Bellino Strong! Help Sam Bellino Beat Brain Cancer
Donation protected
At the age of 58, Sam Bellino (Bino to his friends, Dad to us) was diagnosed with a level 4 glioblastoma. It came on strong and it’s been a shock, to say the least. Doctors tell us that he’s facing the fight of his
life. He needs your love, your prayers, and your financial support.
Since my sisters and I have been kids, my dad used to say “I just want to give my girls everything.” And he did. Now we’re all grown up and it’s our turn.
How we found out
Dad was taken by ambulance to Lahey Hospital in Burlington after experiencing headaches and numbness in his right arm for a few days. At first, we thought it was a stroke. But an initial CAT scan revealed a growth on the parietal lobe of his brain. He was admitted to neurology and underwent a craniotomy for biopsy on 6/10. The results were crushing.
What is Glioblastoma?
Glioblastomas are aggressive brain tumors, and grade IV is the most malignant. They form when glial cells in your brain divide and multiply at a rapid rate - so they grow rather quickly. While we may not be able to ever stop the growth, doctors can certainly try to slow it down, and that is what we are hoping to do with treatment.
Dad’s prognosis
Dad will start six weeks of radiation in July. He’ll also be on chemo pills for a total of six months. We need to see how well he responds to treatment before estimating his life expectancy. Statistics tell
us that an average life expectancy after diagnosis is one year, but doctors are hoping they can extend that a little longer due to his young age and strong immune system. And all we can hope for is to hold onto our Dad for as long as we can.
Cancer is expensive
It’s going to be a while before any financial benefits kick in. And for anyone who has ever been through something like this, you know cancer is incredibly expensive. The one thing we DON’T want is Dad worrying about how to pay for this fight. Our immediate and extended family have been doing everything in our power to help, but we know we need more. We want to ease the burden of becoming a one income household and help our parents in any way that we can.
This money will also go towards medical related costs such as chemo copays, transportation, and any clinical trials we seek out in the future.
Many people have asked us how they can help, and we can’t think of a better way than this. Even if it’s only $5, know that whatever you can give means a lot to all of us, and especially to Dad. Let's give him the fighting chance he deserves!
Thank you, in advance, for your donation.
The Bellino Sisters
life. He needs your love, your prayers, and your financial support.
Since my sisters and I have been kids, my dad used to say “I just want to give my girls everything.” And he did. Now we’re all grown up and it’s our turn.
How we found out
Dad was taken by ambulance to Lahey Hospital in Burlington after experiencing headaches and numbness in his right arm for a few days. At first, we thought it was a stroke. But an initial CAT scan revealed a growth on the parietal lobe of his brain. He was admitted to neurology and underwent a craniotomy for biopsy on 6/10. The results were crushing.
What is Glioblastoma?
Glioblastomas are aggressive brain tumors, and grade IV is the most malignant. They form when glial cells in your brain divide and multiply at a rapid rate - so they grow rather quickly. While we may not be able to ever stop the growth, doctors can certainly try to slow it down, and that is what we are hoping to do with treatment.
Dad’s prognosis
Dad will start six weeks of radiation in July. He’ll also be on chemo pills for a total of six months. We need to see how well he responds to treatment before estimating his life expectancy. Statistics tell
us that an average life expectancy after diagnosis is one year, but doctors are hoping they can extend that a little longer due to his young age and strong immune system. And all we can hope for is to hold onto our Dad for as long as we can.
Cancer is expensive
It’s going to be a while before any financial benefits kick in. And for anyone who has ever been through something like this, you know cancer is incredibly expensive. The one thing we DON’T want is Dad worrying about how to pay for this fight. Our immediate and extended family have been doing everything in our power to help, but we know we need more. We want to ease the burden of becoming a one income household and help our parents in any way that we can.
This money will also go towards medical related costs such as chemo copays, transportation, and any clinical trials we seek out in the future.
Many people have asked us how they can help, and we can’t think of a better way than this. Even if it’s only $5, know that whatever you can give means a lot to all of us, and especially to Dad. Let's give him the fighting chance he deserves!
Thank you, in advance, for your donation.
The Bellino Sisters
Organizer and beneficiary
Michelle Bellino
Organizer
Boston, MA
Sarah Senser
Beneficiary
