Surgery Update:

The Tumor Is Gone

I finally have some good news to share: the surgery was successful, and my team was able to remove the entire tumor.

After months of waiting, fundraising, and preparing for this operation, that outcome is an incredible blessing and a huge relief.

Unfortunately, the surgery came with severe complications. Following the procedure, I experienced significant neurological issues that left me with near-complete paralysis on the right side of my face and body.

Because of this, I am now facing acute inpatient rehabilitation and a much longer recovery than anyone anticipated. My focus over the coming weeks will be regaining strength, mobility, and independence.

While I'm beyond grateful that the tumor is gone, the journey isn't over. I still have mounting medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and an extended time away from work ahead of me.

To everyone who has donated, shared this fundraiser, reached out, or kept me in your thoughts: thank you. Your support has carried me through some of the hardest days of my life.

The tumor is gone. Now it's time to fight my way back.

Hey friends—

Some of you know me well, some of you not so much, and some of you I’ve only crossed paths with once or twice. But if you know me at all, there’s a good chance I’ve fed you something delicious, poured you a strong drink, or made sure you felt safe when someone at the bar was acting out of line.

What a lot of people don’t know is that in fall 2024, I was diagnosed with an incredibly rare neuroendocrine cancer called paraganglioma.

At the time, I was told it was slow-moving—something to monitor, not panic over.

So I did what I always do: I kept working, kept showing up, kept taking care of everyone around me.

But recent scans have changed things.

The cancer has progressed significantly, and I’m now going through rounds of radiation as I prepare for surgery to remove as much of it as possible. It’s a lot, and it’s happening fast.

The reality is—this kind of illness is brutally expensive. Even with insurance, the costs stack up in ways that are hard to keep up with. Between treatment, surgery, and the recovery time that will take me out of work, I’m facing a gap I can’t cover on my own.

So I’m asking for help.

Funds raised will go toward out-of-pocket medical costs, keeping my bills paid while I recover, and all the unexpected expenses that come with navigating something this serious and this rare.

This is not an easy place for me to be. But right now, I need my community.

If you can donate, share this, or send some love, it truly means everything. It gives me the space to focus on what matters most—fighting this with everything I’ve got.

With all my love,

Mo

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