First received Tuesday, May 26, 2026
For Cate V. in England who has a weak immune system after many years of cancer and is hospitalized with a serious chest infection.
Update Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Cate has pneumonia in both lungs. She will be in intensive care on an intravenous antibiotic drip for at least five days. Support also for her family and friends.
First received Tuesday, May 12, 2026
For Johan S. of Bellingham, Washington with multiple injuries after a mountain bike accident who will have surgery in Seattle...[May 13] Johan's injuries include a compound fracture in the right foot, a crushed right big toe bone, a separated right shoulder and a hairline fracture in the right clavicle. He has an external cage on his right leg with pins that go into the bones of his right foot to stabilize it while the swelling goes down and doctors can determine the surgery needed. There will be no surgery on the right shoulder and clavicle for the time being...[May 20] Johan will have surgery on two metatarsal bones of his right toe tomorrow afternoon. Surgery on the remaining big toe bone has yet to be determined...[May 22] The surgery went well....[May 23] Johan was given a nerve block for pain after the surgery. It is not working and the pain is excruciating. Support also for the hospital’s pain team and other caregivers.
Update Wednesday, May 27, 2026
The surgery was successful. One bone was repaired with small plates and screws in a six-hour surgery. Johan is scheduled for surgery tomorrow to fix the remaining arch bone.
First received Thursday, April 30, 2026
For Teresa B. in Phoenix, Arizona with a cancerous mass in her intestine...[May 5] Teresa is meeting with her colorectal surgeon on May 13.
Update Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Teresa is being assessed to determine whether the cancer has spread.
First received Monday, May 25, 2026
For Vince O. in Covington, Kentucky who had a stroke last Friday that paralyzed his right side.
Update Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Vince is in hospice with several malignant brain tumors and is nearing his transition.
First received Tuesday, May 12, 2026
For seven-year-old Anna H. in Denver, Colorado whose tonsils are extremely sore and needs a tonsillectomy.
Update Friday, May 22, 2026
Anna is unable to have surgery because of insurance issues. Her sore tonsils are causing sleep apnea and is dangerous for her developing brain. Support is requested for her parents as they work to arrange coverage for her operation.
First received Wednesday, May 20, 2026
For Dawn C. in Tarpon Springs, Florida who is in the hospital with a fractured right knee which may need surgery.
Update Friday, May 22, 2026
Her surgery was successful, and she is in recovery. Doctors inserted a rod and screws from her femur to her knee.
First received Tuesday, February 10, 2026
For Heather S.-H. in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania who has a small ductal carcinoma in the left side of her left breast... [February 24] The carcinoma is Stage 0 but has the most aggressive type of cell....[February 27] Heather is scheduled for a lumpectomy on March 17 followed by one to four weeks of radiation depending on the results of the pathology report. Her surgeon is optimistic about being able to remove all cancerous cells....[March 17] Heather's surgery went well and she is home recovering from the anesthesia. She will have a follow-up for the pathology report and treatment plan on April 1.... [April 1] The surgical area is healing well. However, pathology results showed they did not get clean margins, so Heather will have a second surgery on May 5 to remove additional tissue and a couple of lymph nodes.... [May 6] Heather's surgery went well, although she is sore. The appointment to get the pathology report is May 18, probably followed by radiation and chemo.
Update Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Heather's cancer turned out to be HER2-positive and was upgraded to stage 1 invasive. She will be starting a year of intense chemotherapy and radiation.
First received Thursday, January 29, 2026
For Judy S. in San Marcos, California who is having urethra reconstruction surgery on February 2 and is caring for her aging mother...[February 27] Judy is still recovering from her surgery.
Update Monday, May 18, 2026
Judy is in a lot of pain from a third urethra reconstruction surgery.
First received Sunday, May 10, 2026
For Elisabeth W. in Brandenburg, Germany who will have surgery on May 15 to remove a tumor in the wall of her stomach which is triggering the production of bile.
Update Monday, May 18, 2026
The surgery went well, although it took longer than expected. The tumor was in a difficult place to reach. It is now being cultured. In about four weeks doctors will know what kind of tumor it was and if it triggered the bile. Elisabeth's healing process is going well.
First received Monday, May 11, 2026
For Steve S. in Tucson, Arizona who is having pancreatic cancer surgery tomorrow morning.
Update Wednesday, May 14, 2026
The operation took more than seven hours. The nurses have him up walking. Steve is doing well.
First received Monday, May 11, 2026
For Andrea S. in Louisville, Kentucky with metastatic breast cancer who is close to making her transition, and for her husband and children.
Update Wednesday, May 14, 2026
Andrea made her transition at home today.
First received Friday, March 13, 2026
For Tom Q. in Heidelberg, Germany with advanced prostate cancer which has spread to his bones.... [April 8] Tom has already begun hormone therapy and will now begin chemotherapy. Support also for his wife, Annette.
Update Wednesday, May 14, 2026
Tom has had his second chemotherapy. He is able to eat and has gained weight.
First received Wednesday, January 7, 2026
For Armin H. in Göttingen, Germany with end-stage pancreatic cancer...[March 13] Armin’s condition has been relatively stable for a while.
Update Wednesday, May 14, 2026
Armin has made his transition.
First received Sunday, February 8, 2026
For Laura S. in Parker, Colorado who was admitted to the hospital this afternoon....[February 25] After a week in the hospital for sepsis, Laura has been transferred to a rehab facility to continue antibiotics and physical therapy until she can walk independently.
Update Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Laura is returning home after three months in a rehab facility. She has recovered from the sepsis infection and gained a great deal of strength from the physical and occupational therapies. She still needs help to get out of a
wheelchair. Continued support as she develops more strength, and for her family and friends.
First received Sunday, February 1, 2026
For thirteen-year-old Luna S. in San Diego, California with Rett syndrome who has stopped eating and drinking and is hospitalized.
Update Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Luna is now fourteen and is nearing her transition. Continued support for her, and for her mother Zora and her siblings as they care for her.
First received Thursday, February 26, 2026
For 88-year-old Elaine S. in Rydal, Pennsylvania who has been admitted to the hospital with cardiac problems and is getting tests and treatment... [February 27] Elaine is too frail for surgery. Her kidneys have almost shut down. Her heart is not pumping well, but medications to make it pump better could be fatal because her valves are clogged, so the doctor has recommended palliative care. Support also for her family...[March 3] Elaine probably had had a heart attack and has responded very well to treatment. Her kidney values are now back in the normal range. After consultation with her and with the family, she is going to have a catheterization tomorrow under light sedation and possibly have a stent inserted. She herself is in favor of the procedure....[March 7] There was nothing that could be done during the catheterization. Elaine's heart is working at 10%, one valve is entirely blocked and two are partially blocked....[March 25] Elaine failed to regain enough strength to return to her apartment and is being transferred to a hospital-style room with a higher level of medical care.
Update Monday, May 11, 2026
Elaine's physical condition has worsened, with deep sores on her arms and legs which the facility is trying to keep from developing gangrene. Hospice is being called in to provide comfort care.
First received Saturday, April 25, 2026
For Jerry E. in Buffalo, Wyoming who had surgery on a fracture of his left hip.
Update Monday, May 11, 2026
Jerry made his transition today.
First received Friday, March 27, 2026
For Bob Z. in Fortuna, California who received a kidney today donated by his niece, Shauna; and for their medical team....[March 31] The surgery was successful and both Bob and Shauna are recovering well. Bob’s new kidney began to function almost immediately, and he has already been taken off the special renal diet. His doctors are currently predicting that he will be released to go home ahead of schedule...[April 23] Bob was admitted to the ER today with a possible infection related to the kidney he received...[April 24] Bob remains in the ICU where he is being treated for sepsis... [April 28] Bob was released from the hospital last night. He is now on an oral antibiotic. He will remain near the VA hospital while he is monitored for infection. He hopes to hear by May 5 when he will be cleared to return home.
Update Monday, May 11, 2026
Bob has been readmitted to the hospital with another UTI.
First received Thursday, April 16, 2026
For Cooper, a four-year-old German Shepherd in St. Petersburg, Florida who has an autoimmune disease causing extreme cystitis, and for his sister and human family.
Update Saturday, May 9, 2026
Cooper is stable but currently has to take five medicines a day. The medications are very expensive and his owners are trying to find ways to afford to keep him healthy in the long term.
First received Sunday, March 9, 2025
For Roland B. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with surgery on Monday for a melanoma on the left side of his neck; and for his family....[March 11] Roland's cardiologist gave him the “green light” for surgery on March 20....
[June 26] Overall Roland's skin is healing better and he has less bleeding. He will see his dermatologist this afternoon about difficulty with an old wound on his right shin...[June 27] Roland had laser radiation on his shin
and will have another treatment next Wednesday. Today he is starting oral chemotherapy by daily capsule for basal cell carcinoma... [January 7] Roland's melanoma reappeared as tumors in different places. He is now pain-free.
Update Thursday, May 7, 2026
Roland made his transition peacefully yesterday with his wife, son and family in attendance.
First received Tuesday, May 5, 2026
For Charles H. of Albany, New York who is on vacation and will have a cardiac catheterization in Roanoke, Virginia.
Update Wednesday, May 6, 2026
A stent failure in Charles’ LAD artery had caused a blockage. The stent has now been replaced. He is nauseous and lightheaded and has not yet been discharged.
First received Saturday, April 18, 2026
For octogenarian Scott D. in Tampa, Florida with an operation for stage one lung cancer next week, and for his wife, Karen.
Update Tuesday, May 5, 2026
The margins came back clean.
First received Sunday, March 29, 2026
For a young humpback whale in the Baltic Sea near Wismar, Germany who beached himself and is weakening as rescuers try to support his getting to the Atlantic...[March 31] The whale is stranded again.
Update Monday, May 4, 2026
The humpback whale was finally transported by barge and released in the North Sea.
First received Thursday, October 31, 2024
For Evie M. in Plymouth, United Kingdom who is in the hospital with severe anorexia, and for her parents and siblings...[January 2, 2025] Evie is back at home with her family in Bristol. Her parents are caring for her, and she has improved a little...[March 20] Evie is on very strong medication. She may need to be hospitalized again...[April 30] Evie’s communication has improved and she is also sleeping better...[July 14] Evie continues to need strong medications. She remains at home and her medical team is supporting the whole family....[January 6, 2026] Evie now talks with her siblings as well as her parents and is learning to play the guitar. She is receiving ongoing medical care.
Update Sunday, May 3, 2026
Evie’s medical team meets on Tuesday to discuss ongoing treatment. Support is requested for the whole family.
First received Wednesday, March 18, 2026
For 72-year-old Wolfgang in Ueckermünde, Germany who hasn't been able to eat for four months and is having a biopsy on his tongue today... [April 3] The biopsy confirmed cancer at the base of his tongue. Wolfgang will begin chemotherapy on Sunday, April 12...[April 12] Wofgang had surgery to place a port for chemotherapy on Friday, and he can eat again. On Monday he will have a preliminary interview about radiation.
Update Sunday, May 3, 2026
Wolfgang is having pain with his chemotherapy. Continued support is requested.
First received Thursday, April 23, 2026
For Black, a ten-year-old cat in Louisville, Kentucky with an infection in his left inner ear which is causing balance issues and minor facial paralysis.
Update Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Imaging shows Black has a large polyp inside the inner ear, behind the ear drum. Surgery is not an option due to cost, so his human and his veterinarian are now trying to manage his condition with steroids to reduce inflammation and antibiotics for the infection. He continues to have balance issues.
First received Monday, April 20, 2026
For Nina H. in Güímar, Tenerife who is trying to resolve a water rights issue with a neighbor...[April 27] The water rights issue has not yet been resolved, and Nina is anxious. Support also for her lawyer and her neighbor.
Update Thursday, April 30, 2026
Nina was able to get about half the water without issues or confrontation. Continuing support is requested for coming to an agreement with the neighbor.