Brad's Fund

On January 4th, my brother Brad noticed a lump on his upper left thigh.  Initially, the lump was about the size of a quarter and didn’t cause much alarm or concern.  Since then, his family doctor has sent him to Texas to help put a smile on the faces of other cancer patients with his magic tricks – oh, and also get some testing himself.  Well, the tumor has grown and now carries it’s own name – Sclerosing Epithelioid Sarcoma (SEF).  Brad’s type of cancer is a rare one indeed!  Doctors have advised him that treatment will begin with massive chemotherapy.  He will also need pioneering radiation treatments and of course, ultimately surgery to remove the tumor.  Unfortunately, this is only the beginning.  Research has shown that his type of cancer can reoccur.  Brad will need constant surveillance and monitoring for the rest of his life, especially for the next few years.

 

It’s scary and yes, we are worried, but we are also confident that our prayers are being heard and Brad is in good hands.

 

So, why start Brad’s Fund?  Well, for starters, Brad has a large family of seven, including two foster children.  While insurance will certainly cover the majority of his medical costs, Brad’s family will still be faced with certain obligations that insurance won’t address.  More so, my brother Brad is the sole provider for his family and will be unable to work while getting treatments.  Some of the anticipated costs include travelling (flying to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas), car rental, housing, familiar living expenses, and travel expenses for his friends/family to visit while in treatment.

 

Brad has decided to not make this fundraising campaign all about him.  Instead, funds that are in excess of immediate needs will be shared with other families experiencing the same situation that Brad’s family is facing.  By starting Brad’s Fund, we hope that your gift not only helps my brother’s family but also helps other families of sarcoma patients in need, wherever they may be.  Brad is the type of guy that will give anyone the shirt off his back.  I just want everyone to have a shirt if needed – including my brother!  Hopefully, we exceed our goal and pay it forward to others.  Hopefully Brad’s Fund gains the momentum to really make an impact on others in need.  And hopefully a cure to cancer is found someday.

 

Friends and family, every little bit helps.  Thank you for visiting our site, sharing our story, and sharing your love.  We love each of you and thank you for helping a great cause and a great guy whom we all love.

 

Brother Billy



PS.  You can stay up to date with Brad's progress at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bradherriott