Jeremy’s the quiet gentle teddy bear who greets you with a nervous giggle and some loving dig to make you laugh (or in my case, roll eyes). He’s the rock, the fixer, the strategist, the moral compass, and the most honest and genuine human you will ever meet. He will show up for you whenever you need him… Every single time… (and he will probably do so wearing Crocs.)

But now, he needs us.

We spent almost two months of concern for a growth on his neck we lovingly named “Billy” where we were assured there was a good chance it was “nothing to worry about”, “an overgrown thyroid from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis”, “a goiter”, “maybe a simple thyroid cancer easily surgically removed.” Unfortunately, not. Turns out… None of those things. We all had to guess because it had also been almost two months of fighting and waiting just to get radiology labs to make appointments and then finish the findings. After almost two months advocating, gratefully calling in favors with doctors who are friends, and people who know people…

We FINALLY have a conclusion.

Jeremy has cancer.

And not an easily surgically removed kind.

It’s the kind of cancer that needs a lot of chemo in order to pulverize it.

Non Hodgkins Type B Large Cell Lymphoma of the Mediastinum, to be specific.

It’s pushing on his chest, up to his neck, pressing on his larynx, enlarging his thyroid, chin, neck, and lymph nodes.

It’s currently stage 2B but if his bone marrow biopsy comes back positive, it will be reclassified stage 4.

And he’s going to get better.

He is.

Because he’s strong.

Because he believes in his doctor’s plan to treat it.

Because of Emmett.

Because of me.

Because we love him.

Because of his tribe. You know who you are, and we couldn’t have made it through this week without you.

Because of all of those wonderful people who jumped into action making meals, grocery shopping, watching our dogs, our Emmett, our home, our well being.

Because he’s young, vibrant, and has a whole life left to live.

Because he got this terrible disease in 2022 and not 1922.

Because he’s leaning on The Source of Life for courage and support.

Because life is worth living.

Some will read this and keep on scrolling.

That’s okay.

Some will read this, love Jeremy, and wonder what we can do to help.

We can pray.

Prayer alone is a paper with no pen.

It is going to be up to the universe, the doctors, the nurses, the love from family and friends, and then… it will depend on how this disease reacts to our best intentions and efforts.

We pray that the doctors and nurses minds are as sharp and possible so that they can care for and cure Jeremy.

We pray that the outcome is one that allows Jeremy lives long enough to meet his great grandchildren.

We pray that the harsh treatment does not dampen his quality of life, his zest for his work, and his abilities to be a dad.

We pray that Eternal Source is his companion through it all.

We pray AND we work hard to make it happen.

So, if we pray, his name for mi shebeirach is ירמיהו בן שרה (Yirmiyahu Ben Sarah).

If we are being called to action, feel free to reach out to my sister, Alana, for the meal train or other usually basic things we may be struggling to complete at this time. We also encourage you to pay closer attention to your own health, and stop putting off that doctor’s visit for your lumps, bumps, aches and pains.

If you have Jeremy’s number and want to reach out, feel free to text. If you want to visit with him during chemo infusions (they’re 6 days long every 3 weeks for 6 months), check in with him and see if he wants the company.

I know many of you noticed I was not in the beautiful Israel pictures and videos… We received news that this was serious 2 days before I was set to depart. Israel had to wait. We will happily go in good health in the near future.

This Father’s Day, I’m more grateful than ever for my soulmate, who has given his whole heart to being most loving daddy to Emmett. Happy Father’s Day, My Love.

May we look back next Father’s Day and remember the challenge of this Father’s Day as a mere memory, a blip in the story, a part of our journey through life.

Todah Rabbah ♥️

B’tikvah,

Cantor Hutchings 🎵