Fred Houdaille Cancer Expense Fund

“We can battle the sea, or we can embrace it. Sometimes she will be sweet and sometimes mean as a snake. We must embrace the experience and trust we will get through it.”

—Michelle Segrest

Frederic Houdaille is one of the most amazing people that I have ever met. He is very insightful, extremely smart, present, kind, thoughtful, and Fred is super inquisitive about life. Fred is a wonderful husband to Adriana, father of three beautiful girls Marine 19, Penelope 16 and Paloma 11. Fred is loving brother; he is a son and a friend to us all.

In the very beginning of the summer, Fred woke up in a hospital just outside of France. He was told that a surgeon removed a “huge” tumor from his brain. Several days later, he was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of brain cancer, Glioblastoma. This is medically speaking; the worst brain cancer one can have. This would be the first of what would become four surgeries directly and indirectly tied to this disease.

Fred is back home in the states, continuing his treatment that started in France. He is getting stronger and preparing both mentally and physically for the fight of his life. For those that know Fred, his spirit, zeal for life, competitiveness and strength will serve him well in this trial that confronts him.

This is not the first test in his life, as an avid sailor, he has experienced the rigors of the open water and felt the wonderment and danger of being on watch in the darkest of nights. Fred’s battle with cancer also comes two years after his wife’s very own battle with cancer of another kind. If anyone can fight, persevere, and WIN, it would be Fred.

In this difficult moment, I draw upon the second of the great commandments in the bible; the command to love thy neighbor as yourself. Our neighbors are the very people that cross our paths in this journey of life. I humbly reach out with the thought of supporting and loving Fred and his family.

We are raising funds for Fred and the Houdaille family, to help with medical care and any other needs that might present themselves in the coming year. This will include the current recovery from the latest surgery, help in the search for the best innovative treatments specific to Fred’s diagnosis; fees for any acceptance into clinical trials; and travel to the doctors in Philadelphia. Fred is focused on getting well and fighting the disease, so he expects to continue to miss work and income while treatments are pursued. Our hope is that this fundraiser is a way to relieve a small part of their burden during this time.

I pray that his friends, family, former co-workers, and acquaintances will be so moved to come alongside Fred and his family in this challenging time. Thank you.