In Support of Brandy & Jeremy- Fighting Cancer (Again)
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After 10 years, Jeremy’s cancer is back. He is three months into the fight, and now his family is asking for your help.
A note from Brandy:
Well friends, it has been quite a year! Some of you know of the family medical emergencies that threw our lives into chaos last year (more than our normal amount). Many of you do not.
One of our kids was hospitalized last spring for two weeks and has been struggling through a difficult recovery process ever since. Almost simultaneously, we had a huge scare with Jeremy, a 9-year cancer survivor at the time, that led to months of specialists, scans, bloodwork, and two biopsies. The waiting was horrible. Even though it ended up ok at the time, we were left with a massive amount of medical bills.
Add to this a meniscus tear that left me unable to teach, and another surgery was on the docket for the year - mine.
A note from Brandy:
Well friends, it has been quite a year! Some of you know of the family medical emergencies that threw our lives into chaos last year (more than our normal amount). Many of you do not.
One of our kids was hospitalized last spring for two weeks and has been struggling through a difficult recovery process ever since. Almost simultaneously, we had a huge scare with Jeremy, a 9-year cancer survivor at the time, that led to months of specialists, scans, bloodwork, and two biopsies. The waiting was horrible. Even though it ended up ok at the time, we were left with a massive amount of medical bills.
Add to this a meniscus tear that left me unable to teach, and another surgery was on the docket for the year - mine.
That leads us to this year. We are, to say the least, exhausted…mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially! We entered 2026 with our heads barely above water. Then came the tsunami.
In February, Jeremy’s tumor markers came back elevated. A CT was scheduled, then an ultrasound, and it was confirmed. His cancer is back.
In February, Jeremy’s tumor markers came back elevated. A CT was scheduled, then an ultrasound, and it was confirmed. His cancer is back.
For those who don’t know, in 2016 Jeremy was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had a left side orchiectomy followed by radiation targeting an affected lymph node in his abdomen. Since then, he has been clear, until now.
On March 27 of this year, Jeremy had his second orchiectomy. We have since learned that the tumor doubled in size in the two weeks between final imaging and surgery. It was growing quickly. Although his tumor markers have lowered significantly post-surgery, this was a mixed-germ cell tumor, the largest portion of which was an aggressive type of tumor that doesn’t produce markers (and therefore doesn’t show up in bloodwork).
We won’t get first news as to whether the cancer has spread further until late June, when initial post-op imaging is done. If it has spread, a risky and very aggressive abdominal surgery is the only option because this particular type of testicular cancer doesn’t respond to chemo or radiation. We will IMMEDIATELY have to travel out of state to either IU (Indianapolis) or Sloan-Kettering (NYC) for the surgery, and it will require months of recovery.
We won’t get first news as to whether the cancer has spread further until late June, when initial post-op imaging is done. If it has spread, a risky and very aggressive abdominal surgery is the only option because this particular type of testicular cancer doesn’t respond to chemo or radiation. We will IMMEDIATELY have to travel out of state to either IU (Indianapolis) or Sloan-Kettering (NYC) for the surgery, and it will require months of recovery.
While we are preparing for this fight and will do whatever it takes to get through it, we would love to be able to do so without (more) crippling medical debt. We’re also doing everything we can to keep life as “normal” as possible for our four boys, ages 10-17.
Because of all of this, and as much as we dislike doing it, we are asking for help. This is particularly tough for Jeremy. Many of you have already asked how you can help, and it’s been difficult for us to articulate what our needs are. Hopefully this platform will make communicating Jeremy’s health updates and our evolving needs a little easier. Currently, our primary and most urgent need is for financial support. Down the road, if travel for treatment or additional surgery becomes necessary, the need for help with meals or childcare may arise.
Because of all of this, and as much as we dislike doing it, we are asking for help. This is particularly tough for Jeremy. Many of you have already asked how you can help, and it’s been difficult for us to articulate what our needs are. Hopefully this platform will make communicating Jeremy’s health updates and our evolving needs a little easier. Currently, our primary and most urgent need is for financial support. Down the road, if travel for treatment or additional surgery becomes necessary, the need for help with meals or childcare may arise.
We are so very grateful to have a community of people who love us and support us so unconditionally! We wouldn’t have survived this past year without you!
We love you all and appreciate any support you can give, in time, money, and especially in love and prayers.
—Brandy
We love you all and appreciate any support you can give, in time, money, and especially in love and prayers.
—Brandy
Updates
Keep up to date as needs change.
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