Our Glioblastoma Fighter

On Valentine’s Day 2025, our lives changed forever. What was supposed to be a day of love and normalcy became the beginning of a journey we never expected. That morning, my dad, Troy underwent a six-hour craniotomy to remove a large tumor from his left frontal lobe. Thanks to Dr. Frank Culicchia and the incredible team at Culicchia Neurological, 99% of the tumor was successfully removed—a miracle and a blessing that gave us hope.

Shortly after surgery, we received the diagnosis: grade 4 glioblastoma—one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat brain cancers. Since then, my dad, a 52-year-old father of four and proud grandpa, has been fighting with everything he’s got.

He has completed the standard of care: six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. The treatments have taken a toll—he's experienced memory loss and trouble with speech—but his strength and spirit remain unshaken. On May 22, 2025, he will begin Optune, a wearable device that uses electrical fields to slow tumor growth. Our first post-op MRI is on June 24, and we’ll be heading to MD Anderson in Houston on July 1st to explore further treatment options and clinical trials.

My dad has spent over 30 years as a crane operator, working hard every day to provide for our family. He’s the guy who never complains, always shows up, and quietly carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Now, it’s our turn to carry some of that weight for him.

Glioblastoma is a brutal diagnosis—there is no cure, and treatment options are limited. But we’re holding on to hope, research, faith, God, and above all, to my dad’s will to keep fighting.

We’re raising funds to help cover:

• Ongoing treatment costs not fully covered by insurance

• Travel expenses, including the trip to MD Anderson in Houston

• Medical equipment and at-home care

• Lost income and financial strain during this difficult time

If you’re able to donate, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If not, please consider sharing this and keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers. Every bit of love and support means the world to us.

Thank you for standing with us.

With love, The Feurtado’s