Evan Shea Medical Expense Fund
Donation protected
Life can take unexpected turns. We’ve all experienced them, but for Evan Shea his unexpected turn was life changing. In the fall of 2017, Evan was your typical college student. He had started his second year at the University of Pittsburgh and was loving it. He had made some good friends and was doing well academically and was preparing to declare his major in Economics and Statistics with a minor in Spanish. One day in October, Evan passed out in his dorm room. He was taken to UPMC where a battery of tests was run. Evan and his family were given the difficult and heart-breaking news that Evan has a malignant brain tumor.
For a parent, this is the kind of news that literally kicks you in the gut, the kind of news you never want to hear about your child. Evan and his parents have sought out several medical opinions on his brain tumor, which is now categorized as a stage 3 anaplastic astrocytoma. After much research, Evan decided to pursue an aggressive surgical resection of the tumor followed by radiation and chemotherapy.
Evan chose to withdraw from Pitt for the spring semester. On February 2nd he underwent an awake craniotomy to safely remove as much of the tumor as possible. During this surgical procedure the patient is woken up as the surgeon and neurologists map out key areas of the brain to avoid. The procedure presents high risk of stroke, the grueling seven-hours removed 70 percent of the tumor thanks to the skills of Dr. Steven Brem and the team at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center.
Starting in February, Evan started a six week regimen of proton radiation at the University of Pennsylvania Roberts Proton Therapy Center. He and his Mom were travelling every day, either via car or train, to make his appointments five days each week. Although, they were fortunate to have friends who allowed them to stay in the suburbs of Philly, the commute was nothing less than exhausting, especially as Evan got further into treatment.
Evan completed his six weeks of proton radiation on May 4, 2018, but still faces six months of chemotherapy. Evan is extremely grateful that his treatments have gone well thus far, however such frequent and advanced medical attention comes at a large cost. Even with insurance, surgery, proton radiation, chemotherapy, co-pays, transportation, and everything else that comes up along the way has put the Shea family in a difficult financial situation.
I have had the opportunity to talk to Evan on a few occasions since being diagnosed. He’s amazingly strong about his diagnosis and treatment and is looking forward to going back to college. He’s been nothing but brave.
“Thankfully, I have been blessed with new and innovative treatments and a loving and supportive family which are allowing me to pursue college in the fall and continue living my life.”
This Go Fund Me page is being set up to help Evan and his parents with the medical and travel costs associated with his treatment. Any help would be greatly appreciated. For anyone that knows them, the Shea’s are a wonderful, kind, and loving family.
Sheila Ciotti, family friend
For a parent, this is the kind of news that literally kicks you in the gut, the kind of news you never want to hear about your child. Evan and his parents have sought out several medical opinions on his brain tumor, which is now categorized as a stage 3 anaplastic astrocytoma. After much research, Evan decided to pursue an aggressive surgical resection of the tumor followed by radiation and chemotherapy.
Evan chose to withdraw from Pitt for the spring semester. On February 2nd he underwent an awake craniotomy to safely remove as much of the tumor as possible. During this surgical procedure the patient is woken up as the surgeon and neurologists map out key areas of the brain to avoid. The procedure presents high risk of stroke, the grueling seven-hours removed 70 percent of the tumor thanks to the skills of Dr. Steven Brem and the team at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center.
Starting in February, Evan started a six week regimen of proton radiation at the University of Pennsylvania Roberts Proton Therapy Center. He and his Mom were travelling every day, either via car or train, to make his appointments five days each week. Although, they were fortunate to have friends who allowed them to stay in the suburbs of Philly, the commute was nothing less than exhausting, especially as Evan got further into treatment.
Evan completed his six weeks of proton radiation on May 4, 2018, but still faces six months of chemotherapy. Evan is extremely grateful that his treatments have gone well thus far, however such frequent and advanced medical attention comes at a large cost. Even with insurance, surgery, proton radiation, chemotherapy, co-pays, transportation, and everything else that comes up along the way has put the Shea family in a difficult financial situation.
I have had the opportunity to talk to Evan on a few occasions since being diagnosed. He’s amazingly strong about his diagnosis and treatment and is looking forward to going back to college. He’s been nothing but brave.
“Thankfully, I have been blessed with new and innovative treatments and a loving and supportive family which are allowing me to pursue college in the fall and continue living my life.”
This Go Fund Me page is being set up to help Evan and his parents with the medical and travel costs associated with his treatment. Any help would be greatly appreciated. For anyone that knows them, the Shea’s are a wonderful, kind, and loving family.
Sheila Ciotti, family friend
Organizer and beneficiary
Sheila McCrillis Ciotti
Organizer
Harrisburg, PA
Evan Shea
Beneficiary
