Hello, I am sharing this GoFundMe I created for my sister and brother-in-law, Jeannette and John Fusaro, and their youngest child Junie (Julia), who is 14 years old.

Junie started complaining of vision problems in December, then the following month, horrendous migraines that were debilitating.   After many doctor's visits and numerous trips to the ER, and migraine medication that was working, Junie's condition was still not diagnosed and the medical providers were puzzled.  After eleven days of not being able to hold down food, severe pain from the migraines and a droopy eye, Junie's Primary Care Physician refused to let it go and ordered an MRI.  My sister was informed that night that the scans showed a large, rare, cancerous brain tumor and the diagnosis was germinoma.  Junie's father rushed home from working in Boston and they went to their first appointment at Maine Children's Cancer Program the next day.  My sister's family began their agonizing journey of the unthinkable - "our child has cancer".

Junie has been so courageous and strong throughout the chemo treatments, which will be over 42 total.  Junie's treatments have left them physically and emotionally exhausted.  Junie's oncologist is optimistic that this treatment will produce an end result of cancer free.  In August, following the last chemotherapy treatment, the family is heading to Mass General for the second part of Junie's treatment, organized by the oncology team - a six week radiation plan.  Julia's Dad, John, works as a Merchant Marine and has a normal work rotation of two weeks away at work and two weeks at home.  In order to stay with the family during the radiation treatment in Boston, John has to take two to four weeks off work without pay.  Since John is the sole provider for his family, this will cause a huge financial burden for their family, in addition to the expenses of the stay in Boston and the unexpected expenses of having a child so terribly sick.

My sister Jeannette and her family are incredibly grateful for the help and support they have received from their friends and family.  The nurses, doctors and staff at Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, the Maine Children's Cancer Program and Maine Med PICU have pulled together to help Junie continue to go through what no 14 year old should ever have to experience.

A donation of any size would help this sweet and loving family of five so much, who are struggling to take this horrible cancer head on.  Thank you in advance for your support - and please share this GoFundMe if you are so inclined.  Let's help lift this family up.

Susan