Neelix Otway is not your typical 20-year-old kid. From a young age, he was never a stranger to adversity. At just two years old, Neelix was diagnosed with CMV-induced hearing loss, a progressive sensorineural hearing loss that also resulted in issues with memory and concentration. At two and a half years old, he underwent Cochlear Implant Surgery to remove a part of his skull to place magnets. These magnets are necessary to hold the device in place that transmits sounds to the internal device, allowing him to hear. Despite the life-changing technology that now allows him to hear, Neelix missed out on years of language acquisition. But that has never stopped him from achieving his goals. He has defied all the odds stacked against him and graduated from Seventh Fire Secondary School in 2024. Neelix has also always excelled at sports and has been in the hockey community for over 10 years, a natural born leader both on and off the ice. Neelix is a resilient, passionate, kind, and vivacious young man. He still enjoys playing hockey for the Schrieber Falcons, spending time with his puppy Bella, working toward his carpentry apprenticeship at Tom Jones, and helping his grandmother with her yard work.

However, his life took an unexpected turn when he presented to the TBRHSC Emergency Room on March 21st with severe abdominal pain following his late-night hockey game.

After many scans and tests, Neelix was diagnosed with an enlarged, ruptured spleen and was admitted to 3B Inpatient Ward for close monitoring. More invasive tests were then performed to determine why Neelix's spleen was so enlarged. The results were devastating: a rare and aggressive blood cancer called Systemic Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma (ALCL).

Now, Neelix is facing the greatest fight of his life — and he is not facing it alone.

He is currently admitted to the intensive care unit in Thunder Bay due to complications of his hematological malignancy and has received his first round of chemotherapy on the unit.

We are asking for support to help cover medical-related expenses, uninsured medications, physiotherapy, medical supplies, home modifications, fertility preservation treatments, and daily necessities such as groceries, gas, parking, and food during hospital stays. This will help ease the financial burden as both Neelix and his parents are currently off work for the foreseeable future. There have been conversations about the possibility of a bone marrow transplant, which would require Neelix to travel to Ottawa to receive it.

For almost two weeks now, Neelix has demonstrated unwavering strength in battling this disease and still faces so many uncertainties. We simply wish to help ease the financial hardships of fighting a life-threatening illness at such a young age. This will allow Neelix to focus on healing and recovery throughout this long and unpredictable journey.

We thank you so much for your ongoing support and contributions. Your generosity will change Neelix's life for the better. Every donation, every shared post, every message of encouragement will remind Neelix that he is not alone in this fight. He is a young man who has spent his whole life defying the odds, and knowing that so many people are in his corner will give him strength, even on his hardest days.

With so much love and gratitude.

#FightLikeNeelix