Dan Gray Supportive Care
Donation protected
"Mothers hold their children's hands for a while, but their hearts forever"
After the loss of her first son to cancer, Mary Golba is facing the loss of her second son, Dan Gray, also to cancer. He is only 23 years old.
Mary Golba is a dedicated second grade teacher from Erie, Pennsylvania. She is an incredibly motivating teacher who my son hopes to never disappoint. Despite the challenges she faces with the health of her son, Mary never wavers in her dedication to educate and support our children at school daily.
Dan was diagnosed with a Grade 2 Astrocytoma in 2014 after suffering from a Grand Mal seizure during his senior year of high school. Since his older brother, David, died of Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) at the age of 16, Dan had genetic testing which revealed an extremely rare condition called Li Fraumeni Syndrome.
Here is a link describing the condition:
https://www.lfsassociation.org/what-is-lfs.
Li Fraumeni genetically predisposed these brothers to be FAR more susceptible to cancer than the general population. It also makes traditional cancer treatments much less effective. Hence Dan’s tumor only grew.
His family contacted the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland - as they are one of the only places in the world familiar with this extremely rare genetic condition. Even NIH does not have a cure.
In 2016 during his first semester in college, Dan experienced seizures every other day. An MRI and biopsy revealed the cancer had grown and worsened to a Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma. He decided to put college on hold.
Over the next few years, Dan focused on living his best life rather than being in a constant battle with cancer. He developed an interest in gardening and cooking. He became a very fine amateur chef for his family - enjoying time with his mom and sister, his best friends, and his dogs, Ein and Mila.
In March of 2019, Dan realized he could not grasp his cooking utensils and was experiencing weakness and significant loss of fine motor function on the right side of his body. An MRI showed the tumor had grown extensively into the motor cortex area in the left hemisphere of his brain. His doctors decided on surgery to extend and improve his quality of life until there was a cure.
Dan had surgery on May 28, 2019. He recovered in the hospital for two weeks at NIH. He returned home and because of motor sensory and speech deficits caused by the tumor he started twice weekly therapy. A 2 week follow-up MRI at NIH confirmed a Grade 4 Glioblastoma.
Six weeks of radiation treatment was recommended. This was a very difficult decision. Dan's underlying Li Fraumeni Syndrome is so rare that researchers have little evidence of the effects of radiation and chemo- there is even some evidence that treatment can increase the progression of the disease. Dan was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Dan started a clinical trial of 30 days of Ruxolitinib and radiation at Cleveland clinic. He traveled daily to this clinic and back home until end of August. His 1 month MRI follow up showed that the disease appeared to have decreased. During the next 2 months Dan worked very hard regaining much of his strength and right hand fine motor skills.
Unfortunately, his December MRI showed disease progression and the recommended clinical trial of SurvaxM has been delayed for months-most likely too late for Dan.
Already, Dan has lost right hand motor skills again and seizures, which were well under control prior to treatment, have returned.
After many months of traveling for appointments and medical treatments, Dan is now at home with Mary and hospice is part of his support.
His spirits remain strong and he plans to live a very full rest of his life with his family, friends and little corgi-Mila!
Mary is faced with limited time with her son. Please help alleviate some of her financial burden of caring for her son in his final days, weeks, or months. We hope Mary and Dan can focus on the precious time they have together.
PLEASE consider donating any amount to this cause of our beloved teacher and her last son. ALL contributions will go to Mary and Dan to support them during this tragic time.
We love you Ms. Golba!
After the loss of her first son to cancer, Mary Golba is facing the loss of her second son, Dan Gray, also to cancer. He is only 23 years old.
Mary Golba is a dedicated second grade teacher from Erie, Pennsylvania. She is an incredibly motivating teacher who my son hopes to never disappoint. Despite the challenges she faces with the health of her son, Mary never wavers in her dedication to educate and support our children at school daily.
Dan was diagnosed with a Grade 2 Astrocytoma in 2014 after suffering from a Grand Mal seizure during his senior year of high school. Since his older brother, David, died of Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) at the age of 16, Dan had genetic testing which revealed an extremely rare condition called Li Fraumeni Syndrome.
Here is a link describing the condition:
https://www.lfsassociation.org/what-is-lfs.
Li Fraumeni genetically predisposed these brothers to be FAR more susceptible to cancer than the general population. It also makes traditional cancer treatments much less effective. Hence Dan’s tumor only grew.
His family contacted the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland - as they are one of the only places in the world familiar with this extremely rare genetic condition. Even NIH does not have a cure.
In 2016 during his first semester in college, Dan experienced seizures every other day. An MRI and biopsy revealed the cancer had grown and worsened to a Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma. He decided to put college on hold.
Over the next few years, Dan focused on living his best life rather than being in a constant battle with cancer. He developed an interest in gardening and cooking. He became a very fine amateur chef for his family - enjoying time with his mom and sister, his best friends, and his dogs, Ein and Mila.
In March of 2019, Dan realized he could not grasp his cooking utensils and was experiencing weakness and significant loss of fine motor function on the right side of his body. An MRI showed the tumor had grown extensively into the motor cortex area in the left hemisphere of his brain. His doctors decided on surgery to extend and improve his quality of life until there was a cure.
Dan had surgery on May 28, 2019. He recovered in the hospital for two weeks at NIH. He returned home and because of motor sensory and speech deficits caused by the tumor he started twice weekly therapy. A 2 week follow-up MRI at NIH confirmed a Grade 4 Glioblastoma.
Six weeks of radiation treatment was recommended. This was a very difficult decision. Dan's underlying Li Fraumeni Syndrome is so rare that researchers have little evidence of the effects of radiation and chemo- there is even some evidence that treatment can increase the progression of the disease. Dan was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Dan started a clinical trial of 30 days of Ruxolitinib and radiation at Cleveland clinic. He traveled daily to this clinic and back home until end of August. His 1 month MRI follow up showed that the disease appeared to have decreased. During the next 2 months Dan worked very hard regaining much of his strength and right hand fine motor skills.
Unfortunately, his December MRI showed disease progression and the recommended clinical trial of SurvaxM has been delayed for months-most likely too late for Dan.
Already, Dan has lost right hand motor skills again and seizures, which were well under control prior to treatment, have returned.
After many months of traveling for appointments and medical treatments, Dan is now at home with Mary and hospice is part of his support.
His spirits remain strong and he plans to live a very full rest of his life with his family, friends and little corgi-Mila!
Mary is faced with limited time with her son. Please help alleviate some of her financial burden of caring for her son in his final days, weeks, or months. We hope Mary and Dan can focus on the precious time they have together.
PLEASE consider donating any amount to this cause of our beloved teacher and her last son. ALL contributions will go to Mary and Dan to support them during this tragic time.
We love you Ms. Golba!
Organizer and beneficiary
Elizabeth Connole
Organizer
Erie, PA
Daniel Gray
Beneficiary