If you know my dad, Jim, you’re pretty lucky. You know one of the most sincere, hardworking people out there. My dad loves his family, and always supports everyone as we navigate all of the things that come into our lives. He is a calm, steady presence with a laugh that will put a smile on your face. 

My dad has always been the big, strong guy, so we were all shocked when he got his first cancer diagnosis in 2024. Metastatic melanoma in his lungs. Thankfully, Dad was able to receive care at the UW Carbone Cancer Center. He was a part of a clinical trial with Dr. Vincent Ma, a fantastic physician with a spectacular team. In 2025, monitoring scans showed a mass in his liver, which after a biopsy was diagnosed as primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Dad’s treatment focus then shifted to the liver cancer. Under the care of Dr. Jeremy Kratz and Dr. Michael Bassetti, Dad underwent radiation treatment in 2025. Follow-up scans looked promising (for both the lungs and liver), and Dad continued to enjoy adventures with my mom and time with his grandkids. In the spring of 2026, scans showed a few new nodules in Dad’s liver. He had a port placed and soon-after started immunotherapy treatment. Since being on treatment, Dad’s scans have looked promising, although he has had to adjust to the effects of his treatment. 

I am honored to raise funds for the UW Carbone Cancer Center through the Badger Challenge. The research they are doing brings hope to countless families. 

I am so grateful to the brilliant staff at UW Carbone Cancer Center for helping my Dad get to another summer of eating popsicles and giving lawnmower rides to his grandkids.