Adopt The Straubs
Donation protected
More help needed now.
After a year of chemo and a clear petscan for Andy, brain surgery and a three-week stay in the hospital for Wesley, the Straubs were thrown yet another “curveball”. Andy's lymphoma has returned.
The family remains Straub Strong as they face a more aggressive treatment plan involving several rounds of stronger chemo, each round with a 5 day hospital stay, and to be followed by a stem cell transplant around Christmas -- likely leaving Andy unable to work during recovery. In addition, Andy's short-term disability has been delayed, and a new insurance policy went into effect on 1 December, resetting the $12k deductible and no longer covering the hospital that’s provided them top-notch care during Andy’s cancer fight.
Friends and Family, I know I have asked for your help before, and you all rallied! The Straubs were overwhelmed and beyond grateful for your prayers, love and support.
They need us now more than ever.
Funds raised by the original GoFundMe campaign were exhausted on prior medical expenses, so the campaign goal has been raised. If you are unable to provide a monetary contribution, please consider reviewing the meal sign up.
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December 2018 Update...
An update and call for help…
It has been a very difficult past few weeks for the family. Just as Wesley’s little legs started waking up, they were hit with news that insurance will not cover the leg braces he requires and which will have to be replaced several times. Thank God for each of you and your contribution which has been put to good use, supplementing this expense.
It was then in early November that Andy was diagnosed with stage 3 double large b cell lymphoma (DLBCL), non-Hodgkins. The cancer is so severe that he was admitted immediately to the hospital to begin chemotherapy. Over the next week, results of a bone marrow biopsy confirmed the fear that the cancer has spread to his vertebra and several other areas. A second round of chemo is scheduled in the upcoming weeks. Because of the pain and a weakened immune system, Andy is no longer able to work and will be placed on short-term disability.
It is because of this that I have updated the gofundme campaign name and raised the donation limit.
During this time of year, we are all looking for ways to help those in need. Please join the “Bellaire HS girls” in adopting The Straubs. What the family needs right now, they would never ask for – your monetary contribution. Andy is the sole financial provider for the family; Shelly home schools both girls. There is a $12k insurance deductible which resets in January, and ahead of that Christmas.
If you are unable to provide a monetary donation, please do consider reviewing the Straub kid’s Amazon wish list . Let’s spread some Christmas cheer on this amazing family.
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Original Story...
Wesley's story began 4 years ago in the fall of 2014. He was born into a loving family eager to welcome home a baby boy. The excitement quickly turned to worry when the family was told that their son was born with his spinal cord tethered to a lipoma-fatty mass.
At 4 months, little Wesley had surgery to untether his cord and remove the mass. The neurosurgeon was unable to remove it all as nerve roots were already attached to it. He has had a neural check up every year since.
This year, the standard annual checkups led the family to worry once again. The neurosurgeon saw symptoms of mass enlargement. A 4 hour MRI confirmed the family's worry - the mass had doubled in size, and Wesley's spinal cord has retethered to it. He has now been diagnosed with Arnold Chiari (brain malformation) and is expected to undergo 2-3 surgeries to once again untether the cord and remove as much of the mass as they can. The first surgery is scheduled for 17 October.
Andy and Shelly are not new to this diagnosis. This is exactly what their daughter, Lilly, was diagnosed with at a young age. They are amazing, involved parents and their faith has stayed strong even with this second diagnosis in their family. They have asked for nothing more than prayers - prayers for every doctor and nurse that touch their little Wesley, prayers for Wesley to have no pain, no infection, and quick healing, prayers for their girls who are having a hard time with this news and prayers for them to stay strong for their family.
What I am asking of you, their friends and family, is to please join me not only in showering Andy, Shelly, Emma, Lilly and Wesley with prayers, but also in an opening of wallets. Let's pull together in a raise to offset medical expenses.
After a year of chemo and a clear petscan for Andy, brain surgery and a three-week stay in the hospital for Wesley, the Straubs were thrown yet another “curveball”. Andy's lymphoma has returned.
The family remains Straub Strong as they face a more aggressive treatment plan involving several rounds of stronger chemo, each round with a 5 day hospital stay, and to be followed by a stem cell transplant around Christmas -- likely leaving Andy unable to work during recovery. In addition, Andy's short-term disability has been delayed, and a new insurance policy went into effect on 1 December, resetting the $12k deductible and no longer covering the hospital that’s provided them top-notch care during Andy’s cancer fight.
Friends and Family, I know I have asked for your help before, and you all rallied! The Straubs were overwhelmed and beyond grateful for your prayers, love and support.
They need us now more than ever.
Funds raised by the original GoFundMe campaign were exhausted on prior medical expenses, so the campaign goal has been raised. If you are unable to provide a monetary contribution, please consider reviewing the meal sign up.
-------------
December 2018 Update...
An update and call for help…
It has been a very difficult past few weeks for the family. Just as Wesley’s little legs started waking up, they were hit with news that insurance will not cover the leg braces he requires and which will have to be replaced several times. Thank God for each of you and your contribution which has been put to good use, supplementing this expense.
It was then in early November that Andy was diagnosed with stage 3 double large b cell lymphoma (DLBCL), non-Hodgkins. The cancer is so severe that he was admitted immediately to the hospital to begin chemotherapy. Over the next week, results of a bone marrow biopsy confirmed the fear that the cancer has spread to his vertebra and several other areas. A second round of chemo is scheduled in the upcoming weeks. Because of the pain and a weakened immune system, Andy is no longer able to work and will be placed on short-term disability.
It is because of this that I have updated the gofundme campaign name and raised the donation limit.
During this time of year, we are all looking for ways to help those in need. Please join the “Bellaire HS girls” in adopting The Straubs. What the family needs right now, they would never ask for – your monetary contribution. Andy is the sole financial provider for the family; Shelly home schools both girls. There is a $12k insurance deductible which resets in January, and ahead of that Christmas.
If you are unable to provide a monetary donation, please do consider reviewing the Straub kid’s Amazon wish list . Let’s spread some Christmas cheer on this amazing family.
-------------
Original Story...
Wesley's story began 4 years ago in the fall of 2014. He was born into a loving family eager to welcome home a baby boy. The excitement quickly turned to worry when the family was told that their son was born with his spinal cord tethered to a lipoma-fatty mass.
At 4 months, little Wesley had surgery to untether his cord and remove the mass. The neurosurgeon was unable to remove it all as nerve roots were already attached to it. He has had a neural check up every year since.
This year, the standard annual checkups led the family to worry once again. The neurosurgeon saw symptoms of mass enlargement. A 4 hour MRI confirmed the family's worry - the mass had doubled in size, and Wesley's spinal cord has retethered to it. He has now been diagnosed with Arnold Chiari (brain malformation) and is expected to undergo 2-3 surgeries to once again untether the cord and remove as much of the mass as they can. The first surgery is scheduled for 17 October.
Andy and Shelly are not new to this diagnosis. This is exactly what their daughter, Lilly, was diagnosed with at a young age. They are amazing, involved parents and their faith has stayed strong even with this second diagnosis in their family. They have asked for nothing more than prayers - prayers for every doctor and nurse that touch their little Wesley, prayers for Wesley to have no pain, no infection, and quick healing, prayers for their girls who are having a hard time with this news and prayers for them to stay strong for their family.
What I am asking of you, their friends and family, is to please join me not only in showering Andy, Shelly, Emma, Lilly and Wesley with prayers, but also in an opening of wallets. Let's pull together in a raise to offset medical expenses.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rebecca Iappini Acosta
Organizer
San Antonio, TX
Shelly and Andy Straub
Beneficiary