Help Save Steve DeAngelo's Life

Friends,

Melissa DeAngelo has called for help. Steve DeAngelo was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in November 2019, which has since metastasized to his brain. He has had two craniotomies to combat the tumors and is gearing up for a potential third. Steve is 42 years old.

He has been fighting like hell, particularly to stick around for Melissa, his wife of over 13 years, and their two boys, Rylan (10) and Shane (7). I could rattle off the unbelievable barriers this family has had to endure (including, but not limited to, Steve having seizures, falls, and a broken shoulder, numerous hospital stays, and his driving privileges removed), but here's the bottom line: Steve needs a drug called Tucatinib, for which insurance has denied coverage, despite several appeals. Steve's oncology team has tried every possible combination of treatments thus far, and they are banking on Tucatinib as their solution. This magical drug costs $25,000 per month. You read that right. PER MONTH. Steve will need three months of treatment to determine the effectiveness.

Melissa's request is two-fold:

1. Please donate what you can to help save Steve's life. They want to try Tucatinib immediately.

2. If anyone has experience with medical law, please help!

Melissa and Steve have done everything right, financially: they worked for promotions and salary increases, socked away savings, invested in 401(k) -- all of which will soon be depleted. Melissa has a stable, full-time job, but Steve has had to discontinue working because of his illness. Melissa balances her job with raising their two boys, managing their household (including snow removal - what a badass!), runs for the American Cancer Society to raise money for a cure, and in her spare (?) time, has done enough research on esophageal cancer she could join Steve's medical care team.

Appreciate any help you're able to give this amazing family. If you'd like to learn more about them, follow this Caring Bridge journal .

Many thanks!

Annie