to impact the area that controls movement and they did not want him to wake up paralyzed. The biopsy revealed Patrick has Stage 3 Astrocytoma, an incurable cancer.

A month after his surgery, Patrick started a six-week round of radiation and chemotherapy that required him to travel to Edwards, CO Monday through Friday - 120 mile round-trip drive from Steamboat Springs.  3-4 hours in a car, 5 days a week. But all the while, he was working as the executive chef of The Periodic Table preparing for the opening in December. Patrick, the dedicated man that his is,  worked before his  radiation treatment and returned to work at night. His last week of radiation corresponded with the last week of training the restaurant staff.  He  was determined to charge forward and whip up culinary delights night after night at The Periodic Table.

After a successful opening and an exhausting schedule, time started to take its toll on Patrick's recovery. It became increasingly difficult for him to find a healthy balance between the work that he loves and the family he loves even more. In January, Phil and Patrick worked together to help find that balance. While Patrick continues to be a creative and valued asset for Phil's restaurant 4-5 days a week, he can now spend every evening at home with Kaylee and their young daughters Paisley, 7 and Millie, 4. This has been a positive and beneficial change in Patrick's schedule, however, it has impacted his ability to financially sustain his family with a reduction of more than 50% of his annual salary.

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN AND WE ASK YOU TO JOIN US TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION. OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $75,000 AND MORE TO SUBSIDIZE PATRICK'S SALARY FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR.

WHAT IS ALSO IN THE WORKS TO ASSIST PATRICK? Phil Armstrong is also the owner of two other restaurants in Steamboat Springs; Aurum and Table 79. He, along with his magnificent Aurum staff, is planning a extraordinary fundraising dinner featuring acclaimed chefs on Tuesday, March 31, with all proceeds going directly to Patrick. More information to follow about purchasing tickets and sponsoring a table. While we await the details, you can make your gift now. This is especially for those of you who may not live in the area and wish to "gift" your support.

While no one can predict Patrick's future, the doctors say that the remaining tumor in his brain will most likely grow which will require another surgery. They will, however, keep a watchful eye on it with MRIs every six months for the rest of his life. We ask that you keep Patrick and his family in your heart and in your prayers as they take this journey together.

THANK YOU so much for taking time to read his story and supporting the Recipe for Hope for Patrick Ayres.

With gratitude,  Ellen Campbell
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Donations 

  • Karen & Paul Kromer
    • $150 
    • 4 yrs
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Organizer

Ellen J Dickinson Campbell
Organizer
Steamboat Springs, CO

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