Help Paul Battle Terminal Cancer
Donation protected
Stop for a moment......picture that person who you have crossed paths with in life that you just instantly liked. They were soft spoken with a warm smile, so kind, gentle and friendly, happy to help you with whatever you needed.....
Did this face come to mind? Yea..... me too.
This is my brother in law, Paul P. Villano, he is 56 years old and is currently losing the fight for his life.
Everyone experiences some periods where you're a lil' "plugged up", right? Nothing some prunes and a tall cup of espresso can't take care of! After two weeks, that discomfort turned into unmanageable pain and on April 11, 2021 an ER visit was warranted. Likely a bowel obstruction by now, time for the pros to do the extraction!
Well there was an obstruction. In the colon. CANCER. Metastasized to the lymph nodes and liver. Prognosis? "Get your affairs in order." Survival rate beyond 1 year is less than 5% and although no doctor will give a definitive time frame, statistically, life expectancy is approximately 4-6 months. Imagine this news delivered to you while you are alone in the hospital because you can't have family there to support you due to COVID restrictions. Imagine having to tell your wife the news through text message as she sits alone in the hospital parking lot, hoping the hospital will let her in soon to see him. Imagine grieving for your children and the pain this news is causing them, alone in your hospital bed and not being able to see, hug and dry their tears. Devastation in its purest form
My sister, Cathy, and Paul were high school sweethearts. Inseparable since 1981. They married June 24, 1989.
Cathy and Paul have three children, Emily 27, Eric 23 and Ethan 15. For those of you who know them, I don't need to rattle off all the things this family has contributed to the community. However, for those of you who don't know them, I can certainly paint the image of the 'All American Family' with their history. From PTA president to football coaching, fundraising to dang near a professional level down to the neighborhood bunko hosts! A lifetime of commitment to friends, family and community.
I don't want to go on and on about how wonderful they are and try to sell you on what upstanding people they have been. What I want to do is ask for your help.
Paul is an engineer by trade. A few years ago he was laid off from his career job that provided a comfortable living and benefits for his family. He had difficulty finding work in his field due to changes in the industry and took to doing whatever he had to do to keep his family afloat. He has been working for several years at a great company (Moore Addison), however his salary is less than half of what it was. Paul took on a second part time job (O'Reilly Auto) and Cathy went back to the workplace in what she does best, child care. Even with all the efforts, getting ahead financially remained a constant challenge. A challenge that once again, has reared its ugly head, as Paul faces end of life decisions. A challenge that is insurmountable without help.
All proceeds from this effort will go directly towards the following:
Medical costs - Their health insurance has an $8100 deductible and only pays 50% of all costs after the deductible is met (I didn't know such crappy insurance existed!)
Living Expenses - Paul does not have any disability benefits through his employer and he obviously can not return to work. Cathy will need to take some FMLA to help care for him and spend some time with him before he passes. She does have some vacation time that will help a bit, but not enough to see this through.
Funeral Arrangements - Paul has a small life insurance policy that will cover most of this, but we anticipate a small shortage
Paul is a hard working, proud man, I know that he could never ask anyone for help. At a time like this, I see no shame in asking for support and am happy to head up this effort. I will give my last penny to help, but even that isn't enough. I humbly ask for any donations you may be able to assist with.
Thank you to all!
Did this face come to mind? Yea..... me too.
This is my brother in law, Paul P. Villano, he is 56 years old and is currently losing the fight for his life.
Everyone experiences some periods where you're a lil' "plugged up", right? Nothing some prunes and a tall cup of espresso can't take care of! After two weeks, that discomfort turned into unmanageable pain and on April 11, 2021 an ER visit was warranted. Likely a bowel obstruction by now, time for the pros to do the extraction!
Well there was an obstruction. In the colon. CANCER. Metastasized to the lymph nodes and liver. Prognosis? "Get your affairs in order." Survival rate beyond 1 year is less than 5% and although no doctor will give a definitive time frame, statistically, life expectancy is approximately 4-6 months. Imagine this news delivered to you while you are alone in the hospital because you can't have family there to support you due to COVID restrictions. Imagine having to tell your wife the news through text message as she sits alone in the hospital parking lot, hoping the hospital will let her in soon to see him. Imagine grieving for your children and the pain this news is causing them, alone in your hospital bed and not being able to see, hug and dry their tears. Devastation in its purest form
My sister, Cathy, and Paul were high school sweethearts. Inseparable since 1981. They married June 24, 1989.
Cathy and Paul have three children, Emily 27, Eric 23 and Ethan 15. For those of you who know them, I don't need to rattle off all the things this family has contributed to the community. However, for those of you who don't know them, I can certainly paint the image of the 'All American Family' with their history. From PTA president to football coaching, fundraising to dang near a professional level down to the neighborhood bunko hosts! A lifetime of commitment to friends, family and community.
I don't want to go on and on about how wonderful they are and try to sell you on what upstanding people they have been. What I want to do is ask for your help.
Paul is an engineer by trade. A few years ago he was laid off from his career job that provided a comfortable living and benefits for his family. He had difficulty finding work in his field due to changes in the industry and took to doing whatever he had to do to keep his family afloat. He has been working for several years at a great company (Moore Addison), however his salary is less than half of what it was. Paul took on a second part time job (O'Reilly Auto) and Cathy went back to the workplace in what she does best, child care. Even with all the efforts, getting ahead financially remained a constant challenge. A challenge that once again, has reared its ugly head, as Paul faces end of life decisions. A challenge that is insurmountable without help.
All proceeds from this effort will go directly towards the following:
Medical costs - Their health insurance has an $8100 deductible and only pays 50% of all costs after the deductible is met (I didn't know such crappy insurance existed!)
Living Expenses - Paul does not have any disability benefits through his employer and he obviously can not return to work. Cathy will need to take some FMLA to help care for him and spend some time with him before he passes. She does have some vacation time that will help a bit, but not enough to see this through.
Funeral Arrangements - Paul has a small life insurance policy that will cover most of this, but we anticipate a small shortage
Paul is a hard working, proud man, I know that he could never ask anyone for help. At a time like this, I see no shame in asking for support and am happy to head up this effort. I will give my last penny to help, but even that isn't enough. I humbly ask for any donations you may be able to assist with.
Thank you to all!
Co-organizers (3)
Marie Smit
Organizer
Plainfield, IL
CAROLYN SMITH
Co-organizer
Deb Darby
Co-organizer