Elisa Hughey

Meet Elisa Hughey, 48 years old, married with 2 kids, a marathon runner and fighter.  Elisa knows many local Ellicottville and Cattaraugus County area people through high school sports, working and living in the community and, of course, running.  I happen to work next door to her husband's store and found out about their situation when I stopped in to speak to Inigo about something else.  My heart broke and I offered to help. Turns out my kids know her and speak very highly of her.

Elisa’s battles began with suspicious gut pain lasting about a year.  In September of 2011 she was diagnosed with colon cancer and metastases to the spleen, stage 4.  Despite the illness, therapies, and setbacks, she ran several marathons, even going to Boston and experiencing the terror attack.  Undaunted, she ran in Buffalo, NY, winning in her age group, and in a ½ marathon in Erie, PA and again, in Boston.  Meanwhile cancer continued its dirty work, moving to her pelvis and lungs.  Again she saw some success with treatment and finally took a break in March 2013.  She continued to run 6-10 miles every other day, participated in yoga and felt OK.   Then the monster hit other areas again.  More surgery finally brought the family to search for other options.   They tried all options at Cleveland Clinic, Sloan Kettering, etc., and finally Elisa went off to Germany for treatments not available here in the US.  Success was met to some degree until she came stateside and had yet another setback while out west recuperating with her mom and sister.  This involved more surgery and more unexpected expenses.  Elisa is home in Ellicottville now, spending her time resting and rebuilding her stamina and strength for yet another trip to Germany in May for more treatment.  Needless to say, the family resources are stretched even more than they expected.  They have been the grateful recipients of donations through small local fundraisers, but the time has come to help them dig out of their present mounting debt and make ready for the expenses coming to get Elisa and some of her family back to Germany this spring.  This campaign, thus far, has brought them some relief from debt they already have from these past years.  Unfortunately, they have a long way to go to 1) get out of debt and 2) make it possible for her to get to Germany and have the healing effect of having some family with her as she faces yet another round of procedures in a foreign land.

Elisa taught school and did interior design until she got sidelined with her illnesses.  Her husband, Inigo, owns a small furniture and décor business making rustic and custom furniture and also works several other part time jobs to make ends meet.  Much of the responsibility of this young family is resting upon his shoulders as he tries to make life as simple and comfortable as he can for Elisa.

Asking for a leg up is never easy.  But, so many of you reading this have either experienced a family devastation such as this, or know someone who has.  And, of course, their insurance only pays a portion of the treatments in NYS or, at best only traditional treatments elsewhere, certainly not out of the country, so everything else is out-of-pocket.  Speaking for this family, I know how grateful they are for your interest in reading about Elisa’s story, for your emotional support, and anything you may be able to contribute to this fundraiser.  

Speaking for myself, I watched my daughter watch a close friend (like a sister) go through a long struggle with cancer.  Near the end, my daughter started a GoFundMe program for her and her family, and I saw firsthand how important this program was to their well being and survival through the rough times. Thank you for anything you can do to help this wonderful family.