Their Story
Last fall, Emily's husband Phil noticed one of his tonsils had been swollen for months. Doctor after doctor dismissed it as a chronic infection — an ENT was ready to simply remove it. Phil and Emily pushed for a closer look, and after months of persistence, further imaging and a biopsy revealed the truth: it was lymphoma.
Phil began chemotherapy and things were moving in the right direction. Then this spring, a serious reaction to treatment led to pneumonia and sepsis, landing him in the hospital for an extended stay in early June. His cancer treatment had to be paused entirely while his body fought to recover. Just as he was coming home, follow-up scans showed the cancer had become more aggressive and spread to his lungs — prompting an urgent referral to specialists at UNC in Chapel Hill.
Since late June, Phil and Emily have been based near Chapel Hill for his care. Emily has been splitting her time between the hospital, their baby, and work. This past week brought another frightening turn when Phil lost control of half of his body — doctors feared a stroke. Thankfully it wasn't, but they are now monitoring whether the cancer has spread further and watching for possible heart damage. They remain in the hospital as doctors finalize a new treatment plan, which isn't expected to begin until mid-August.
On top of everything else, the financial weight has been enormous — extended hospital stays, travel, lodging near Chapel Hill, and time away from work have all added up. Phil and Emily have carried this privately for a long time. Now their community has a chance to show up for them.