For anyone who knows Bethany Shea, you are already aware of what an amazing woman she is. A wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, teacher, coach, mentor... the list goes on. Bethany gives of herself for everyone, and now it's our time to support her as she enters the next phase of treatment.

For those of you who don't know Bethany's story, 7 years ago she gave birth to her miracle, John. Through complications she encountered at that time, doctors found her first tumor—an incidental finding. Miraculously, she was able to have the grade 2 glioma removed in its entirety with no follow-up chemo or radiation. She has been followed by an amazing team of doctors in Boston at Dana Farber and Brigham and Women’s for seven years. Five months ago, Bethany began having more health difficulties, out of the blue. This led to her doctors discovering her tumor grew back and this time, more aggressively. Bethany had a craniotomy in July to remove as much of the tumor as the doctors could safely remove and has since been healing from surgery and planning the next steps in treatment. Biopsy results confirmed the tumor is a Grade 3 Glioma.

Throughout all of this, she continued to be the best mom for John and wife for Matt, making sure things were as normal as possible. She went back to work at the beginning of the school year to be there for her students at Worcester Technical High School, and to get the year going as normally as possible for them.

Starting Monday, September 8, she will be traveling to Boston daily for radiation and chemo to rid her brain of this awful disease.

So many have asked how they can help, and now is the time we can support Bethany and Matt financially. As Bethany's sister (in-law), I am organizing this, however all funds raised will go directly to Bethany and Matt. I am looking to raise enough money to cover their medical expenses. Any amount raised above and beyond their out-of-pocket maximum will be directly donated to a nonprofit of Bethany's choosing that supports research for brain cancer.

Thank you for being her community and walking beside the Shea family from near or far.