In 2021, my life was turned upside down when I received an extremely rare diagnosis of high-risk neuroblastoma as an adult. A quick surgery removed my initial tumor, but the cancer returned in metastatic form in December 2022. Faced with a daunting prognosis, I began undergoing high-dose pediatric regimens of treatment with experts at CHOP. The journey was grueling, culminating in a 3-week bout of temporary paralysis after an acute transverse myelitis attack as a side effect of immunotherapy.

With the help of experimental targetted therapies like Lorlatinib, I once again have hope for a long life. The cost of the drug is $30,000 a month without insurance, and is necesarry for me to continue surviving. I am only able to afford the medicine thanks to the ingenuity of my oncologist, Dr. Rochelle Bagatelle, who I will be joining in August.

On the 1-year anniversary of my hospital stay I want to bike the entirety of my childhood home with my oncologist, and raise as much money for cancer research in the process as possible.

Thank you for being a part of #TeamIan!