Being there for Bridgette
Donation protected
In September of 2019, we got the unthinkable news that our dear friend Bridgette (Catino) O'Brien had been diagnosed with stage IV Colon Cancer.
34 years old at the time with two amazing little guys - Thomas age 5 and Joseph age 1; a wonderful husband, Greg; a new job; and a recent move cross-country to Minnesota, this news came as a severe shock to Bridgette and the many of us who adore her. Just a few weeks prior, we were celebrating a baby sprinkle at an increasingly rare girls night out in the city - laughing and lamenting over our busy working mom lives. It was hard to digest how quickly life could change. Everything felt so surreal, especially since Bridgette still felt great.
Over the next few weeks, we learned that there were several tumors throughout Bridgette's colon and liver. Always a force to be reckoned with (in the absolute best way!), Bridgette immediately sought treatment options and soldiered on into a nine month battle - eight rounds of chemo, a nine hour surgery, and four more rounds of chemo. She faced many, many days of extreme sickness and exhaustion. Yet, as you can see in the picture above, Bridgette still maintained her busy life as a working mom through the majority of this process (we are all in awe!). In May 2020, Bridgette was cancer-free. Celebratory events were unfortunately put on hold due to the pandemic but Bridgette entered the summer ready to put this difficult chapter behind her.
But the relief was short lived. In October 2020, just 5 months after achieving remission, a routine scan showed that the cancer had returned with 5 tumors growing in her liver. This news, of course, is devastating, but our Bridgette is just as determined and ready to fight as ever. Throughout this arduous journey, she received an ablation procedure, began another 12 rounds of chemo, and will again undergo surgery to remove the tumors this winter. We hate that Bridgette has to face another year of these challenging treatments but are also very thankful that the goal is for her to again become cancer-free.
Throughout this, Bridgette continues to be an amazing mom, wife, sister, friend, & coworker, and now, she is setting out to begin advocacy work to promote screenings and awareness of Colon Cancer. We are so proud of her.
We - her support team, cheerleaders, & fiercest friends and family - can help. There are so many unforeseen challenges and costs that Bridgette and Greg must navigate - from treatments to child care. We were shocked to learn that just recently, Bridgette wasn't able to get a white blood cell booster to help her stay on track with her chemo treatments due to insurance coverage. The price tag: $12K/shot. And that is just one example.
We sincerely appreciate your help raising money to help Bridgette and her family find some relief through this trying process so that they can all focus on what matters most. They deserve that and so much more.
34 years old at the time with two amazing little guys - Thomas age 5 and Joseph age 1; a wonderful husband, Greg; a new job; and a recent move cross-country to Minnesota, this news came as a severe shock to Bridgette and the many of us who adore her. Just a few weeks prior, we were celebrating a baby sprinkle at an increasingly rare girls night out in the city - laughing and lamenting over our busy working mom lives. It was hard to digest how quickly life could change. Everything felt so surreal, especially since Bridgette still felt great.
Over the next few weeks, we learned that there were several tumors throughout Bridgette's colon and liver. Always a force to be reckoned with (in the absolute best way!), Bridgette immediately sought treatment options and soldiered on into a nine month battle - eight rounds of chemo, a nine hour surgery, and four more rounds of chemo. She faced many, many days of extreme sickness and exhaustion. Yet, as you can see in the picture above, Bridgette still maintained her busy life as a working mom through the majority of this process (we are all in awe!). In May 2020, Bridgette was cancer-free. Celebratory events were unfortunately put on hold due to the pandemic but Bridgette entered the summer ready to put this difficult chapter behind her.
But the relief was short lived. In October 2020, just 5 months after achieving remission, a routine scan showed that the cancer had returned with 5 tumors growing in her liver. This news, of course, is devastating, but our Bridgette is just as determined and ready to fight as ever. Throughout this arduous journey, she received an ablation procedure, began another 12 rounds of chemo, and will again undergo surgery to remove the tumors this winter. We hate that Bridgette has to face another year of these challenging treatments but are also very thankful that the goal is for her to again become cancer-free.
Throughout this, Bridgette continues to be an amazing mom, wife, sister, friend, & coworker, and now, she is setting out to begin advocacy work to promote screenings and awareness of Colon Cancer. We are so proud of her.
We - her support team, cheerleaders, & fiercest friends and family - can help. There are so many unforeseen challenges and costs that Bridgette and Greg must navigate - from treatments to child care. We were shocked to learn that just recently, Bridgette wasn't able to get a white blood cell booster to help her stay on track with her chemo treatments due to insurance coverage. The price tag: $12K/shot. And that is just one example.
We sincerely appreciate your help raising money to help Bridgette and her family find some relief through this trying process so that they can all focus on what matters most. They deserve that and so much more.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tina McGrath
Organizer
Rahway, NJ
Gregory OBrien
Beneficiary
