Three members of my family have been battling cancer for almost 8 years now. First, Jeff with his thyroid cancer. ( which has metastasized three times, to his bones and blood and is now his prostate.) He left the hospital without any feeling in his feet and legs. His hands are locked in the letter C and now cant open his hands all the way. Jeff has been in a wheelchair since.

Then was Laura's turn with bilateral breast cancer and a double mastectomy. Since then she has had both hips replaced, back surgery, and 2 reconstruction surgeries due to complications with her breast surgery, and 3 emergency endoscopies because of Eosinophilic Esophagitis. (EOE) It is an allergic inflammatory condition of the esophagus that involves eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. It causes you to not be able to swallow and choke. (It is the scariest feeling)

Then, last year, Steven started having small seizures. After a couple months of the doctor trying to figure it out, they did an MRI and found a 9cmx6cm brain tumor. The Astrocytoma was removed on his 28th birthday. His radiation and Chemotherapy treatments were delayed for almost 4 weeks due to the hurricane in Florida preventing his chemotherapy from being made. Steven has finished 40 radiation treatments, 6 MRI's, 3 CAT scans, multiple blood tests, multiple chemo rounds, weekly appointments with his neurology and oncology teams, had 40 staples removed from his head, and 1 Emergency room visit due to a fall in the bathroom where he hit his face on the medicine cabinet causing a 1 inch cut over his nose. He still has more Chemo rounds to go. The GREATEST PAIN in the world is a sick child you cant fix or make better. Steven has a great sense of humor. It has been what is getting ALL of us through this journey. He even tried to convince his Neurosurgeon to let him keep the tumor in a jar. You know, for parties.

Steven and his sister, Jenny have been taking care of Jeff while Laura works during the day. When Jeff was forced to retire, we lost our health insurance. We were denied financial assistance, snap, and marketplace insurance. Private insurance would be over $5000.00 a month, we just don't have the means. Jeff does have social security disability, but it doesn't cover enough. We would appreciate what ever you are able to contribute to the massive medical bills and travel expenses back and forth from Lutheran General Hospital Iin Park Ridge, IL. (Enough to make your head spin) Please keep our family in your prayers. We would appreciate you sharing our story.

Thank you, Laura and Jeff Camiliere