Joseph Toscano Medical & Family Support Fund

UPDATED 7/27/2022 (This GoFundMe is no longer accepting donations)

With sorrow, we share yesterday's peaceful passing of Joseph Toscano. We are mourning the loss of our brother and friend, who made a lasting impression on everyone he met. We understand this message will be difficult to process, but we hope you can give his wife, Amanda and daughter Daisy, space and time to grieve.

Full obituary here:

https://www.bongarzonefuneralhome.com/m/obituaries/Joseph-Toscano-2/Memories

ORIGINAL

Joe Toscano is a loving dad, caring husband, generous friend, and an unforgettable presence in any room he stands. He is also battling bone marrow cancer and liver failure. We now have an opportunity to help Joe and his family, who have given so much life, memories, and love over the years, with their immediate needs during this extremely difficult time.

After feeling unwell for months, in the spring of 2021, Joe was diagnosed with stage 2 multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer) linked to his presence and exposer to the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.

Following the diagnosis, Joe underwent intense chemotherapy treatment.

For almost a month after chemotherapy treatment ended, Joe stayed in the hospital for a 26-day stem cell transplant. With the hope of beating cancer came the pain of not seeing his 10-year-old daughter Daisy, as Covid-19 regulations prevented her from visiting her dad. All the while, Amanda, Joe’s wife, balanced travel to and from the hospital with full-time work and caring for Daisy.

During the chemotherapy and stem cell transplant processes, Joe lost his job due to Covid-era cutbacks. He has been unable to find new work because of his health and intensive medical treatments. Financial strain mounted as his disability claims were stalled then denied. He and his family currently await appeal in hope of overturning the denial and relieving some financial pressure.

During Joe’s month-long hospital stay for his stem cell transplant, the family was forced to sell their home and move in with Amanda’s parents. Daisy was uprooted from her childhood home, school, and friends, and started at a new school mid-year. 

As the family made the most heartfelt efforts to meet the challenges of Joe’s cancer, the family’s financial pressures, and emotional stress, Joe’s health further declined: the chemotherapy severely damaged his liver, and it now fails to function properly.

Joe cannot have more chemotherapy because of his damaged liver. Nor is he a good candidate for a liver transplant because of his cancer. 

In classic Joe humor, he now refers to this situation as a “triple yahtzee.” If you know Joe, you know that this devastates him. But, you also know that his smile and humor somehow continue to shine through it all. Doctors have not given Joe a life expectancy timetable. While a liver transplant isn’t completely out of the question, the probability is very low. 

At this time, the priorities are Joe’s day-to-day comfort and to ease financial and emotional stress on Amanda and Daisy. While this beautiful family battles the daily hardships with courage and grace, they need our help. 

Please give your thoughts and prayers for Joe’s recovery as well as Amanda and Daisy’s strength in navigating this time by Joe’s side. 

Please consider donating money — whatever you can. All donations will directly support Joe’s comfort and the family’s immediate needs.

Joe and his family thank you for your love, thoughts, and support. As his sisters-in-law, Courtney and Lindsey, we are grateful to you for helping us help them. Your efforts and donations will help Joe, Amanda, and Daisy ease their pain during this difficult time.