"I don't know what to say. I've never dreamt of something that wasn't possible. Right now my dream is to live, to walk my daughter down the isle, to hold my wife more, to spend time with my parents, go golfing with my brother. Those are my dreams!"

After receiving a life expectancy of 3-6 months for his cancer diagnosis,  I asked him what his dream vacation would be. His response is the perfect description of his view on life and what makes him happy.

Tony Monteleone is a 39 years old loving father and Husband. He has a beautiful 4 year old daughter, Micaela, a wife, Veronica, and a step-son, Andrew . Tony loves to watch baseball, the Yankees in particular, exercise,  play Barbie's and action figures with his daughter, golf with his brother, and enjoys family dinner at his parents house. He likes to sneak bacon cheeseburgers and over indulge on pizza. He has a weakness for candy and sweets!  His favorite movie is Majore League and quotes it all throughout while watching it. He's an active member in his church and strives to serve God and his community. He's easily content, humble and grateful. If any of these things sound familiar, it's because they are. Tony is just like you and me; he enjoys life and seeks happiness just like all of us. Unfortunately, cancer doesn't care about the things we like or our desire to be happy. 

A little over a year ago he went to his yearly check-up as usual. Everything checked out. A few weeks later he was having extreme pain and discomfort in his stomach and lower body. After many extensive test Tony was diagnosed with a Malignant neoplasm of the rectum, AKA colon cancer in June 2020. You can imagine the confusion he must have felt since he was just given a clean bill of health a few weeks prior. 

Cancer sucks! Any battle with cancer just doesn't feel fair and Tony is no exception. It just doesn't feel fair. In conjunction with the pandemic, he has had to go to appointments alone, receive treatments alone, and isolate himself because he is immune compromised. He's young with a family. Michaela deserves decades with her daddy. Veronica, deserves to have her "ride or die" next to her. Life is hard enough, especially during these times. 

Tony has exhausted every medical treatment possible and although they were able to reduce the tumor in his colon it spread to his liver. A month ago they had to stop his current treatment plan because it was causing more physical complications that would "kill his body" faster than the cancer itself. In hopes of trying one final method of chemotherapy, Tony went to get his final scans and discovered that the cancer has spread from his colon and liver to his lungs and unfortunately his lymph nodes as well. He has been given 3-6 months to live. 

Tony and his family are not giving up his fight against cancer. He maintains a positive attitude. However, they are grasping at straw. As many of you know  medical insurance doesn't cover all medical expenses and doesn't guarantee good medical treatment. 

I am calling upon YOU! All of you, some of you, any of you. Please help me in my pursuit to raise money that will go directly to Tony and his family. Any money raised will help pay for the additional medical expenses that insurance doesn't cover. This will provide him the means to receive and have access to all the medical treatments that are available without Tony worrying that if those treatments do not work, it will leave his family in financial disarray.  With your help and support we can give Tony the strength and support he needs to keep fighting; and I have to believe, in the far future, Tony will fulfill his dream and walk Micaela down the isle. 

Cancer sucks! We love you Tony!