Jenn Janeway describes her husband as a steady stream – constant and strong, but also gentle.

But when Darryl Carfrae was diagnosed in November with advanced multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, the future became uncertain.

“It feels like you are dodging bullets,” she said about the experience. “You don’t know what’s going to happen from one moment to the next.”

Just a few weeks after his diagnosis, Darryl needed an emergency trip to Virginia Mason in Seattle. Cancer had weakened Darryl’s bones, leaving two vertebrae, a shoulder blade and a number of ribs fractured. Also suffering from acute kidney failure and anemia, Darryl had lost 45 pounds. For three weeks, Jenn stayed by his side throughout Christmas and the New Year as doctors tried to control his pain.

“It was a horrendous ordeal,” Jenn said.

Now Darryl is at home with Jenn and their 11-year-old son Sterling. The family is looking to raise $80,000 for Darryl’s medical bills and ongoing treatment through an event they call “A Celebration of Life, Community and the Darryl Carfrae/Janeway family,” at Lopez Center, Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. Jenn has been amazed to see more than 20 musicians step up to volunteer their talents for the cause – everything from jazz to Americana to folk to boogie. The line-up includes Chicken Biscuit, Lance Brittain, Lane Langford and Bill Johnson and Friends. Jenn said although the event is in Darryl’s name the idea is to honor anyone going through health issues.

For Jenn, having the event is an extraordinary show of community support, but it also “feels like we are coming out of the closet and becoming vulnerable.”

“It’s hard to receive help,” she said. “This is a lesson in receiving.”

The family moved to Lopez from Kauai six years ago after attending a family reunion. They didn’t like the schools in Kauai and Sterling was heading into grade school. It was supposed to be just a visit, but after the reunion Jenn never went back home. Darryl tidied up things back in Hawaii and joined her a few weeks later.

They had good luck. They purchased a piece of property that was for sale next to a friend’s home.

“It felt like it was meant to be,” Jenn said.

Her parents also found a permanent home on Lopez and her three siblings eventually all moved to the greater Pacific Northwest area, providing plenty of cousins for Sterling to befriend, especially during tough times like his father’s extended visit at the hospital.

“It’s a special community here,” Jenn said. “We are awed and amazed by everyone’s service.”

Jenn said having access to help from the Hospice Home Care, Lopez Island Family Resource Center and the Lopez Island Medical Clinic has been a great relief.

For now, the family is focused on moving forward – taking life on a day to day basis.

Jenn has stopped her work as a massage therapist to become Darryl’s full-time caregiver.

He gets tests every month to monitor his condition and to see what types of treatment are cause for improvement. Jenn said there has been some positive movement in his healing.

“I’m hopeful that he will have a full recovery,” she said.

To donate to the Darryl Carfrae Cancer Recovery Fund visit https://www.payitsquare.com/collect-page/10569.