In June of 2016 my wife was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell adenocarcinoma with an ALK mutation. She was 37, healthy, and carrying our fifth child. Our world changed forever in that moment.

In the early months after diagnosis, we were all in a reactive state of mind, just surviving and trying to keep our heads above water.  The world shrank down to just a few things like tracking meds by the hour and deciding when it would be a good time to go sit on the patio and feel the sun.

As the days, weeks, and months passed after diagnosis and Kathryn’s treatments began to work, we gradually changed our focus from survival to trying to find joyful moments with the kids.  We knew time was limited. Many of our ALK friends have passed away.  One moment they are talking about the 30th birthday bash they want to have and just hours later they are gone.  It can happen that fast and that unexpectedly.

My wife passed away on August 22nd, 2020 after four years of fighting this disease.  She ran out of treatments.  This was the outcome we were fighting to avoid and why I ran to raise money.  It wasn’t enough to save her but she will never leave me.  She is not gone.