Let's Help Ross Get Better!
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My name is Monica Cochran. I am starting this GoFundMe on behalf of my cousin, Ross Williams.
Ross is well known in Culpeper, Virginia as someone who is always giving back to the youth through basketball. Unfortunately, his basketball career was unexpectedly cut short due to a health emergency in 2012.
During his senior year of college, just before his senior night game, Ross began to experience symptoms which were debilitating, leaving him in a state of paralysis. Alarmed that he was late for his game--which was unlike him, his mother and step-father headed to his dorm room. They found Ross on the floor, and rushed him to the hospital. No one was prepared for the devastating news they would receive. Ross had a brain tumor the size of a lemon. He would end up having surgery to remove most of it, and radiation treatment for the remaining tumor that could not be resected.
Ross was left paralyzed from the waist down, and would have to re-learn how to walk and run again. He did that and more. As a believer of not letting anything hold you back, he worked extremely hard to get back in the best shape he could. With his basketball career abruptly disrupted, he decided to purse basketball in a different way. Ross turned his passion for the sport, and desire to help youth athletes improve their skills, into what is now known as Let's Get Better Basketball. Through the birth of his company, he has helped many student athletes improve their skills, helping them to earn athletic college scholarships.
Ross is a mentor to the youth both on and off the court. He is a father of 3 beautiful children, a husband, a Godfather, and an inspiration to many near and far.
Sadly, the battle with the tumor has persisted. In 2019, Ross was diagnosed with a right Jugular Foramen Meningioma Grade 3. Unfortunately, Neurosurgeons were unwilling to do surgery again due to the location of the tumor, so radiation was used once again to slow the growth. Through his treatment, Ross didn't let this stop him from continuing to serve the community, and help the youth.
After conducting some routine tests just before the holidays in late 2022, the tumor was shown to be growing very aggressively, as well as an additional tumor has developed. Ross now suffers from complete hearing loss in his right ear, total muscle loss on the right side of his tongue and consistent headaches. His symptoms continue to worsen. Not only are the tumors detrimental to his quality of life; left untreated may lead to death. Surgery is now a dire need.
Due to Ross's health worsening, he currently cannot work. Additionally, his wife, Danielle, has taken off work to care for her husband and their children.
The severity of the tumors and the complexity of their locations, require Ross's surgery to be performed in a hospital that specializes in cases such as his. Ross and his wife now need to travel to Boston, MA for him to have brain surgery and rehabilitative care.
The facility in Boston doesn't accept his insurance, so they will have to pay out of pocket. The medical bills are going to be very expensive. They are hoping to get some financial assistance with the surgery, but there are no guarantees and they will not know until they get to Boston.
I am asking for donations of any amount to help pay for Ross's surgery and rehabilitation, as well as help facilitate travel to and from Boston, MA.
We greatly appreciate any and all support & prayers during this very difficult time.
Press:
https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Basketball-trainer-beats-the-odds-after-health-issues-370452981.html
Organizer and beneficiary
Monica LovingJesus
Organizer
Culpeper, VA
Ross Williams
Beneficiary